Portland-based ice cream star Salt & Straw is dedicated to always having at least two vegan flavors on hand. But come January—also known as Veganuary in some circles—they really shine. Ice cream-loving vegans wait in suspense each December for the January flavors to drop.
Salt & Straw was kind enough to send me their five flavors to try. Yes, it’s a lot of work and responsibility to be a vegan ice cream reviewer. One that requires year-round research and dedication.
This is the sixth year of Salt & Straw’s Dairy-Free Decadence Series. It’s a tradition I hope they keep up forever. Let’s look at each of this year’s Salt & Straw Veganuary offerings.
Death By Chocolate Chocolate Cake
You can count on Salt & Straw to put a lot of time and attention into each flavor. And it pays off in the best vegan chocolate ice cream I can ever remember tasting. This malty barley oat milk-based ice cream is already very fudgy. Then they swirl in hunks of ganache and chocolate cake and chocolate fudge. That’s why they repeated the word “chocolate” in the name. Hell, they could call it Death By Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Cake and still not overstate the choco impact. This one won our in-home taste test. My husband usually prefers fruity flavors, but this time he voted chocolate.
Chocolate Caramel Corn with Candied Peanuts
Salt & Straw calls this oat milk and coconut-based ice cream “our most intensely corn-forward flavor yet.” Corn in ice cream? Sounds weird but it works. They’ve taken the idea of Cracker Jack with its popcorn, peanuts and caramel candy and made it into ice cream. This one sticks to your teeth a little—just like real Cracker Jacks. Chocolate Caramel Corn with Candied Peanuts was my runner up. Because what beats chocolate and peanuts?
Coconut Cake & Pineapple Jam
If you like coconut, this tastes very natural and textured. Salt & Straw is aiming for a spirit-lifting pina colada in January vibe with this one. Add pineapple coconut jam, bits of vanilla cupcakes and rum-spiked vanilla coconut cream. I’m a nondrinker and didn’t notice the rum until I later read a description. Fortunately it did not trigger a binge. But if you are super alcohol sensitive, be aware! This was my husband’s second favorite Salt & Straw Veganuary flavor.
Marionberry Oatmeal Cobbler
This ice cream contains surprisingly big pieces of marionberry cobbler in a cinnamon-spiced oat and coconut milk combo. It’s a very Northwest sort of flavor.
Bananas Foster with Candied Pecans
The Salt & Straw Veganuary take on Bananas Foster starts with a rich base made from simmered ripe bananas, brown sugar, dark rum and spices. I approached this one warily due to the rum, but I didn’t get any feeling of danger to my sobriety. But again, be aware if you’re sensitive to traces of alcohol in your food. The candied pecans add texture to this flavor that was created in New Orleans in the 1950s.
Where can you buy these delicious flavors?
If you’re lucky enough to live (or visit) somewhere with a scoop shop, try these dairy-free flavors through January at these locations. Or shop online for delivery across the US.
