Few Things Are Always a Good Idea & Ice Cream Is One of Them
I’ve never met a Co-op ice cream I don’t like. A scoop of coffee cookie crumble from the Deli? Yep, I’ve definitely enjoyed that in the admin office at 11am. And have I snagged an ice cream cookie sandwich from the freezer case and enjoyed it in my car before driving home from work? Only all the time. But what might be my favorite way to enjoy Co-op ice cream is a pint of Essentially Orange, sometimes shared, sometimes not, in my PJs watching The Office at 9pm.
Whether you’re grabbing a cone on the go, enjoying a scoop with a friend along the riverwalk, or simply cuddled up binge-watching a show with a pint of your favorite flavor, there’s more to our ice cream than meets the taste buds. For instance, did you know that our ice cream is all made right here at the Co-op in small batches? Or that we use locally-sourced cream for our ice cream?
Sunday, July 18th is National Ice Cream Day, as proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, so we thought it’d be a great time to talk about everyone’s favorite frozen treat and all the ways you can indulge at the Co-op, including some options you might not have known about!
Ice Cream Cone: The Classic
How does the saying go? We all scream for ice cream! Co-op ice cream in a cone, that is. Our Deli scoops up some of the best ice cream in Skagit Valley, and it’s all made right here at your Co-op! If you want to give it a whirl, head to our Deli registers to order a scoop (or two) and choose from either a sugar cone or a cup. Or my personal favorite, a sugar cone with a cup, for when I inevitably start dripping ice cream all over the place.
Ice Cream Sandwich or Bar: The Grab & Go
In my opinion, our handmade ice cream sandwiches and bars are the unsung heroes of the frozen dessert section. They’re just the right size to fill that midday sweet tooth, they’re quick and easy to grab on the go, and they have that extra element of cookies or chocolate coating to keep the whole dessert intact. I’ve really thought about the functionality of my sweets, if you can’t already tell.
But my affinity toward these sunny day delights goes beyond their taste and eatability. The cookies used for the sandwiches are made in house, and as for the chocolate drizzle on our ice cream bars, it’s all Fair Trade chocolate from Guittard Chocolate Company. And no combo tastes sweeter than local, fair-trade desserts.
The Milkshake: The Hands-Free Treat
If you’re on the move and can’t be bothered with licking an ice cream cone or biting into a handheld sandwich, a Co-op scratch-made milkshake sounds like the thing for you. Just pick your favorite flavor and we’ll blend it into a creamy shake you and your sweet tooth can sip on wherever you go! And if you’re looking for a little more zip in your shake, try out our Mocha Milkshake, which adds two shots of our house-roasted espresso to the mix. While it comes with vanilla ice cream, we highly suggest subbing in our Coffee Cookie Crumble ice cream for the ultimate treat trifecta. You won’t regret it.
Sundaes: The Whole Meal Deal
Now, if there’s one ice cream indulgence we bet you don’t know about, it’s our ice cream sundae! That’s right, the whole ice cream meal deal. Pick a scoop of your favorite ice cream and we’ll top it off with a generous pour of chocolate sauce, toasted nuts, and of course, whip cream. If you can’t decide on just one ice cream flavor, go for our large sundae… it comes with 2 scoops for double the deliciousness.
Custom Pint: The Extra Special
Ever wished you could take home a whole pint (or 3) of Co-op ice cream home with you? If your favorite flavor isn’t available in our freezer case, head to our Deli where our ice cream scooping team can package up your go-to flavor (given that it's in the well) into a custom pint. If you want to surprise your family with an extra special weekend activity, we recommend grabbing a few custom pints, stocking up on fixins’ like whip cream, cherries, and chocolate sauce, and throwing a DIY sundae party.
Freezer Section: The Endless Options
Or, if you need an easy-freezy option to toss into your shopping cart, or are looking for an ice cream that’s adapted to your dietary lifestyle, our freezer case offers an ice cream for everyone. If dairy doesn’t do it for you, we have a dizzying array of plant-based options that come in all those chocolatey, fruity, nutty, creamy flavors you love.
If you like that silky, coconut texture and flavor, pick up a pint from Coconut Bliss. If you were on the Oatly train long before their now-famous football ad, give their ice cream a try. Or go bananas with Hakuna Banana, a banana-based ice cream treat.
Maybe you’re giving the Keto diet a shot or are trying to indulge without a lot of extra calories, try Killer Creamery or Halo Top. They’ll satisfy that sweet tooth while helping you stick to your goals.
No matter what kind of ice cream you dream of, your Co-op has the coolest collection so you can chill out on a hot summer day. I, for one, am going to wrap up this article the best way I know how: by clocking out, getting myself a Friday afternoon treat of Co-op ice cream, and soaking up this sun. The only question that remains is what flavor will I choose?