Fomu
H is for Honey Pistachio Shortbread Ice Cream
The experts at Boston’s vegan fixture FoMu are known for the velvety, hand-packed coconut milk ice cream they’ve been slinging since 2011, but they’ve really struck gold with their new limited-batch Honey Pistachio Shortbread Ice Cream. Made with vegan honey, roasted pistachios, cardamom, and pieces of buttery, housemade, gluten-free vanilla shortbread, this standout flavor has gotten rave reviews from customers and shot to the top of our dessert bucket list.
I is for Ice Cream Maker
If you find yourself regularly yearning for something more adventurous than what’s in your local grocery store freezer, it may be time to go beyond the pint and concoct your very own ice cream flavor. Arm yourself with any of these ice cream makers to turn your dreamiest flavor fantasies into sweet reality.
The My Mug Ice Cream Maker
Why we love it: Perfect for single-serving portions, easy to use, and doubles as a freezable mug
$40
The Nostalgia Electric Ice Cream Maker
Why we love it: Makes family-sized batches, easy to clean, and the electric motor churns quickly
$54
The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker
Why we love it: Fully automatic, churns in as little as 20 minutes, wide spout allows for easily added mix-ins, and stainless steel durability
$100
Crème de la Crop
J is Jars Just For You
In 2022, when Michelin-starred pastry chef Olivia Green left behind the prestigious bakeries and James Beard-nominated restaurants that cemented her career to set up shop as a vegan ice cream pop-up outside of local pizzerias and plant shops, a few eyebrows may have been raised. But fast-forward to today, and Green’s creations—along with her new brick and mortar in Herndon, VA right outside of Washington, DC—have squashed any skepticism.
At Crème de la Crop, Green crafts oat milk ice cream with the precision and artistry you’d expect, but don’t stop at the scoops and sammies—she also sells the cutest ice cream cake jars you’ve ever laid your eyes on. You can’t go wrong with the Shamrock Sundae or a Strawberry Shortcake, but the Brownie Batter (with layers of decadent brownie batter, thick fudge, dark chocolate ice cream, moist cake, and crunchy cookies) … pure perfection.
Crossroads Kitchen
K is for Kardashian-Approved
Crossroads Kitchen as the preeminent destination for vegan fine dining, but it’s also home to Los Angeles’ very best sundae—according to Kourtney Kardashian Barker, at least. The reality star and health nut can’t get enough of the restaurant’s perfected Brownie Sundae. Vanilla bean-speckled scoops of ice cream are topped with soft chunks of brownie, gooey fudge sauce, coconut whipped cream, and juicy brandied cherries. Do like Kourtney does, and pair it with a matcha latte.
L is for A Little Healthier
It goes without saying: despite all our wishes, ice cream just isn’t a health food. But for those in search of a healthier frozen treat, we have good news: there’s a world of tasty options that go beyond sorbet.
For luscious pints with added oomph, Holi Scoops’ delectable flavors (Double Chocolate Chipper, Conscious Coffee, and Peanut Butter Bliss, anyone?) are sweetened with organic date syrup and packed with adaptogens like chaga, maca, and reishi to help reduce stress and fatigue, and balance hormones.
Family-owned company Cado churns out irresistibly creamy pints made from cold processed, nutrient-dense avocados—not dairy—and with 50-percent less sugar.
And all-vegan Dream Pops infuses its popsicles and bonbons with ingredients such as lion’s mane mushroom and immune-boosting baobab. Best of all? These indulgent pints and bites don’t sacrifice the sweet comforting flavors of this classic sweet treat.
BECOME A VEGNEWS VIP: Get exclusive product deals, freebies, and perks galore!
Millennium Restaurant
M is for Millennium Restaurant
For truly great ice cream, we’ll give you a tip: think outside the pint. Some of the most ingenious, high-quality vegan scoops are being churned out by professional chefs in restaurant kitchens all across the country. And no one is proving this more than Millennium Restaurant in Oakland, CA.
Under the guidance of Pastry Chef Saloni Mehra, diners at the 30-year-old fine-dining institution are indulging in dishes like Candy Cap Chocolate Tart with candy cap mushroom ganache, chanterelle mushroom ice cream, vanilla bean mousse, and chanterelle caramel; Mango Cake with sesame crumble and pandan latte ice cream; and Saffron Halwa Cake with golden raisin-pear chutney and jaggery ice cream. We’re calling it: dessert-only dinner reservations are about to be all the rage.
N is for No Spoons Necessary
When you find yourself at a scoop shop being asked the age-old question of “cup or cone?”, obviously the most delici—err, low-waste and earth-friendly option, is to skip the plastic spoon and cup and opt for something edible. And if you’re looking to take that earth-saving ethos back home to your own freezer, you’re in luck—there’s a handheld for just about every type of ice cream fanatic.
For the classic cone lover
So Delicious’ Wondermilk cones
For the occasional indulger
Trader Joe’s Hold The Dairy! Mini Cones
For the gluten-free girlies
Jolly Llama gluten-free sandwiches
For the bored-of-vanilla crowd
Wicked Kitchen S’mores and Chocolate & Red Berry cones
Wildgood
O is for Olive Oil
Oreo crumbles and chocolate drizzle, from the bottom of our hearts: thank you for your service. But we’re taking a cue from TikTok and stepping up our vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. The result? Ice cream that’s more luscious and buttery with fruity, floral notes that we can’t keep our spoons away from. And taking it even further, ice cream brand Wildgood turns to EVOO instead of plant milk for the base of its rich, silky smooth pints (in flavors like Tahini Mocha Chip and Caramelized Fig). Whether you DIY this frozen favorite or pick up a pint or two, it’s sure to become a new staple.
S. Greg Panosian/Getty
P is for Philly Treats
Philadelphia is, hands-down, one of the best vegan cities in the nation, so the plant-based ways to cool down definitely don’t disappoint, either. Check out our picks for the best places to grab a scoop in the City of Brotherly Love.
The Chilly Banana
Family-owned spot with old-school charm that specializes in frozen and blended banana “whips” that can be ordered with a slew of different vegan accoutrements like fruit compotes, plant-based marshmallows, graham cracker crumbles, and more—and everything gets topped with free coconut whip
Float Dreamery
High-quality gelateria-slash-ordering window that offers seasonal small-batch pints in super-unique flavors like Mmm’Matcha Say with matcha and marshmallow bits; Ghoul Digger with black chocolate gelato and strawberry jam; and Cinnamoats with salted cinnamon oat gelato and candied bourbon pecans
Scoop Deville
A 35-year-old ice cream parlor that uses Vanilla Tofutti as the base for its vegan ice cream options, which can be made into sundaes (hello, Molten Chocolate Sundae) and milk shakes (go for the I’m All Shook Up! with banana and peanut butter)
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
JUMP TO ... Latest News | Recipes | Guides | Health | Shop
Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the plant-based lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include shopping links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.
