All Things Frozen: Cones, Cups and Sundaes

By AMANDA MAYO
Standard Staff Reporter

With temperatures rising into the low 70’s this weekend and more warm days on the way, local ice cream and yogurt shops are getting ready with specials for the season. From gourmet-flavored yogurt to mini yogurt cakes, Italian ices and old-fashioned hand-packed ice cream, Five Towners will be sure to find their frozen treat fix around town.

Nutella ice cream with Reeses Pieces topping from Dolce Confections. Photo by Amanda Mayo.

Dolce Confections

Although Dolce Confections in Hewlett is known for their beautiful candy baskets and chocolate desserts, they also have a wide array of frozen treats perfect for that hot summer day. Fat-free frozen yogurt is available in four flavors at any one given time. The vanilla flavor always stays the same while the other three flavors change about every two days. The flavors may include traditionals like chocolate, peanut butter and coffee, and then more unique flavors like Nutella and chocolate malt can make an appearance. Yogurt comes in three different sizes and starts at $3.95 for one scoop. There are also over 30 different toppings from candy to fresh fruit to nuts that you can add to each yogurt for .50 cents extra per topping.

Dolce Confections doesn’t just have yogurt – the store also offers gelato, mini yogurt cakes, mini yogurt cones, frozen yogurt bars and more. They serve gelato and yogurt on Belgian waffles starting at $6.99 for one scoop and these frozen treats are also available to put on crepes. The store offers a brownie sundae for $6.50 and then has frozen, blended coffees in flavors like chocolate chip chunk, coffee toffee and java chip for $3.95.

Dolce Confections is located at 1319 Broadway in Hewlett. (516) 374-1940. Store hours are Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Extended summer hours will be available soon. Kosher, check certification.

Off the Wall

Off the Wall in Cedarhurst specializes in self-serve frozen yogurt that comes in 16 different flavors. Some examples of the gourmet, unique flavors that can be found are cheesecake, angel cake, cake batter, dulce de leche, café au lait and peanut butter blast. There are also two sorbet flavors for a lighter, icier treat. The flavors change at random. At 49 cents an ounce, patrons can mix and match yogurts and add in toppings. The toppings range from candies like Heath, Pop Rocks and Kit Kats; to nuts like almonds and walnuts; to cereals like Fruity Pebbles and Cinnamon Toast Crunch; fresh fruits, pretzels, cheesecake bites and even Jelly Belly jellybeans.

Off the Wall offers nut-free toppings in a separate container from the regular toppings and charges 75 cents on top of the price-per-ounce to put the yogurt and toppings into a waffle bowl. Off the Wall sells pre-made yogurt cakes and will also make custom cakes designed for any special occasion. Cakes are priced at $25 for six-inch cakes and $35 for eight-inch cakes. Ghirardelli syrups are also available to pour onto any yogurt creation.

Off the Wall is located at 590 Central Avenue in Cedarhurst. (516) 341-0301. Store hours are Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Kosher, check certification.

Ezra’s Yogurt & Ice Cream

Ezra’s Yogurt & Ice Cream in Cedarhurst, located right next to Ezra’s pharmacy, serves up Cholov Yisroel ice cream in flavors like cookies and cream, vanilla fudge, mint chocolate chip and butter pecan. There are two soft-serve yogurt machines with flavors that change every few weeks and there is a machine to produce an ice cream and yogurt soft serve mix that is very popular. Ice cream and yogurt comes in three sizes: small, medium and large from $2.75 to $4.00. Toppings are fifty cents each and range from candies to chocolates to fruit. On Tuesdays, there is a buy one yogurt get one free special.

Ezra’s also offers milkshakes and Cholov Yisroel ice cream cakes that start at $16.95. The cakes may contain a custom mix of ice cream flavors specially decorated to celebrate any unique occasion.

Ezra’s Yogurt & Ice Cream is located at 604 Central Avenue in Cedarhurst. (516) 569-7820. Store hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. They are closed Saturdays and Sundays. Kosher, check certification.

Toppings from Off the Wall. Photo courtesy of Off the Wall.

