There's no better treat in the hot summer months than a refreshing cup of frozen yogurt, and the hip, self-serve yogurt shops popping up all over the Valley can satisfy a craving virtually anytime, anywhere. Frozen yogurt saw its first wave of popularity in the 80s and 90s, as a healthier alternative to ice cream, but since franchises like Red Mango and Pinkberry opened in the mid-2000s, this creamy craze has seen a revival.
Embracing its tart flavor, its probiotics—its “yogurt-ness”—frozen yogurt now comes in hundreds of flavors with tons of wacky toppings, and the fun of assembly is in your hands. Your creation can be anything from a conservative, healthful fruit salad to a decadent, candy-laden splurge. Kids (and let's be honest, adults, too) love the variety and freedom to design their own dessert. Hit up one of these yummy yogurt bars and try it for yourself!
A day at the Lehigh Valley Mall can become a strenuous work out, so keep an eye peeled for Razzleberry Frozen Yogurt for a quick and frosty pick-me-up. A compact storefront located on the lower level near Barnes & Noble since last summer, Razzleberry offers 10 flavors from the sensible, original tart to indulgent chocolate caramel turtle, and most are low-fat or fat-free, organic, kosher and gluten-free. It's the perfect alternative to the heavy, salty mall foods that might tempt you when your tummy starts to rumble. When lugging your shopping bags from one end of the mall to the other gets to be too much, or to hold you over until you can make it home for lunch, a bit of frozen yogurt does the trick. It's also very portable, making it a perfect window-shopping snack. They try to change things up for their regulars, so check back for seasonal flavors and holiday specials.
With three locations in the Lehigh Valley and hundreds worldwide, Menchie's Frozen Yogurt is the biggest self-serve frozen yogurt chain in the world. They rotate 100 flavors of their own private label frozen yogurt and sorbet with sugar-free and dairy-free options daily, so you may find flavors here that you won't elsewhere, and an extensive selection of more than 40 toppings gives you a vast palette to work with. In addition to deliciousness, a playful atmosphere pervades the shop, where you are welcome to reserve a glass enclosure off to one side for birthday parties, and the occasional live karaoke night keeps things interesting. Fans of the brand are dedicated enough to suit up in hats and shirts emblazoned with the logo—and even Menchie's dodgeballs find loving homes among loyal fro yo fanatics. The Menchie's in Allentown is located close to Dorney Park, so keep that in mind once the motion sickness wears off and you're ready for the summertime satisfaction of a frosty dessert!
Yofresh Yogurt Café is a colorful place to score a sumptuous serving of frozen yogurt. The Allentown address is bling-ed out in pink and green hues with a crowd of cushioned stools and danglers fluttering from the ceiling. Twenty-one flavors rotate every day or two, including exciting choices like mocha, berry mango punch and salted caramel corn. Yofresh is generous with its creative topping selection, too, with more than 90 to choose from, like Nutella, Nutter Butter filling, Oreo cream, even Peeps. If you don't see your favorite, just ask—they probably have it in the back. The options don't stop there. As well as the standard cup, you can choose to savor your selection from a waffle, chocolate or chocolate chip cone, or perhaps the “Yocake,” a cupcake bowl in vanilla, brownie or pumpkin. Yofresh is well situated to cap off a movie date at AMC, a workout session at Planet Fitness or a rehearsal at the Accent School of Dance.
Recently opened in Centre Square, Easton, Frozenlandia is a family-friendly frozen yogurt paradise. Located next to The Crayola Experience, this fro yo/coffee/lunch combo could add something sweet to a creative day trip, or offer a destination all on its own with a 450 square-foot playground for youngsters age one to nine. Frozito, his wife Frozita, and their children make up the mascot family of snowpeople who preside over an establishment that strives to delight every member of the family. More mature customers will appreciate a latte, cappuccino or espresso made with Colombian coffee, a fresh fruit smoothie or perhaps a Belgian waffle heaped with creamy frozen yogurt and all the fixings. A kids' menu with the usual favorites (pizza, hot dogs, chicken fingers) will keep little ones satisfied, while TVs display news, favorite kids' movies and more, ensuring entertainment of every variety.
Celebrating its one-year anniversary this past May, Just a Dream Frozen Yogurt in Easton is the place to go if you want to stock up on your favorite diet-friendly frozen goodness. In addition to the 12 flavors on tap for self-serve snacking, Just a Dream sells enticing pint and quart tubs (sometimes two for the price of one!) an intriguing offer for both Lafayette's peckish pupils and anyone with enough room in their freezer. For dressing up a single serving, the toppings selection offers the spectrum of healthy fruit and nuts, along with crushed Butterfingers and Fruity Pebbles from a countertop cereal carousel. If your kids are fro yo freaks, this could be the place for a birthday bash, especially with unlimited yogurt and toppings for only $10 a head. Or bring the fun to your next event with off-site catering. Just a Dream is also passionate about teaming up with local charities to raise money for a good cause.
So Fun! Frozen Yogurt, also in Easton creates a kid-friendly atmosphere with a smiling mascot straight out of Candyland: Cup Dude! He's into giving back, so plenty of fundraising takes place at So Fun!, benefiting sports teams, non-profits, church groups and more. Cones are made fresh on a waffle iron, kids can score free Cup Dude temporary tattoos, and a chalkboard on the wall encourages yogurt-fueled creativity. This is a great stop to revive after you've been shopping at the nearby grocery labyrinth that is Wegmans, or for a guilt-free dessert after pigging out at Five Guys Burgers and Fries next door. Most fro yo venues offer a loyalty program to rack up points for a free serving, but do they all promise free yogurt on your birthday? Check out So Fun!'s Xtra fun program and Facebook specials to snag some killer deals.
For years, Euro Yogurt has been plugging away along Third Street in Bethlehem, but since acquiring new owners a year ago, the menu has evolved to delicious effect. Compared with the more specialized shops, Euro Yogurt offers a scant four flavors of frozen yogurt, but it's more than made up for by a range of refreshing goodies, like fresh iced green tea, perfect for a hot summer stroll on First Friday, mochi ice cream, and bubble tea with its tender tapioca pearls at the bottom. To top your treat, expect the usual suspects along with sweet red beans, kiwi fruit and lychee or passionfruit boba—refreshing additions to topping staples. Another thing that sets Euro Yogurt apart is its set prices for yogurt, eschewing the weigh and pay method. This may not be what you're looking for if you live for the artistic freedom of dessert design, but it will certainly help keep the serving size and the price from getting away from you.
Savor: Frozen Yogurt Shops
Euro Yogurt | 127 E. Third St., Bethlehem | 610.866.4900 | euro-yogurt.com
Frozenlandia | 24 Centre Square, Easton | 610.200.5683
Just a Dream Frozen Yogurt | 289 Town Center Blvd., Easton610.829.1222 | justadreamfrozenyogurt.comMenchie's Frozen Yogurt | 353 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Allentown | 610.841.1900943 Airport Center Dr., Allentown | 610.841.49133014 Linden St., Bethlehem | 610.419.0096 | menchies.comRazzleberry | 182 Lehigh Valley Mall, Whitehall | 610.266.9000So Fun! Frozen Yogurt | 3770 Dryland Way, Easton | 610.258.67603859 Nazareth Pike, Bethlehem | 610.419.6800 | sofunyogurt.comYofresh Yogurt Café | 4642 Broadway, Allentown | 484.866.64643217 Schoenersville Rd., Bethlehem | 610.419.3880 | yofreshyogurtcafe.com
by daisy willis | photography by colin coleman
