Back in the 1920s, in Buffalo, NY, Charles Taylor filed a patent for a machine that would change the future of dessert forever. It was the world’s first soft-serve machine, and the velvety, soft ice cream it produced was a big hit.
By the 1940s, even Dairy Queen had soft serve, and trucks serving the whipped sweet treat were becoming a more common sight.
Fun fact: while all soft serve is ice cream, not all ice cream is soft serve. Soft serve has a lighter, smoother, and creamier texture compared to traditional ice cream, which has a slightly denser texture. This is due to the higher amount of air incorporated into the mixture during the freezing process. Both have similar ingredients (like milk, cream, and sugar); however, soft serve often has a higher proportion of milk to cream and may include stabilizers and emulsifiers to maintain its smooth texture.
If you’re in the mood for ice cream, you can find our guide to the best shops serving up dairy-free cones and cups here.
Today, soft serve is still a favorite of many Americans. But while most options are made with dairy, vegan soft serve is also a popular choice. If you’re in the mood for a swirl, here are some of the best spots to grab vegan soft serve across the US.
West Coast (and Hawaii)
Yoga-Urt
1 Yoga-Urt
Multiple locations, CA
All of Yoga-Urt’s soft serve is made with organic nuts. The flavors are consistently changing, but keep an eye out for mouthwatering options like Lavender Blossom and Salted Caramel Zen. You can also opt for a deliciously creamy soft-serve-based shake in flavors like Peanut Butter Brownie and classic strawberry.
Ice Queen
2 Ice Queen
Portland, OR
The Oatly soft-serve-based Thiccflurries are a real showstopper at this Chicana-owned ice cream parlor in Portland. Forget McDonald’s and its McFlurries; you need more Ice Queen in your life.
Niu Soft Serve
3 Niu Soft Serve
Honolulu, HI
If you’re in Honolulu, Niu’s coconut-based, local-style soft serve is a must-try. All of the toppings are also made in-house—choose from options like roasted macadamia nuts, sesame salted caramel, and hot kūlolo sauce.
Besties Vegan Paradise
4 Besties Vegan Paradise
Los Angeles, CA
You can grab all kinds of vegan goodies at this vegan grocery store. After you’ve finished filling your cart with your favorite plant-based finds, reward yourself with the grocery store’s own plant-based soft serve in flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and rotating seasonal flavors.
Magpies Softserve
5Magpies Softserve
Multiple locations, CA
- This spot is vegan-friendly, not 100% vegan
This popular dessert hot spot has three locations across California, in Silver Lake, Highland Park, and Tarzana. Each offers a wide range of ultra-indulgent vegan soft-serve choices, including Roasted Strawberry, Miso Caramel, and Orange Creamsicle. One scoop not enough? Check out its signature soft-serve pies, too.
EB & Bean
6 EB & Bean
Portland, OR
- This spot is vegan-friendly, not 100% vegan
EB & Bean isn’t entirely vegan, but it has paid special attention to dairy-free soft serve. Case in point: Coconut Cream Caramel, an indulgent froyo blend of creamy coconut milk and Bloom Salted Caramel. Other standout flavors include Chocolate Mint, French Vanilla, and Cherry Pie.
Plant Power Fast Food
7 Plant Power Fast Food
Multiple locations
After digging into vegan fast-food favorites at Plant Power Fast Food—like cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, wings, and sweet potato fries—it’s time for dessert. Cap it all off with the chain’s ultra-creamy, oat-based vanilla soft serve. Plant Power currently has several locations across Los Angeles, plus one in Las Vegas.
Southwest
Swirled Peace
8 Swirled Peace
Dallas, TX
When you’re in Dallas, a stop at Swirled Peace is a must. Everything on the soft serve menu is dairy-free and, for the most part, gluten-free, too. Flavors include Frozen Hot Chocolate, Horchata, and Birthday Cake, all of which can be customized with toppings like cookie dough, berries, coconut flakes, caramel sauce, and more. If you’re craving something savory after all that sweetness, the shop also serves deli sandwiches and personal pizzas.
