Ice cream, ice cream, we all scream for ice cream! Summer’s favorite treat is taking on new directions. The route is leading to dairy-free and allergy-friendly options. And all the dairy-free people in the world rejoiced! After years of torture, watching others enjoy these mouth-watering treats, the marketplace is finally catering to everyone’s needs.
Last week I ventured on a grand ice cream tour with some lovely ladies around the city. Our mission was to single out the most sustainable ice cream offerings in the city. My personal mission was to locate the most sustainable and most allergy-friendly ice cream shops.
We hit the deliciousness jackpot over and over and over again. To the point of a slight sugar hangover the next day. But hey, it had to be done and I regret nothing.
So here is my list of NYC Dairy-free and Allergy-friendly Ice Cream Shops.
Ample Hills
Dairy and 1-2 Dairy-free options
Small batch produced ice cream, all made in the their Brooklyn shop, Ample Hills offers traditional dairy ice cream with one or two dairy-free versions per day. The Coconut Fudge Sorbet is my go-to at this shop.
Go in slowly though! There is a enough sugar to give you a buzz after a few bites. Eat this stuff in moderation.
Five locations across the city, with spots in Prospect Heights, Gowanus, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Riis Park in Queens and Upper West Side. My vote is for the Gowanus location, equipped with a rooftop deck.
Blue Marble
Dairy and 1-2 Dairy-free options
This is a cute little shop with primarily dairy-filled flavors. When I arrived there was one dairy-free offering, a coconut milk based ice cream with toasted coconut flakes. Not too sweet and the coconut flakes offered a good texture contrast.
There are two storefronts, Cobble Hill and Prospect Heights. They sell at seasonal markets around the city and pints are sold at many retailers throughout the city too.
Blythe Ann’s
ALL Dairy-free + nut-free, soy-free and gluten-free options
One location in the East Village.
Formerly known as LuLa’s Sweet Apothecary, this East Village shop is on my top NYC dairy-free experiences list. A friend recommended it before I moved to the city five years ago and at the time I had NEVER experienced real dairy-free ice cream. I say never because I don’t count sorbet as real ice cream. That’s just frozen sugar water.
Step into Blythe Ann’s and you step back in time to a 1920s scene. The entrance is dark and the interior is moody with soft shadows bouncing off the glass bowls and silver spoons.
Twelve hand-packed flavors are offered everyday including a Cake Batter soft serve. I had the Strawberry and my friends tried the Peanut Butter Banana and Chocolate Fudge. All topped with Coconut Whipped Cream and a brandy-soaked cherry. Flavors to try next time are Mint Chip, Pistachio and Brownie Batter. They also have sundaes, root beer floats and many fun toppings.
It makes dairy-free people feel like real people again with real desserts. Thank you, Blythe Ann’s.
DF Mavens
ALL Dairy-free + nut-free, soy-free and gluten-free options
One location in the East Village and pints sold at many retailers throughout the city.
A modern ice cream shop setting with a case of 20+ dairy-free flavors, and all are based with almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk or nut butters.
I had the Praline Pecan, which was my favorite flavor of the tour and will definitely be going back for it again.
AND the highlight: all gluten-free ice cream cones! In flavors Chocolate Hazelnut, Toasted Coconut, Cinnamon Brown Sugar and French Vanilla. That’s a big winner. It’s close to impossible to find dairy-free and gluten-free cones together.
OddFellows Ice Cream Co.
Dairy and 1-2 Dairy-free options
Two locations, East Village and Williamsburg
I honestly have not tried this one, but my friends tell me it’s a winner. The Coconut Kaffir Lime soft serve is the one to try. Some other fun flavors are Raspberry Pink Peppercorn, Cinnamon Blackberry and Horchata.
And bonus points: With every serving of ice cream they donate $0.05 to the Food Bank for New York City.
Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream
Dairy and 4-5 Dairy-free options
Five NYC locations and two LA shops with an ice cream truck in each city.
Made famous by their popular ice cream truck, Van Leeuwen is expanding rapidly and rightly so. Their dairy-free flavors are dead-ringers for the traditional stuff. Salted Caramel, Sicilian Pistachio, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Mint Chip are some of the standards offered.
All dairy-free options are all made with coconut milk and cashews, so those with tree-nut allergies be aware. No nut-free ice creams are available.
*Photo credit must be given to my friend Alden of EcoCult.
