Pictured above: Double Scoop of Cookie & Cream Caramel Swirl and Double Scoop of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough & Cookie & Cream Caramel Swirl

The weather is finally getting beautiful again in New York, so that means you can now enjoy a scoop of ice cream while you stroll through the city streets. If you’re a vegan, a vegetarian, lactose intolerant, or you simply don’t consume dairy, this time of year probably involves you watching the Mr. Frosty trucks drive by knowing you can’t enjoy anything from them. Luckily, we now have quite a few options. There’s a lot of store-bought dairy free ice cream to choose from, such as So Delicious, Häagen-Dazs, and Ben & Jerry’s, to name a few. Also, there are a few stores/ restaurants where you can grab vegan ice cream.

For a few years now, I have been hearing a lot about Van Leeuwen's ice cream. I was always being told about how amazing their ice cream is. Then I heard about their vegan ice cream and I finally decided to check them out. The hype is definitely real! When I got to the ice cream shop there was a line wrapping around the building, which made me curious as to how good this ice cream was going to be. If you get to Van Leeuwen and there’s a line, just stick it out. The wait is definitely worth it! Don't miss out on treating yourself because you're intimidated by a line. 

I'm not going to lie, I was really close to missing out on Van Leeuwen ice cream because I hated the idea of waiting in a long line just for some ice cream. I'm glad I didn’t leave. This ice cream shop offers vegan ice cream, milkshakes, coffee and vegan toppings. However, they also offer non vegan ice cream if you’re not down with almond milk or coconut milk based products. 

I was curious as to how the vegan versions of two of my favorite flavors would compare to the “original”. The ice cream was not lacking in any department. It had a subtle difference in taste from dairy ice cream, but different isn’t always bad.

At Van Leeuwen you don't have to worry about them skimping you on the treats. Each scoop of ice cream is a generous amount and makes it well worth the money. Ya girl was so happy to enjoy two scoops of ice cream in the middle of the day without thinking about the need to secure a bathroom later. Being lactose intolerant is no joke. I am always happy when I find substitutions that are just as good, if not better, than their counterparts.