LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. — It's that time of year again, when everyone's a little bit Irish, green becomes a requirement of the dress code, leprechauns are everywhere, and the pubs are packed with people celebrating the purging of snakes from Ireland.
While enjoying a good beer — and we here at LehighValleyNews.com don’t judge, even if you happen to tint your light ale with green dye* — is a staple of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, this year, you can switch things up with some specialty seasonal ice cream.
The temperatures last week have been a pleasant preview of the upcoming spring, and even though we’ll be dipping back into one of the many seasons that encompass March in the Lehigh Valley, an icy sweet treat is welcome.
Fortunately, we all live in a haven for handcrafted specialties, especially when it comes to ice cream. And those local creameries and sweet shops take their seasonal selections seriously — even when it comes to something like St. Patrick’s Day.
So this weekend, after you finish off your plate of corned beef and cabbage washed down with a proper pint of Guinness, enjoy a scoop or two of these tasty offerings.
oWowCow Creamery
- Location: 1262 Simon Blvd., b106, Easton
- Featured Ice Cream(s): Leprechaun Java, Irish Potato, Bailey’s Irish Cream
- Suggested Serving: Place a nice, hearty scoop on top of a sugar cone
“Our team is continually inspired to create the unexpected throughout the year. Holiday flavor creation is especially challenging in as much as we strive to put a fresh and unique spin on traditional expectations. St Paddy’s Day is no exception,” oWowCow Creamery Managing Director Shira Tizer Wade said.
According to Wade, customers have come to expect the Irish Potato — a cinnamon cream cheese ice cream with Irish potatoes — every year and have grown to love the chunks of real Irish potatoes made in-house by their head baker. The Bailey’s Irish Cream — featuring Bailey’s base with dark chocolate stracciatella — offering is a staple and fan favorite for St. Patrick’s Day, of course.
This year’s newest offering, Leprechaun Java — espresso ice cream with a brown ale caramel – is quickly becoming popular, especially with those who enjoy the taste of a rich beer caramel made with Warwick Farm Brewing.
“Getting over the cold, dark dreary days of winter, the taste of spring has definitely helped with sales. Our customers are excited to experience one of their early season favorites along with some surprising new ones!” Wade said.
The Udder Bar
- Location: 1852 W. Allen St., Allentown
- Featured Ice Cream: Irish Cream, “Luck of the Irish” Sundae
- Suggested Serving: Pour a pint of Guinness or another stout, and drop a scoop of Irish Cream in it for a beer float
“Right now we have Irish Cream, and we also have a ‘Luck of the Irish Sundae of the Month, which we use to donate 10% back to the community,” The Udder Bar Manager Veronica Cardenas said, noting the funds raised go toward the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley.
The subtle sweet cream with a hit of Irish whisky found makes for a perfect holiday treat, and it also pairs up quite well for an ice cream float – or, if you want to lean into the holiday, a beer float.
The “Luck of the Irish” Sundae takes the Irish Cream as a base, and adds a bit of butterscotch topping, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and a healthy sprinkling of orange, green, and gold sprinkles, making for an indulgent way to cap off St. Paddy’s Day.
“We always try to do a type of ice cream for any holiday or special occasion that's coming off. Last year, we had the Irish cream as well, and it was a pretty big hit, so we brought it back,” Cardenas said.
Vegan Treats
- Location: 1444 Linden St., Bethlehem
- Featured Ice Cream: The Shammy Shake
- Suggested Serving: Eat it right out of the cup before it melts
“Get ready to sham-rock your taste buds with our seasonal St. Patrick’s Day flavor, Shammy Shake! It's a delightful blend of creamy vanilla ice cream infused with mint, delivering a flavor experience that's as refreshing as it is indulgent,” Vegan Treats Project Manager Buse Kunduracioglu said.
Kunduracioglu said the inspiration for the Shammy comes from wanting to offer customers a “unique and delicious way to celebrate the holiday with a fun flavor that’s both delicious and festive.” It may not be authentically Irish, but it’s a fun way to add some charm to the holiday.
If you’re looking to pair that shake with another sweet, also check out the special rainbow donuts and St. Patrick’s Day cakes.
Vegan Treats’ Shammy Shake has become synonymous with the season for local plant-based eaters and others alike. The beloved vegan bakery is well known across the country, and their soft serve even made a Buzzfeed list for the best in Pennsylvania, even among non-vegan ice creams.
With the pleasant spring-like weather we’ve been having, it’s the perfect time to swing by Vegan Treats to pick up some sweets and enjoy a fresh soft-serve twist – and even when the weather takes a turn back to the cold, it’s still worth a trip.
