As a popular ice cream chain, Cold Stone Creamery attracts customers with its rich, creamy treats and wide variety of mix-ins. But what about those who follow a vegan lifestyle or have dietary restrictions? The question arises: Does Cold Stone Creamery have vegan ice cream options? In this article, we will explore the availability of vegan choices at Cold Stone Creamery and how they cater to this growing segment of customers.
Veganism has been steadily gaining popularity over the past few years, with many individuals choosing plant-based diets for health, environmental, or ethical reasons. Cold Stone Creamery, as a brand that constantly evolves to meet customer demands, recognizes the importance of catering to a diverse range of dietary preferences. Therefore, it’s essential to determine if the celebrated ice cream chain offers vegan-friendly frozen treats.
While traditional ice cream typically contains dairy, there have been significant innovations in the frozen dessert industry to provide just as tasty alternatives for vegan customers. In the following paragraphs, we will delve deeper into Cold Stone Creamery’s offerings and assess the availability of vegan ice cream options that cater to this niche market.
Vegan Frozen Desserts at Cold Stone Creamery
Sorbets
Cold Stone Creamery offers several vegan frozen dessert options, particularly in the form of sorbets. Sorbets are dairy-free and made with fruit and water, providing a refreshing and fruity alternative to traditional ice cream. Some popular vegan sorbet flavors at Cold Stone include:
Countrytime Pink Lemonade
Pineapple
Raspberry
Strawberry Lemonade
These sorbets can be enjoyed on their own or combined with your choice of mix-ins for a customized vegan treat.
Silk Chocolate Almondmilk Frozen Dessert
In addition to sorbets, Cold Stone Creamery also offers a Silk Chocolate Almondmilk Frozen Dessert. This vegan option is made with almond milk, providing a creamy and satisfying alternative to traditional dairy-based ice cream. The main ingredients include almonds, water, cane sugar, cocoa, and coconut, ensuring a rich and flavorful vegan frozen dessert experience.
This Silk Chocolate Almondmilk Frozen Dessert can be paired with various vegan-friendly mix-ins and toppings, allowing you to create a personalized and indulgent treat that suits your preferences and dietary needs.
Vegan Cones and Toppings
Vegan Cones
Cold Stone Creamery offers vegan-friendly cone options for those looking for a plant-based treat. Specifically, their cake cone is a good choice for vegans. This allows customers to enjoy the full ice cream experience without compromising their dietary preferences. It is important to note, however, that individual stores may have slightly different menu items, so it’s always a good idea to check with the specific location to ensure the vegan cone is available.
When visiting a store, be mindful of the potential for cross-contamination, as non-vegan cones and ice cream are processed using the same equipment. If this is a concern, consider asking the staff to take extra precautions to minimize the risk.
Vegan Toppings
In addition to vegan cones, Cold Stone Creamery offers a wide array of vegan toppings to cater to different tastes. These range from fresh fruits, such as strawberry, mango, and banana, to candies and cookies like Oreos. Here is a list of some popular vegan toppings:
Fresh fruits: strawberry, mango, banana
Oreos
Nuts: almonds, peanuts, pecans
Candy: dark chocolate chips, gummy bears
It’s worth noting that some toppings may contain trace amounts of animal products or be produced in facilities that handle non-vegan ingredients. For example, the Reese’s Peanut Butter Sauce provided by Cold Stone Creamery is not classified as vegan. Be sure to inquire about any specific concerns or potential cross-contamination risks in the store prior to making your selection.
Remember to check with the individual store location about the specific toppings they carry, as availability may vary.
Vegan Cakes and Pies at Cold Stone Creamery
Vegan Ice Cream Cakes
Cold Stone Creamery offers a variety of ice cream cakes for customers with differing dietary needs. While there aren’t any specifically labeled vegan ice cream cakes on their standard menu, you can create a custom vegan cake by choosing dairy-free ice cream flavors and vegan-friendly toppings.
For a dairy-free ice cream base, select from available flavors like sorbet or a non-dairy ice cream flavor at your local Cold Stone. To build on this, there are plenty of vegan mix-ins and toppings to complement your creation. Add fruit like strawberries, pineapple, or blueberries for a fresh burst of flavor. If you’re looking for a crunch, consider choosing nuts or pretzels. Remember to avoid whipped topping and cakes containing eggs or corn syrup, as these ingredients are not vegan-friendly.
Vegan Pies
While traditional pies at Cold Stone Creamery typically use peach pie filling that may contain dairy products, a custom vegan pie can be made by following similar steps as creating a vegan ice cream cake. Begin with a dairy-free ice cream, sorbet base, or even a lifestyle smoothie mix for those seeking a healthier alternative.
When selecting vegan-friendly mix-ins for your pie, it’s essential to be mindful about ingredients such as lactose found in many top-selling predetermined pie recipes. However, with the inclusion of vegan toppings like fruit, nuts, and other add-ins, your pie is sure to be a delicious and satisfying vegan treat.
