Gluten-Free Ice Cream in Fort Collins: The Complete Guide

If you're gluten-free in Fort Collins, you already know the drill. You walk into a new spot, scan the menu for those two magic letters — GF — and hope for the best. The good news? Fort Collins has one of the most GF-friendly ice cream scenes we've found anywhere in Colorado. The better news? One shop in particular has made gluten-free diners a genuine priority, not an afterthought.

We visited all nine ice cream shops in town, spoke with staff about their GF protocols, and put together the definitive guide for celiac and gluten-sensitive ice cream lovers in the Choice City.

The Gold Standard: Glacier Ice Cream

Let's start with the clear winner. Glacier Ice Cream on South College has set a standard for gluten-free ice cream that the rest of Fort Collins hasn't matched.

Here's what makes Glacier stand apart:

• Dedicated gluten-free flavors. Multiple flavors on the rotating menu are specifically made without gluten-containing ingredients. This isn't a case of "well, plain vanilla doesn't have gluten in it." Glacier actively develops flavors with GF diners in mind.
• Gluten-free cones. Yes, real cones — not just cups. Glacier stocks GF waffle cones so you don't have to watch everyone else walk out with a cone while you eat from a paper cup. It's a small thing that makes an enormous difference.
• Cross-contamination awareness. Staff are trained to use clean scoops and understand the difference between "gluten-free preference" and "celiac disease." When you tell them you need GF, they take it seriously.
• 40+ rotating flavors means you'll always have multiple GF options to choose from, not just one or two token selections.

For our money, Glacier is the single best ice cream experience in Fort Collins for gluten-free diners. Full stop. Read our complete review of Glacier to see why they earned our #1 overall ranking.

Shop-by-Shop GF Breakdown

Josh & John's Ice Cream

Josh & John's in Old Town serves ultra-premium craft ice cream, and many of their flavors are naturally gluten-free. However, they don't offer GF cones, and their cross-contamination protocols are less rigorous than Glacier's. If you have a mild sensitivity, you'll find options here. If you have celiac, ask staff carefully before ordering.

Old Town Churn

Old Town Churn, the Little Man Ice Cream outpost on Laurel Street, rotates creative flavors frequently. Some are GF, some aren't — and the rotation means you can't always count on your favorite being available. They don't advertise specific GF options, so you'll need to ask at the counter. The staff is generally knowledgeable, but the creative mix-ins (cookie dough, brownie pieces) mean cross-contamination is a real concern.

Walrus Ice Cream

Walrus Ice Cream, our beloved Old Town institution since 1987, keeps 29 daily flavors on rotation. Many of the classic flavors — think vanilla, chocolate, strawberry — are naturally GF, but Walrus doesn't specifically cater to the gluten-free community. No GF cones. Cross-contamination awareness is limited. It's fine for mild sensitivity but not ideal for celiac.

Gelato & aMore

Gelato & aMore on Mason Street is actually a decent option for GF diners. Traditional Italian gelato is naturally gluten-free (it's milk, sugar, and flavoring), and their sorbets are a completely dairy-free and gluten-free option. The main risk comes from flavors that incorporate cookies, cake, or other wheat-based mix-ins. Ask about specific flavors, and you'll usually find several safe choices.

Heaven Creamery

Heaven Creamery on South College focuses on health-conscious ice cream with 50% less sugar and organic ingredients. They have an impressive vegan lineup (18+ flavors), and many of those are also gluten-free. It's worth a visit for GF diners who also want a lower-sugar option. Just confirm with staff, since not all their health-conscious options are GF.

Kilwins

Kilwins on South College Avenue is primarily a fudge and chocolate shop that also serves ice cream. Their ice cream is decent, but GF options are limited, and the shared environment with fudge, chocolates, and waffle cones means cross-contamination risk is higher. Not our first recommendation for celiac diners.

Ben & Jerry's

Ben & Jerry's in Old Town Square actually has a well-documented allergen list on their website, which is helpful. Several flavors are marked gluten-free nationally. However, every scoop shop carries cross-contamination risk, and the Fort Collins location doesn't offer GF cones. You know exactly what you're getting with Ben & Jerry's — reliable, but not special.

Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen on South College is fast food soft serve. Their Blizzard mix-ins almost all contain gluten, and their soft serve is processed in shared equipment. GF options are extremely limited here. If you're gluten-free, this isn't your stop.

Practical Tips for GF Ice Cream in Fort Collins

1. Always ask, even at "safe" shops. Recipes change. Seasonal flavors come and go. What was GF last month might not be this month. A quick question at the counter takes ten seconds and saves you a bad evening.

2. Go during off-peak hours. Cross-contamination risk increases when shops are slammed. Visit on a weekday afternoon instead of a Saturday evening, and staff can give your order more attention.

3. Request a clean scoop. Most shops will gladly grab a fresh scoop from the back if you ask. Don't feel awkward about it — it's a completely reasonable request.

4. Cup over cone (unless they have GF cones). This is obvious, but it bears repeating. Standard waffle cones and sugar cones contain gluten. Unless the shop specifically offers GF cones — like Glacier does — go with a cup.

5. Sorbet and fruit flavors are usually safe bets. When in doubt, fruit-based sorbets and simple fruit flavors are the least likely to contain gluten or cross-contamination. They're also delicious.

6. Check for dedicated serving areas. Shops that keep GF flavors in a separate case or section are doing it right. That physical separation dramatically reduces cross-contamination risk.

The Bottom Line

Fort Collins is a genuinely good city for gluten-free ice cream lovers, and it's getting better every year. If you want the best possible GF ice cream experience — dedicated flavors, GF cones, trained staff, and an incredible selection — Glacier Ice Cream is the clear choice. It's worth the drive to South College.

For a full ranking of every ice cream shop in town, check out our Best Ice Cream in Fort Collins guide. And if you're exploring beyond GF, take a look at our vegan ice cream guide for more dietary-friendly options.

Eat well, Fort Collins. You deserve great ice cream — gluten or no gluten.