Hot Chocolate At Van Leeuwen In NYC

January's still a perfect time to visit Van Leeuwen

Weather forecasts (and sugar-free stints) will tell you to avoid visiting an ice cream shop during the frosty days of January. Well, unless that shop happens to be NYC's Van Leeuwen Ice Cream.

The latest menu includes what they call Super Hot Chocolate, which starts with a rich base of 99 percent Noir Infini ganache from craft chocolatier Michel Cluizel, which also happens to be dairy free: added bonus. Meanwhile, affogatos made with Toby Estate's espresso are there to wake you up early from your winter hibernation, and a healthy-eating promise only has to be semi-compromised, thanks to mini ice cream sundaes.

Speaking of which, try one of Van Leeuwen's latest vegan specials, like a double mint chocolate chip swirl or the Planet Earth (spirulina and pieces of matcha cake), all of which have a house-made cashew milk base. And just make a new resolution this year that any season can be ice cream season if you try hard enough—which, if the crowds we've found during every recent visit are any indication, you're not alone.