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We put together a list of NYC’s best plant-based ice creams. What better way to cool down?
Why we scream: A Smorgasburg staple, Malai serves sumptuously creamy, spice-flavored ice cream, all handmade by founder Pooja at the Brooklyn FoodWorks Kitchen and all absolutely sublime. If you don’t believe us, know that Gothamist named Malai one of the best ice cream spots in NYC. The only drawback? Malai has yet to open a storefront, so hustle on over to Smorgasburg in Williamsburg or Prospect Park on the weekends to stock up. (Yes, you can buy pints– and you can order them online.)
What to order: Sweet Corn Saffron; Ginger Root; Palm Sugar with Tamarind; Golden Turmeric; Orange Fennel; Star Anise; or Lemon Cardamom
Why we scream: With an ever-rotating menu, you’re never sure what you’ll get at OddFellows— but you can always count on it being absolutely delicious. Earlier this year, they hosted a collaboration with Babu Ji to create a toasted brioche ice cream sandwich stuffed with saffron cardamom ice cream, salted rose caramel, Punjabi tea biscuit, and pistachios. (See– this is why we need time machines.) Their flavors tend to have an international bent (like the seasonal jackfruit sorbet), gathering profiles from around the world. Think it can’t get better? It does. OddFellows donates $0.05 to the Food Bank for New York City for every ice cream they sell.
What to order: Lime Tarragon; or Olive Oil Strawberry (be aware, flavors change daily!)
Why we scream: If you’re the adventurous culinary type (and we do mean adventurous), there’s no better option than Ice & Vice, where you can test the limits of what you’re willing to eat in ice cream. (Maybe you’ll discover you’re….limitless.) While their more “traditional” flavors can get esoteric (White Sesame, Toasted Poppy Seed, Lemon Bread Crouton anyone?), their plant-based flavors are where they start to get really weird, like their current scoop containing chlorophyll AKA the chemical behind why plants are green. (A lot of people take chlorophyll as a supplement for its purported health properties— so basically one scoop = a multivitamin, right?)
What to order: Chlorophyll & Citron Marmalade; Raisin, Celery, & Gianduja Chocolate Chips; Black Garlic, Olive Oil, & Sweet Corn Crumble; Rum, Coconut, Pickled Pineapple Jam
Why we scream: What began as a cult ice cream truck now has its very own storefront, where it dishes up vegan and classic ice cream. (Side note: Van Leeuwen is a pretty safe bet if you’ve got any allergies/dietary restrictions that otherwise prevent you from going ham on ice cream during the summer.) Immensely popular (and with good reason, might we add), Van Leeuwen has locations across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and even Los Angeles, and you can sometimes find pints at Whole Foods.
What to order: Vegan Blackberry with Salted Palm Sugar Cake; or Honeycomb (okay– it’s not a plant, but we want to support bee awareness!)
Why we scream: Sourced with ingredients from local creameries and farmers markets, Davey’s Ice Cream always has something new and seasonal on the menu– so don’t try to plan ahead. Their locations around Brooklyn and Manhattan are subject to local collaborations and spontaneous flavors (like their Korean Misugaru flavor, a kind of multigrain flavor), so each location tends to have a slightly different menu available. Be sure to call in advance!
What to order: Organic Blueberry + Adelegger Cheese (if they have it!)
Why we scream: Ube is probably the most Instagrammed ingredient of the year, beloved for its deep purple color. Born of the wave, Ube Kitchen serves up everything ube, from ube white hot chocolate to epic-looking dragon bowls. (They also serve a mean vegan pizza, complete with coconut mozzarella, adobo tofurkey, mushroom and coconut bacon, and alfalfa sprouts.) But of course, no menu is complete without dessert…
What to order: Vegan Ube (you can get it in halo halo–a popular Filipino dessert that combines shaved ice and evaporated milk)
Why we scream: We love Chinatown Ice Cream Factory‘s menu, which features traditional flavors like black sesame and red bean, as well as “exotic” flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry (“My, how the turntables…“). While most of their flavors are constant throughout the year (you can always count on Zen Butter– a peanut butter/sesame mashup that is only made better by a fudge topping), their more curious flavors tend to rotate with months and seasons, so you can always expect something new.
What to order: Pandan Leaf; Durian; or Sweet Ginger
Why we scream: Still not tired of Avocado? (As if!) After you’ve worked your way through the menu at Avocaderia, head to 10 Below, where this summer they’re serving up a fresh avocado ice cream that’s simply the pinnacle of summer. Ever the Instagrammable spot, 10 Below serves Thai-inspired ice cream rolls. All of their flavors are made-to-order, just like at a bar so your ice cream is perfectly fresh. The name is a reference to the temperature the cold plate must be at to turn the cream to ice cream. The most bespoke.
What to order: Fresh Avocado + Himalyan Salt (honorable mention for their coconut ash and rosemary waffle!)
Why we scream: Of course, no list would be complete without Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream, one of our favorite vendors at the annual Edible Schoolyard dinner. (We may or may not have gone back for seconds.) And before you start to complain, just know that Yes, the wait on your average night can be up to 40 minutes– but yes, the time you’ll spend waiting in line is unequivocally worth it and only adds to the hype. (That first bite after you’ve been waiting in line? Absolutely divine.)
What to order: Sweet Potato Caramel (we highly recommend); Sunflower Seed; Edible Schoolyard Mint; Balsamic Strawberry; or Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp