Twenty years ago, Danielle Konya went vegan overnight, and the very first thing that she made was dessert. Lucky for us, she's still ethically concocting at her bakery, Vegan Treats, which has maintained its location in Bethlehem since 2004.
But it's not all cupcakes and (vegan) cream here. There's a notable edge sprinkled in—made evident in the Fatally Yours chocolate boxes, which Konya says are “the most popular thing the bakery makes,” filled with skulls, mummies and bones. Pastries topped with chocolate hearts are also available around Valentine's Day, but they're complete with nonsentimental sayings like “bite me,” “no feels,” “zero care” and another that's too explicit to print.
Black ice cream should be no surprise; it's completely on-brand for a bakery that celebrates the darker flavors in life, even during the summer. Konya's always trying to come up with new ideas. “The first time I see any kind of food trend, I think: I want to make this better and I want to make this vegan,” she says. Despite its subtle vanilla flavor, the black coconut ash soft serve was quick to hit trend status. Made with activated charcoal from the shells of young coconuts, there are no artificial colors or dyes added, and, of course, it's dairy-free, made with a soy-milk base. The light and refreshing flavor allows it to be paired with virtually anything for a gram-worthy swirl—think wild strawberry, pictured here, or matcha.
Be sure to call ahead; Vegan Treat's soft-serve flavors are typically only available for two or three days at a time and are in high demand. In 2017, BuzzFeed named them the best soft-serve ice cream in Pennsylvania.
This summer, keep an eye out for new coconut ash creations. Konya hinted at the possibility of a Chipwich, made with black cocoa cookies. You can also find some of the bakery's cakes glazed in a black coconut ash frosting.
1444 Linden St., Bethlehem | 610.861.7660 | vegantreats.com
