Getting vegan ice cream is not easy. Most fast-food restaurants do not even provide vegan ice cream. Ice cream is often created using cream, cow’s milk, and sugar. Because dairy is prohibited for vegans, conventional ice cream is out of the question.
Fortunately, several restaurant chains provide ice cream made with plant-based milk, such as oat milk, soymilk, coconut milk, and others.
Is Friendly’s that friendly to be one of these restaurants? Sad to say, no. Friendly’s does not sell vegan-friendly ice cream, however, its ice cream cones and many of its toppings are. Don’t worry, ice cream is not their only offer! There are still a lot of vegan dishes you can get at Friendly’s.
Continue reading to find more about Friendly’s and their vegan options.
Friendly’s – A Brief Background
The Blake Brothers opened their first ice cream business in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1935, and decided to name it “Friendly,” promising that the modest ice cream shop would be a welcoming spot for families to share a meal together. They continue believing in that vision.
Even today, you may find your old-school Friendly’s staples on the menu! They have committed their lives to produce the Friendly’s you love, one which your children can cherish for years to come, from made-to-order Friendly’s Big Beef Burgers to handmade ice cream at the conclusion of your meal.
What Are The Vegan Options At Friendly’s?
It doesn’t have to be difficult to eat vegan at Friendly’s!
Friendly’s Ice Cream is a prominent restaurant company that sells far more than ice cream, however, are any of their menu items vegan-friendly? Yes! You won’t be able to have ice cream, but you’ll be able to get vegetable fries and a sandwich. It’s not that heavy kind of meal, but it is still worth a try.
Scroll down for a comprehensive list of Friendly’s Ice Cream’s vegan selections.
Breakfast
Here is the list of what you can order at Friendly’s to fill up your morning
- Strawberry Topping
- Grape Jelly
- Pineapple Topping
- Plain Bagel
- Fried Breakfast Potatoes
- Orange Marmalade
- Steel Cut Oatmeal with no Milk
- Banana
- Granola
- Onions
- Dried Fruit
- Walnuts
- Green Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Sliced Almonds
- Fruit Bowl with Spring Fruit or Winter
- Sauteed Mushrooms
- Fruit Juice
Lunch And Dinner
Friendly’s does not provide vegan-friendly sandwiches, but most of its rolls and bread are vegan, and you could simply order a vegetarian sandwich.
- French Fries
- Waffle Fries – These waffle fries are just fried fresh potatoes but with a fun types of cuts that makes it more appealing and enjoyable for the kids. Here is the nutritional content for your reference.
| Calories | 300 |
| Calories from fat | 153 |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.5 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 5 g |
| Sodium | 940 g |
| Carbohydrates | 36 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Added sugar | 0 g |
| Protein | 3 g |
| Vitamin A | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 15% |
| Calcium | 0% |
| Iron | 8% |
- Salad with no Cheese or Egg, With Lite Balsamic Vinaigrette, Sweet Ginger Sesame Dressing or Fat Free Italian
- Avocado
- Ciabatta Roll – This is made 100% plant-based. It’s made out of water, flour, yeast and salt. Let’s take a look at its nutritional data. Note that this may vary depending on the location, so might as well confirm it in the staff.
| Calories | 190 |
| Calories from fat | 20 |
| Fat | 2 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 5 g |
| Sodium | 280 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 34 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Added sugar | 0 g |
| Protein | 8 g |
| Vitamin A | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0% |
| Calcium | 4% |
| Iron | 10% |
- Wheat Roll
- Grilled White Bread
- Garlic Herb Pasta with Fresh Veggies
- Bed of Leaf Lettuce
- Tortilla Strips
- Green Peppers
- Rice
- Sauerkraut
- Grilled Onions
- Corn
- Garden Vegetables
- Broccoli
- Applesauce
- Apple Slices
- Mandarin Oranges
Other Vegan Ice Cream Chains
Even though Friendly’s is not that ‘friendly’ when it comes to desserts, you do not have to give up. There are dozens of other restaurant franchises that provide vegan ice cream which is also great.
Such ice creams are manufactured from plant-based fluids that mimic the characteristics, taste, and texture of animal milk. Soymilk, almond milk, coconut milk, Oatly milk, and other popular vegan kinds of milk are some of the ingredients they use to prepare vegan ice creams.
Here are a few of the most popular restaurant franchises that provide vegan ice cream.
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
Bruster’s also sells a variety of vegan-friendly items. There are nine vegan ice cream flavors available, including chocolate, banana, vanilla, and others. All of these ice creams are vegan-friendly because they are produced with coconut milk. This ice cream parlor business also serves sorbets, Italian ice, and guilt-free drinks for vegans. Availability differs by store, so check with yours to see what flavors are offered, as most only offer one or two vegan choices at a time, and others don’t sell any at all.