In summary, while Cold Stone Creamery might not have a specific menu section for vegan ice cream cakes and pies, customizing these frozen desserts with dairy-free ice cream, lactose-free options, and vegan mix-ins can create vegan alternatives that cater to your preferences, dietary choices, and lifestyle.
Vegan Beverages and Smoothies
At Cold Stone Creamery, vegan customers can still enjoy a refreshing treat with their vegan-friendly beverage and smoothie options. While the ice cream chain does not currently offer vegan ice cream, their menu features various alternatives that cater to those following a vegan diet.
One option is to simply enjoy a glass of water, which is always a vegan and healthy choice. However, for frozen treat lovers seeking something more flavorful, Cold Stone Creamery also offers a range of fruit-based smoothies that are free from animal-derived ingredients.
The Pineapple Orange Banana Smoothie and Orange Peach Mango Smoothie are two popular choices. Made from a blend of fruit juices and fruit sorbet, these are not only refreshing but also adhere to vegan dietary requirements. Keep in mind that the sorbets available at Cold Stone Creamery typically consist of fruit puree, sugar, and water, with no dairy or gelatin present.
When ordering a smoothie, ask the staff to use the Veggl app to double-check the ingredients and ensure the final product maintains its vegan-friendly status. Be cautious of items such as sugar cones, shakes, and sundaes, as their ingredients might not comply with a vegan diet.
Another important thing to note is that some of the ingredients at Cold Stone Creamery, like organic coconut oil, may be present in certain offerings on the menu. Use your discretion and communicate with the staff to avoid any cross-contamination and ensure your order aligns with your dietary preferences.
In conclusion, while Cold Stone Creamery does not offer vegan ice cream, there are still various beverages and smoothies available to cater to vegan customers.
Cross-Contamination and Allergen Information
Cold Stone Creamery offers a diverse menu, including ice creams, toppings, and waffle cones. This variety also means that there is a risk of cross-contamination with allergens. The main allergens present in their products include nuts, animal products, and gluten in waffle cones.
Some signature creations contain nuts and chocolate, which can pose a risk to those with severe nut allergies. Despite the use of separate utensils for different toppings, cross-contamination may still occur during preparation or while transferring the toppings at the counter.
The process of mixing ice cream and toppings together is done on a frozen granite stone. Although staff members are trained to clean the stone between servings, there is still a possibility of allergen residue from previous batches, increasing the risk of cross-contamination.
Water-based sorbets are offered as a vegan option at Cold Stone Creamery. These sorbets are free from animal products such as milk and are made with fresh fruit, coconut oil, and sometimes chocolate. While they don’t contain any dairy, the same granite stone is used to mix them, potentially leading to cross-contamination with dairy-based ice creams.
In terms of waffle cones, they are not vegan-friendly as they do contain animal-derived ingredients. To avoid cross-contamination with non-vegan ingredients, it is advisable to opt for a cup instead of a cone.
Danone North America, one of the suppliers of Cold Stone Creamery, manufactures vegan products. However, this information does not guarantee that the ice cream products in the store are entirely free from cross-contamination with animal products or allergens.
In summary, while Cold Stone Creamery provides some vegan-friendly options, cross-contamination with allergens, including nuts, dairy, and gluten, might still be a concern. Considering the potential for allergen exposure, customers with specific allergies or dietary preferences should make their choices carefully and communicate their concerns with the staff while placing their order.
Vegan Alternatives and Competitors
While Cold Stone Creamery does not have an extensive selection of vegan ice cream flavors, there are alternative desserts offered by them for customers seeking dairy-free options. The most notable option is their range of vegan sorbets. These are fruit-based, dairy-free, and usually naturally sweetened or reduced sugar, making them a suitable choice for vegans.
Another option for vegans is the creation of personalized sundaes using vegan pie filling as a topping. Cold Stone Creamery offers both cherry pie filling and apple pie filling, which can be combined with sorbets to create a vegan treat, without compromising on taste.
However, one cannot ignore the competition, including major players such as Dairy Queen or establishments focusing on vegan, organic ingredients like “Don’t Cry Over Spilled Silk”. Dairy Queen offers a range of non-dairy soft-serve alternatives, alongside an ever-growing list of plant-based treats catering to vegan customers.
When it comes to ingredients like organic coconut oil, many vegan-friendly ice cream brands incorporate this in their products for its health benefits and smooth, creamy texture. Brands such as So Delicious and NadaMoo! boast a variety of flavors in their offerings, which use coconut milk as a base and substitute coconut oil for more traditional ingredients.
Here’s a brief list of competitors offering vegan alternatives:
Dairy Queen
Don’t Cry Over Spilled Silk
So Delicious
NadaMoo!
These competitors provide a plethora of options for vegans, showing there’s no shortage of alternatives to Cold Stone Creamery when it comes to dairy-free ice cream choices.
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