Hewlett Station Yogurt

Hewlett Station Yogurt has been serving up frozen treats since 1991. “We go by quality and price,” co-owner Eric Marcus, of East Rockaway, said. “We sell the best yogurt at the best price.” On Tuesdays and Saturdays, Hewlett Station Yogurt offers a special –  buy one yogurt and get one free.

Popular flavors at the shop include cookies and cream, vanilla mint and red velvet cake and there is also the option of mixing a topping and yogurt into a drinkable dessert called “The Hewlee.” Yogurt sizes come in kiddie, small and large and run from $3.25 to $4.20. The Hewlee starts at $4.95 and toppings are 75 cents each.

Marcus said the store has added a brand-new smoothie bar just in time for the upcoming summer season. Smoothies start at $5.25 and come in fruit flavors like strawberry banana and mango. Smoothies may be made out of any kind of yogurt.

Hewlett Station Yogurt is located at 1213 Station Plaza in Hewlett. (516) 295-0630. Store hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Kosher, check certification. 

Carvel

No frozen dessert list would be complete without popular ice cream chain Carvel. Carvel in Hewlett is celebrating their 50^th anniversary this year, according to store owner Glen Aleksis. Aside from the regular ice cream that comes in dozens of flavors, Carvel is offering special Girl Scout Cookie Dashers for a limited time throughout the summer. Carvel’s soft serve ice cream is layered between Girl Scout cookie toppings that come in three flavors: Samoas, Thin Mints and Tagalongs. Regular Dazzler flavors include peanut butter cup, bananas foster, mint chocolate chip and fudge brownie. Prices are $5.25 for a small, $6 for a medium and $7 for a large.

Classic sundaes start at $4.45; Carvelanches, which consist of vanilla or chocolate soft serve mixed with toppings, start at $5.25. Milkshakes start at $3.85 and there is a whole case of pre-made ice cream cakes, flying saucer sandwiches and ice cream cones available for purchase.

Carvel is located at 1344 Peninsula Boulevard in Hewlett. (516) 374-2994. Store hours are Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Kosher, check certification.

Dazzlers from Carvel. Photo courtesy of Carvel.

Ralph’s Italian Ices

Ralph’s Italian Ices in Valley Stream, just off Peninsula Boulevard at the Hewlett/Lynbrook border, serves up Italian ices in two varieties: water ices and cream ices (or sherbet). Ralph’s newest creation, the Iceberg, puts creamy soft ice cream on top of a refreshing smoothie. Smoothies come in flavors like peach, mango, banana, root beer, chocolate, raspberry, strawberry, lemonade and blue Hawaii. Icebergs cost $4.75.

Another new item at Ralph’s for the summer is the Twister – a Ralph’s Italian ice layered between swirls of soft ice cream for $3.75. Prices for Italian ices in small, medium and large start at $1.50 and go up to $4.25. Ices come in water-based flavors like margarita, honeydew, cotton candy and Malibu Bay Breeze. Artic shakes and fruit smoothies are $4.75.

Ralph’s Italian Ices is located at 1091 Rockaway Avenue in Valley Stream. (516) 568-3763. Store hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Not kosher.

Frozen drinks from Haagen-Dazs. Photo courtesy of Haagen-Dazs.

Haagen-Dazs

Another popular ice cream chain is Haagen-Dazs in Cedarhurst. This kosher ice cream establishment is home to 32 flavors plus a few sorbet and yogurt flavors. The ice cream is ever-changing and comes in flavors like  salted caramel truffle, coconut macaroon and caramel cone. Ice cream cups run from $3.10 to $5.30. A regular waffle cone costs only $1.00 and it is the perfect-sized treat on a hot day. Chocolate-dipped waffle cones cost $1.50 and sundaes run from $4.30 to $6.40. Hand-packed pints of ice cream are also available for $5.85 each.

Haagen-Dazs’ Dazzler drink, which consists of blended ice cream and toppings, comes in flavors like mint chocolate chip, rocky road, banana split and dulce split. Dazzlers cost $7.25. Blended milkshakes and malts are also available, as well as the healthier smoothie option. These blended drinks start at $5.50.

Haagen-Dazs is located at 116 Cedarhurst Avenue in Cedarhurst. (516) 374-6107. Store hours are Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Kosher, check certification.