I know what you’re thinking: “This is getting ridiculous. Another Cow Tipping Creamery post?” Well, yes. Yes it is. And is that a hint of jealousy I sense? It’s not my fault you haven’t gotten your own ice cream yet. You only have yourself to blame. So in the meantime, let me tell you about all the specials that you’re missing.
*Note: This post was a long time in the making just waiting to be published, so some references may be a bit old.
As it turns out, I (not so) inadvertently worked my way down the entire menu, so off-menu specials are now my go-to when I find myself in front of the bright blue truck. And really, it’s what keeps me coming back. It’s the creative, one-day-only specials that are too good to miss. So with that, here are a few treats that will live on in memory, and hopefully find their way back on the Specials board soon.
Exhibit A
On this particular day, after what felt like a day-long eating fest, I needed caffeine. I had been in talks with two trailers about creating a super-combination of coffee and ice cream, but we’ll save that for another post. The important thing is that the caffeine craving is what brought us to the Rancho Rio Eatery food court, and ultimately Cow Tipping Creamery’s window.
Once we arrived, I said something to the effect of “y’know, I could go for a little dessert”. Evelyn, being the best wife there is, played along with my little game. Here’s the thing — as soon as we got there, nothing could stop me from ordering way too much.
The Key Lime Pie special on this day was so satisfyingly refreshing. An assembly of fresh lemon curd custard, fresh lemon-lime curd, buttery graham-pie crumble, and whipped cream, it may be the best key lime pies I ever had.
The graham-pie crumble acted as an amazing pie crust, the lemon-lime curd offered just the right tartness, and the lemon curd custard plus whipped cream were basically giving the finger to the hot weather. Considering the other specials in this post, and the dozen-plus I’ve probably eaten since, I think this was my favorite off-menu item CTC has created*.
*That is until I had the “Graham Central Station”, seen in the very last picture of this post.
Exhibit B
Three of my favorite foods are doughnuts, coffee, and ice cream. I could live off this combo indefinitely, though my training regimen would surely have to increase to astronomic Ironman (phew!) levels. So when Cow Tipping Creamery dropped a little news on Facebook about a special in the works, I got super duper crazy out of my mind excited was interested.
The official description says “coffee custard layered with homemade hot fudge, coffee soil, and local donuts from Angel Donuts & Treats”. Now, putting my feelings about “soil” on a menu aside, there was an extremely high probability that I’d love this Cop Stop stacker. Well, as probability is usually right, delicious hardly begins to convey how good it was.
Made with locally-made, hazelnut-topped doughnuts, the chocolatey, crunchy, sweet, salty combination made my heart sing. I wish this could be added to the menu, but something about it’s limited-time specialness makes it so much better. I count the days for it to be offered again (110 days at time of posting…).
Exhibit C
So, with coffee, doughnuts, and ice cream making up most of my favorite foods, the odd man out would be peanut butter and jelly. Now, since you can order this on any visit, and thus not technically an off-menu special, this combination takes my favorite-so-far Fluffer Nutter (my favorite on-menu item) and swaps the bananas for strawberries. That amounts to vanilla ice cream, peanut butter sauce, strawberries, Nutter Butters, marshmallows, and whipped cream.
Although Ev technically eats raw bananas for breakfast occasionally, she vehemently asserts to dislike bananas. Tim, the CTC patriarch, suggested this PBJ spin off as a fan favorite and a great alternative. The strawberries really hit the J in PBJ,and the rest of the components are as great as ever.
Exhibit D
Most recently I seized the opportunity that working from home afforded me and made a quick run to Cow Tipping Creamery. On offer from the specials menu was Fruity Pebbles custard. They steep their regular ice cream base with Fruity Pebbles cereal and then strain it smooth, with a hat tip to Momofuku Milk Bar. Before diving in head first, I was offered a sample of the Fruity Pebbles custard topped with … wait for it … their regular Fruity Pebbles Crunch topping.
It was good, but the Fruity Pebble custard was a little too subtle in flavor and a little too strong in sweetness. This one was alright, but didn’t stack up (CTC pun!) to the others.
Seriously, Cow Tipping Creamery has the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted. It’s a blessing and a curse that they’re so close to my house. I’m dreading the day that they move to another location or, worse… close up for good. Without getting too even more long-winded, here are a few more pictures of other specials I’ve devoured (click to enlarge).
Mike….we are so honored! What a beautiful article on our specials! I am glad I have you to remind me of some of the cool things we have done. I usually come up with these things at the spur of the moment and have so many ideas and so little time. I will bring back the “cop stop” soon:)
Corey
Don’t judge me for (dis)liking bananas! There’s time and place for a (very) ripe banana (with lots of peanut butter)… but that is not on dessert.