The golden decadence sundae
I love ice cream. It’s a dessert that can be eaten year-round, and it’s made all the better by wintertime temperatures. Why make a weak attempt to warm your insides with coffee when the cold is going to win anyway? Grab a blanket, sit by the fireplace and enjoy any of my top five decadent frozen treats available in Washington, the country and around the world.
1. Frozen Hot Chocolate
This frozen concoction is a cool twist on a warm classic. Not quite a chocolate milkshake, not quite hot chocolate, frozen hot chocolate puts you in the spirit of the holidays and is a delicious alternative when you get tired of hot cocoa. Plus, you can gift it — Serendipity 3 in Georgetown sells their famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate mix in-store and on Amazon.com for $11.99. If you’re on a budget, try the frozen hot chocolate shake at Cone E. Island near George Washington University.
2. Ice Cream Sundaes
Sundaes are a classic that’s making a comeback. They’re bigger and better than ever as ice cream parlors around the country try to outdo each other. For snowbirds, one of the best places to get a sundae is Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlour and Restaurantin Dania Beach, Florida — its “Kitchen Sink” sundae is so decadent, only parties of four or more can order it! Serendipity 3 also carries the Golden Opulence Sundae, which uses 23 karat gold flakes. However, it’s out of most college students’ price range — it costs $1,000 and takes two days to make (so put it on your Christmas list).
3. Milkshakes
Milkshakes are my personal favorite, because they’re creamier than normal ice cream. My favorite place to get them is Holsten’s Brookedale Confectionery in Bloomfield, N.J. Modeled after an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, Holsten’s is a big tourist destination — it was where the final episode of the HBO television series The Sopranos was shot. If you find yourself in the area, try their Heavy Milk Shake — it’s blended with two scoops of their homemade ice cream to creamy perfection.
4. Ice Cream Sandwiches
Mess-free and easy to hold, ice cream sandwiches are good for those who want to indulge on the go. Plus, Washington food trucks have only made it easier to do so. One such truck, Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats, specializes in a variation on the classic chocolate and vanilla combo with its red velvet donut ice cream sandwich. Though it costs $14, most customers claim it’s deliciously decadent for a treat that has been touring on a food truck.
5. Glow-In-The-Dark Ice Cream
A recent invention by British ice cream company Lick Me I’m Delicious, glow-in-the-dark ice cream is infused with jellyfish protein. As a result, the ice cream illuminates when it reacts with the warmth of your tongue. The company’s founder, Charles Francis, has personally tried the ice cream and claims it’s safe to eat. However, you’ll have to travel abroad to splurge your Christmas money on this treat — one scoop costs 140 pounds, or $225.
