Adobe Stock | Photo by Brent Hofacker
New expansions in Fishkill, Kerhonkson, and Nyack provide the Hudson Valley with artisanal ice cream all season long.
Hello sun! Warmer days are finally here and summer is quickly approaching. After a long winter, get outside to enjoy the Hudson Valley’s running and biking trails, mountaintop summits, and other natural offerings. Upon breaking a sweat, cool off and celebrate the season with a delectable treat.
Nothing beats a tower of ice cream after a day in the sun. Such sweet memories are shared over huge artisanal scoops in hot temperatures. Grab a scoop or two (or as many as you desire) at three new ice creameries opening their doors for the first time this season.
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Fishkill Creamery is one of the newest additions on the village’s Main Street. For customers with a leg in the long-standing debate over soft serve or hard ice cream, there’s no need to choose because Fishkill Creamery has over 20 flavors available. Customers can also find local sweet-treat brands like Jane’s Homemade Ice Cream from Kingston and Victory Ice Cream from Wappingers Falls. Available in delectable varieties like Reese’s and campfire s’mores, scoops can sit atop waffle or gluten-free cones, sundaes, and banana splits or swirl into shakes and rotating specials.
For a recent specialty, indulge in the dulce de leche dream. This decadent bowl of dulce de leche ice cream pairs with two alfajores, homemade whipped cream, and a drizzle of the delicious condensed milk confection. The cookies are from Los Hornitos Bakery, a local Chilean restaurant in Wappingers Falls. Looking for a little caffeine? Go for the cold brew milkshake, a concoction of iced coffee, ice cream, and whipped cream.
“This is what the village of Fishkill needed,” creamery owner Jessica Castelan says. With longer and brighter days ahead, the sweet taste of ice cream is closely tied to fun summer months. The cold treat makes it easy to cool off, and Castelan believes it’s so popular because it’s always shared with friends and family.
At Fishkill Creamery, Castelan hopes more memories over soft serve and milkshakes will be created in the upcoming months. “We have outside seating for families to sit down and enjoy the summer,” Castelon shares. “We tried to make the shop as welcoming as possible, and hopefully we can bring a little happiness to Fishkill.”
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Just in time for the summer season, Sleeping Giant Ice Cream opens its doors in Kerhonkson. This quaint stop named after the legendary Shawangunk Mountains fosters cherished memories throughout warm-weather months.
From a crisp sugar cone adorned with a dollop of soft serve to a waffle cone layered high with multiple scoops, there are an abundance of delicious offerings from which to choose. Plus, customize any order with toppers like gummy bears, Butterfingers, and Reese’s Pieces.
And what’s an ice cream shop without a delectable sundae? At Sleeping Giant, first choose between flavors like hot fudge, butterscotch, or raspberry. Then, top a sundae off with whipped cream and a bright, red cherry.
Sleeping Giant Ice Cream wants every customer to taste the fun of its ice cream and foster long-lasting memories. Customers will leave with smiles on their face and maybe a little ice cream stain as well.
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Since 2019, Piermont Creamery has specialized in homemade ice cream.
“We operate a simple, old-fashion ice cream shop,” explains Lorraine Li, owner of the creamery.
With its black-and-white tiles, it may be reminiscent of a traditional ice cream shop, but Piermont Creamery offers exciting flavors like honey fresh ginger, matcha green tea, and magical unicorn. With a list of up to 20 flavors, Piermont Creamery also has rotating specials.
As a connoisseur of frozen treats, Li admits that it is difficult to choose her favorite flavor because it’s always changing. Right now, it’s a decadent chocolate. But, an insider hint — cookies n’ cream is the most popular flavor according to Li.
“I’ve always wanted to open a shop because I love ice cream,” Li says. The entrepreneur not only opened her own shop, but mastered the craft of making it. All the ice cream at Piermont Creamery is made in-house. The taste of homemade artisanal ice cream is hard to top, especially with flavors like cannoli chocolate chip.
Li’s premium ice cream has become such a popular destination in Piermont that she is expanding to Nyack. The opening date of her new storefront has yet to be announced. However, it is known that customers can always expect a high-quality cone at the original location.