Nami
9 Nami
Phoenix, AZ
Head to Nami for breakfast and coffee, but don’t leave without trying its exceptional soft serve (called tSoynami, of course). Made with organic soy and coconut milk, you can choose a chocolate or vanilla base—or swirl the two together—before adding one of the shop’s signature topping combinations. Clunky Monkey, piled with fresh banana, organic pecans, banana syrup, and chocolate syrup, is calling our name. Loudly.
Mission Burger
10 Mission Burger
Austin, TX and Atlanta, GA
The best follow-up to a juicy vegan burger is, without a doubt, creamy, silky vegan soft serve. Mission Burger is well aware of this, which is why it offers fresh, housemade vegan soft serve daily. Don’t want to wait for a dessert? Enjoy your soft serve in a shake, which is arguably the socially acceptable way to enjoy a sweet treat before your main arrives.
Midwest
Vaca’s Creamery
11 Vaca’s Creamery
Chicago, IL
Using locally sourced ingredients, Vaca’s Creamery makes delicious, velvety vegan soft serve in vanilla and chocolate, alongside elaborate sundaes and milkshakes. Top with everything from peanut butter sauce to condensed oat milk to toasted marshmallows. If you need a caffeine hit, you could also opt for an affogato, which is soft-serve ice cream with a shot of espresso poured over the top.
Runaway Cow
12 Runaway Cow
Chicago, IL
Chicago favorite Runaway Cow offers an extensive oat milk ice cream menu, along with chocolate and vanilla soft serve. But it’s the Snow Storms that arguably steal the show. These indulgent treats combine soft serve with mix-ins and toppings to create the ultimate frozen dessert. Some of the standout flavors include Caramel Chip Cheesecake, Cappuccino Major, and Strawberry Shortcake.
Cold Truth
13 Cold Truth
Ann Arbor and Ferndale, MI
With locations in Ann Arbor and Ferndale, Cold Truth is helping keep Michigan well stocked with exceptional vegan soft serve. The menu features a rotating selection of creative flavors, including lime, horchata, strawberry, and more. Be sure to keep an eye on its social media for regular updates on limited-edition creations.
Sweet Emotion
14 Sweet Emotion
Kansas City, MO
According to Kansas City vegan favorite Sweet Emotion, it serves up soft serve with a side of “angst and punk rock.” If that sounds like your kind of dessert, you know where to go. Flavors rotate regularly, but past favorites have included Raspberry Whip, PB Cookie, and Cherry Chocolate.
Frosty’s
15 Frosty’s
Lakewood, OH
Frosty’s is a sweet tooth’s paradise. The bakery serves everything from cake by the slice and custom cakes to cupcakes and, of course, the reason we’re all here: vegan soft serve. Flavors are always changing, but if past creations like Coconut & Passion Fruit and Lemon & Blueberry are anything to go by, you’re in for a treat.
Northeast
Seed and Mill
16 Seed and Mill
New York, NY
Seed and Mill, located in New York’s popular and historic Chelsea Market, does soft serve a little differently. All of its flavors are vegan and made with oat milk and tahini. Yep, the Middle Eastern sauce made with sesame seeds. And it totally works. This soft serve is creamy, velvety, and full of flavor, especially when topped with the brand’s signature halva crumbles.
Orchard Grocer
17Orchard Grocer
New York, NY
You can pick up just about anything at Orchard Grocer. Pantry staples? Check. Vegan snacks? Check. Fresh, delicious wraps? Check. Vegan soft serve? Absolutely. Don’t miss the Sundae Specials, which pair creamy soft serve with indulgent mix-ins like marshmallow cream and chocolate sauce. We’re drooling just thinking about them.
