One of New Jersey’s sweetest debates isn’t about the best ice cream flavor—it’s what to call the colorful candy toppings that finish off your favorite cone.
If you’re moving to the Garden State, you’ll quickly discover that New Jersey is full of regional traditions. Whether it’s debating pork roll versus Taylor Ham, choosing between North and South Jersey pizza, or arguing over the best boardwalk, locals love a good conversation.
And when it comes to ice cream, another friendly debate often comes up:
Do you call them jimmies or sprinkles?
The answer often depends on where you are in New Jersey.
North Jersey: “Sprinkles” Are Often the Go-To
Throughout Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Hudson, and much of northern New Jersey, sprinkles is the term many residents naturally use.
The region’s close ties to New York City have helped make “sprinkles” the more common choice, especially among younger generations. Walk into a neighborhood ice cream shop and ask for rainbow sprinkles, and you’ll fit right in.
Central New Jersey: Both Terms Are Welcome
In communities across Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Somerset counties, you’ll hear both jimmies and sprinkles used interchangeably.
With residents arriving from New York, Pennsylvania, and across the country, Central Jersey has become a blend of regional expressions. Most local ice cream shops hear both terms every day and know exactly what customers mean.
The result? A debate that’s more fun than confusing.
South Jersey: “Jimmies” Have Deep Roots
Travel into Camden, Gloucester, Burlington, Atlantic, Cumberland, Cape May, and Salem counties, and you’ll often hear jimmies, particularly when referring to chocolate toppings.
South Jersey has long been influenced by neighboring Philadelphia, where “jimmies” has been part of the local vocabulary for generations. Many lifelong South Jersey residents still order a cone with chocolate jimmies without giving it a second thought.
For many families, it’s simply the way it’s always been said.
At the Shore: Everyone Speaks Ice Cream
Along the Jersey Shore, from Sandy Hook to Cape May, you’ll hear visitors and locals using both jimmies and sprinkles throughout the summer.
With millions of visitors arriving from Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, and beyond, boardwalk ice cream stands and neighborhood creameries are accustomed to every version of the order.
No matter which word you use, you’ll leave with the same delicious treat.
More Than Just Ice Cream
Like the Taylor Ham versus pork roll debate, deciding whether the beach is called “the Shore,” or choosing your favorite boardwalk, the jimmies-versus-sprinkles conversation is one of those uniquely New Jersey traditions that makes everyday life a little more entertaining.
It’s the kind of discussion that sparks smiles while waiting in line for ice cream after a day at the beach or an evening stroll along the boardwalk.
A State Full of Sweet Treats
New Jersey is home to countless family-owned ice cream shops, farm markets, and iconic boardwalk parlors serving handcrafted frozen desserts.
Whether you’re exploring Princeton, Morristown, Cape May, Asbury Park, Ocean City, or Long Beach Island, you’ll find everything from classic vanilla and chocolate to Jersey peach, blueberry, strawberry, salted caramel, butter pecan, and seasonal favorites made with locally grown ingredients.
Many shops also offer homemade waffle cones, fresh dairy from New Jersey farms, and an endless variety of toppings—whether you ask for jimmies or sprinkles.
Welcome to New Jersey’s Sweet Traditions
At Let’s Move to New Jersey News, we love sharing the everyday traditions that help newcomers feel at home. Sometimes it’s learning local expressions. Other times, it’s finding the ice cream shop that becomes part of your family’s summer routine.
So whether you order your cone with jimmies or sprinkles, New Jersey’s ice cream shops will know exactly what you mean.
After a few summers in the Garden State, you may even find yourself weighing in on one of New Jersey’s sweetest—and friendliest—debates.