One of Pennsylvania’s sweetest debates isn’t about the best ice cream flavor—it’s what to call the colorful candy toppings that finish off a cone.
If you’re relocating to the Keystone State, you’ll quickly discover that Pennsylvania has a rich mix of regional traditions and local expressions. From ordering a cheesesteak in Philadelphia to debating who makes the best shoofly pie in Amish Country, language is part of the culture.
And when it comes to ice cream, one question always seems to come up:
Do you call them jimmies or sprinkles?
The answer often depends on where you are in Pennsylvania.
Southeastern Pennsylvania: “Jimmies” Are the Local Favorite
In Philadelphia and much of the surrounding region—including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and parts of Lancaster counties—jimmies is the term many lifelong residents grew up using.
The Philadelphia area has long embraced the word, especially when referring to chocolate jimmies on a soft-serve cone. Visit a neighborhood ice cream stand on a warm summer evening, and you’ll likely hear customers confidently ordering “a cone with chocolate jimmies.”
For many families, it’s simply what they’ve always been called.
Central Pennsylvania: Both Terms Are Common
As you travel through Harrisburg, York, State College, and surrounding communities, you’ll hear both jimmies and sprinkles used interchangeably.
Because central Pennsylvania attracts residents from every corner of the state, local ice cream shops are accustomed to both terms. Whether you ask for rainbow sprinkles or chocolate jimmies, your order will almost certainly come out exactly the way you expect.
Western Pennsylvania: “Sprinkles” Often Take the Lead
Around Pittsburgh and much of western Pennsylvania, sprinkles is generally the more common term.
While some longtime residents still use jimmies, especially those with ties to eastern Pennsylvania, younger generations and many newcomers are more likely to ask for sprinkles.
The regional difference is just another reminder of how diverse Pennsylvania’s local traditions can be.
Northeastern Pennsylvania: A Blend of Traditions
Communities throughout Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, the Pocono Mountains, and the Lehigh Valley often reflect a mix of influences from Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey.
As a result, you’ll hear both jimmies and sprinkles, sometimes even within the same family.
It’s less of a disagreement and more of a conversation starter on a summer afternoon.
More Than Just Ice Cream
Like debating whether it’s “soda” or “pop,” choosing your favorite Pennsylvania amusement park, or arguing over who serves the best cheesesteak, the jimmies-versus-sprinkles discussion has become one of those lighthearted traditions that brings people together.
It’s the kind of friendly conversation you’ll overhear while standing in line at a local creamery after a Little League game or a day exploring one of Pennsylvania’s charming small towns.
A State Full of Sweet Stops
Pennsylvania is home to hundreds of family-owned ice cream shops, dairy farms, and creameries that have become local landmarks.
From Lancaster County farm markets and Hershey-area ice cream parlors to neighborhood favorites in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, you’ll find handcrafted flavors ranging from classic vanilla and chocolate to black raspberry, butter pecan, peach, strawberry, maple walnut, and seasonal specialties.
Many shops also feature homemade waffle cones, fresh Pennsylvania dairy, and an endless selection of toppings—whether you ask for jimmies or sprinkles.
Welcome to Pennsylvania’s Sweet Side
At Let’s Move to Pennsylvania News, we enjoy sharing the everyday traditions that help newcomers feel at home. Sometimes it’s learning local expressions. Other times, it’s discovering the ice cream shop that will become your family’s summer tradition.
So whether you order your cone with jimmies or sprinkles, Pennsylvania’s ice cream shops will know exactly what you mean.
And after a few summers in the Keystone State, you may find yourself picking a side in one of Pennsylvania’s sweetest debates.