Maple Creemees, Where Have You Been All Our Lives?

Until this spring, I had never even heard of a maple creemee. Then we went to Vermont for Maple Weekend, and my world changed forever.

Once I learned what they were, a soft-serve ice cream made with pure maple syrup and fresh cream from local Vermont farms, I knew I had to try one. But here’s the catch: maple creemees are seasonal. Early spring isn’t prime time. My introduction would have to wait.

Apparently, they’re a Vermont thing. And maybe… they should stay that way. Hear me out…Vermont’s economy thrives on dairy and maple farming, so this beautiful combination of the two is perfect for the state. Plus, part of their magic might be that they’re not everywhere. Scarcity makes the heart (and the sweet tooth) grow fonder.

Now, calling them “soft serve” doesn’t quite do them justice. A good maple creemee is different, denser, silkier, and richer than your average twist cone. That creaminess comes at a cost though: more fat than typical soft serve. And honestly? If maple creemees were at every ice cream stand in New England, I’d be in trouble.

This summer, we made up for lost time and sampled several maple creemees during our Vermont vacation. You can find them at maple farms, roadside ice cream stands (some entirely devoted to creemees), and surprisingly often, in general stores. But beware: not all maple creemees are created equal.

Two standouts for me: Cold Hollow Cider Mill and Willoughby Lake Store. Both were spectacular, but Willoughby Lake Store might have edged out the competition. Was it because we had just hiked Mount Pisgah and were starving? Possibly. But either way, it was heaven.

If you haven’t been to Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, put it on your list. Between the hiking, the views, and the maple creemees, it’s basically paradise. Oh, and don’t underestimate the unexpected spots. One of the best we had came from a gas station/general store in Waterbury. Lesson learned: in Vermont, if someone’s selling a maple creemee, you say yes. Once you try one, you’ll be asking the same thing I did: “Maple creemees, where have you been all my life?”