KIND Frozen
KIND is another food chain that merits being on our list. It’s worth noting that not every KIND product seems to be vegan. Some of them do include animal-based products. So, before ordering a KIND frozen treat, read the ingredients.
KIND is well-known for its nut and energy bars. Some of these bars are entirely vegan, whereas others contain dairy. The firm has introduced new dessert heaven with a range of tastes for vegans, including:
- Coffee Hazelnut
- Caramel Almond
- Pistachio
- Cherry Cashew
- Peanut Butter
- Strawberry
- Dark Chocolate
- Sea Salt
JD’s Vegan
Jermaine Dupri, a famous music producer and long-time vegan, launched his own vegan-friendly ice cream franchise. This company’s tastes are all prepared with a velvety coconut base.
JD’s Vegan has six delectable vegan varieties to choose from, including:
- Chocolate My Way
- (404) Cookie & Cream
- Welcome to Atlanta Peach Cobbler
- Apple Butter
- Key Lime Pie
- Strawberry Sweetheart
Daily Harvest
Most people are familiar with Daily Harvest because of its smoothies. But did you guys know they also have coconut-based ice cream? These desserts are ideal for vegetarians and anyone who is health-conscious.
Daily Harvest’s ice creams feature a variety of healthful components, such as probiotics, pine pollen, ashwagandha, and others.
Vegan tastes available at Daily Harvest are including:
- Chocolate & Ooey
- Mink & Dark
- Midnight Fudge
- Cacao Chips
- Vanilla & Salted
- Black Sesame
- Strawberry & Rich
- Rippled Berry
Everyday Bliss
If you haven’t heard of the Everyday Bliss, you’ve most likely heard of Coconut Bliss. These businesses are founded by the same company and provide items that are entirely plant-based, organic, and ultra-creamy.
Everyday Bliss’ ice cream varieties are both delicious and reasonably priced. Among these tastes are:
- Vanilla Swirl
- Salted Caramel
- Salty Peanut Butter
- Chocolate Chip
- Caramel Macchiato
SorBabes
Sorbet is another popular frozen dessert in the United States. Sorbets, unlike gelato and ice cream, are composed entirely of fruit purees, such as orange juice, lemon juice, and others. Sorbets are good for all vegans because they do not include dairy.
Once it refers to sorbet, no one beats SorBabes. This company sells sorbets in a range of flavors, including:
- Café Almond
- Jam’n Lemon
- Cocoa Haze
- Passionella
- Raz’n Berry
- Butta Luva
- Pistachio and Caramel
Oatly
Oatly is among the most popular vegan companies on the market, and it manufactures all of its goods using delicious and super-creamy oat milk. Many customers believe that oat milk is the greatest vegan alternative to cow milk.
As of 2021, eight distinct Oatly’s ice cream flavors are offered, including:
- Fudge Brownie
- Raspberry Swirl
- Oat
- Salted Caramel
- Chocolate
- Vanilla
- Strawberry
- Mint Chip
- Coffee
- Chocolate Chip
Van Leeuwen
This company sells dairy-free ice cream from food carts and Van Leeuwen stores in New York and Los Angeles. However, you can obtain your beloved Van Leeuwen ice cream varieties at certain grocery shops and online.
Because it pertains to vegan-friendly ice cream, Van Leeuwen has a vast range of flavors to choose from, including:
- Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll
- Salted Caramel
- Bourbon Vanilla Apple Crisp
- Chocolate Fudge
- Chocolate Chip Cookie
- Mint Chip
- Cookie Crumble Strawberry Jam
- Cookie & Cream Caramel Swirl
Doozy Pots
Then there are these Doozy Pots. To make its exquisite ice creams, this company combines oat milk and hemp. Doozy Pot’s ice cream is now available in five varieties, including:
- Swirl of Raspberry
- Mint Chocolate
- Coffee and Cookies
- The Vanilla Bean
- Swirl of Banana
Alden’s Organic
Alden’s organic ice creams are dairy-free and vegan-friendly, made with oat flour, coconut oil, pea protein, and brown rice. Alden’s Organic’s vegan ice cream flavors include:
- Muddy Brownie
- Caramel Drizzle
- Vanilla Bean
- Double Strawberry
- Cookie Crumble
- Caramel Almond Crunch
- Vanilla Bean
- Peanut Butter
- Freckled Mint
In addition to ice cream scoops, Alden’s Organic sells ice cream sandwiches in two flavors: vanilla bean and caramel drizzle.
Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, Friendly’s is not that friendly to offer vegan ice creams as all of its products include dairy. However, there are still considerable options that Friendly’s can offer aside from the dessert. So you can still grab some if you’re planning to dine vegan there.
But, if you want ice cream, you may go to a restaurant that employs plant-based milk to make exquisite frozen treats, such as oat milk, soymilk, rice milk, coconut milk, and others.