Go Beyond Ice Cream With These 5 Summertime Desserts
From fresh fruit flavors to nostalgic sweets, try every seasonal offering in our counties.
By this point in the summer, you’ve likely stopped by your favorite local ice cream shop for a cold treat and to try out the newest flavors. And, while we always scream for ice cream, we also don’t want to limit ourselves. There’s a world of summertime sweets and treats out there and, with the weather staying steamy, you have plenty of time to enjoy them.
From carnival classics to fruit-flavored sips, reach for any of these options next time you’re craving something seasonal—some are from establishments you selected in our last Readers’ Choice Awards, and all are highly rated.
Photo courtesy of Applegate Farm
All shook up. Though the base of a milkshake is ice cream, you shouldn’t write it off as second tier to scoops or soft serve. Establishments all around Morris and Essex create some truly unique, sweet and endlessly Instagram-able sips. Try 2024 Readers’ Choice Staff Pick Applegate Farm in Montclair, for instance, where milkshake toppings such as caramel corn, cotton candy, mini donuts and more spill over the top of the glass. Or try Scoop Station in Morris Plains, which transforms any flavor you’re craving into a milkshake piled high with whipped cream and topped with a cherry.
Photo courtesy of Nasto’s Ice Cream
Watch for ice. The light flavors and lack of dairy make Italian ices a perfect way to cool down on a hot day. Though you could always stop at your local Rita’s franchise (you’ll find one in Randolph and in Pequannock Township), there are also great local options. Stop by Nasto’s Ice Cream in Newark, which has been family operated since 1939 and serves Italian ice in such favors as mango, fresh cantaloupe and lemon. Or head over to Guerriero Gelato in Caldwell and West Orange for a flavor list that includes guava, coconut and blood orange—and that’s just the start.
Photo courtesy of Smiley’s Fresh
Grab a blender. Craving fresh fruit? Try a refreshing smoothie from Smiley’s Fresh in Denville (we are looking at the Santorini Sunrise with mango, pineapple, orange and coconut water) or Green Point Juicery, with locations in Morristown and Verona. (Included on Green Point’s menu is the Blue Elixir, which is a head-turning baby blue color thanks to edible E3Live algae). Another option: The Fruit Bar in Cedar Grove, which offers a wide range of cool and colorful drinks.
Carnival creations. Carnivals and festivals offer peak summer vibes, and you don’t have to wait for one to come to your town to pick up your favorite fair food. For funnel cake, head over to dessert experts Momma’s Nan Treats in East Orange (you can add a wide spread of toppings). Churros? Leyendas De Mexico in Morris Plains and Parsippany offers a fantastic churro dessert, as does Milagros Mexican Cuisine in Parsippany (this one has a marmalade tequila chocolate sauce for dipping). You can even get the ultimate in sweet carnival indulgence, fried Oreos, at Diesel & Duke in Montclair.
Photo courtesy of The Able Baker
Pie in the sky. Yes, this dessert is most associated with cozy holidays like Thanksgiving, but don’t count it out as a warm-weather bite. Maplewood’s The Able Baker, a 2024 Readers’ Choice Staff Pick, offers a chilled key lime pie in a graham cracker crust (plus key lime cupcakes). The Pie Store in Montclair also does a fantastic key lime pie (and you can buy it by the slice). In addition to that flavor, Kirshenbaum Baking Co.in Morristown offers a cold chocolate mousse-based mud pie.
How are you keeping cool in Morris and Essex? Tell us all about it on Instagram @morrisandessexmag!