Scoop Deville
18Scoop Deville
Philadelphia, PA
- This spot is vegan-friendly, not 100% vegan
Did you know? Scoop Deville’s “famous custom soft serve” also comes dairy-free. Check out options like the Charles Mint Barkley, which features mint ice cream blended with chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate sauce. There’s also the Philly Samoa Lovin’, which is loaded with salted caramel ice cream, chocolate chips, and toasted coconut.
Vegan Treats
19Vegan Treats
Bethlehem, PA
You might know Vegan Treats as one of the country’s best destinations for impressive vegan custom cakes and indulgent baked goods like cannolis and doughnuts—and while it certainly is, don’t overlook the dairy-free soft serve. The Bethlehem shop sticks to a rotating flavor schedule (we love a plan), with upcoming options posted on its website. At the time of writing, flavors include Chocolate and Churro, Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake, and Watermelon and Vanilla Lime.
Like No Udder
20Like No Udder
Providence, RI
In Rhode Island and craving vegan soft serve? Head straight to Like No Udder. The ice cream hot spot whips up oat- and soy-based swirls in vanilla, chocolate, and a rotating lineup of other delicious flavors.
Sweet Izzy
21 Sweet Izzy
Cape Cod, MA and Denver, CO
Sweet Izzy, with locations in both Cape Cod and Denver, is every vegan ice cream lover’s dream destination. In addition to its delicious range of hard scoops, it also offers a selection of vegan soft serve options. We told you: the dream. Choose from vanilla or chocolate (or a twist of both), and top with everything from rainbow sprinkles to cookie pieces.
Southeast
Peel
22 Peel
Miami, FL
If you’re in Miami and craving refreshment, don’t skip Peel. All of its soft serve is dairy-free; in fact, the base is made with just two ingredients, banana and coconut milk. Choose from a range of flavors and toppings, including fresh fruit, granola, nuts, nut butters, and even sprinkles made with natural ingredients.
The Creamy Spot
23 The Creamy Spot
Atlanta, GA
As Atlanta’s first full-service plant-based creamery, The Creamy Spot is a go-to destination for vegan, allergen-friendly soft serve in Georgia. The classic vanilla soft serve is hard to beat, but we’re also eyeing mouthwatering flavors like Blueberries and Cream, as well as seasonal specials such as Orange Creamsicle.
Big Softie
24 Big Softie
Atlanta, GA
- This spot is vegan-friendly, not 100% vegan
Yep, Atlantans have more than one option for exceptional vegan soft serve. What a time to be alive. Big Softie caters to dairy-free diners in Summerhill, Poncey-Highland, and Old Fourth Ward with its creamy oat milk vanilla soft serve, which can be customized with toppings like brownie bites, hot fudge, and cornflake streusel.
Fragaria Ice Cream
25Fragaria Ice Cream
Orlando, FL
If you’ve never tried Fragaria’s New Zealand-style ice cream, now’s the time. Made by blending real fruit with oat milk ice cream and cacao butter, it’s creamy, velvety smooth, and perfect for anyone craving a dairy-free soft serve fix. Every swirl is made to order: choose your base (vanilla, chocolate, or coconut), pick your fruit (options include strawberry, dark cherries, and peach), then finish it off with your favorite toppings and drizzles. The sweetened condensed oat milk is a must-try.
Nationwide
Pressed Juicery
26 Pressed Juicery
Alongside its fan-favorite juices and smoothies, Pressed Juicery is also known for its Freeze dairy-free soft serve, available in flavors like Chocolate, Açaí, and Dubai Style. Pick up a swirl at one of the brand’s 90-plus locations, or order it for local delivery if you live nearby.
16 Handles
27 16 Handles
Multiple locations
- This spot is vegan-friendly, not 100% vegan
Yup, this popular soft-serve shop has vegan options, too. The menu features delicious dairy-free choices like Oat Milk Banana and Oat Milk Caramel Apple. According to the chain, it’s “so good, you wouldn’t even know it’s not dairy.”
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
