This past summer, UConn's Dairy Bar won the Big Scoop Competition hosted by the American Society of Animal Science with their new seasonal flavor: Lemon Ice Box Pie. The Dairy Bar describes its award-winning flavor as "tart Meyer lemon ice cream swirled with a sweet graham cracker crunch."
Ice Box Pie is a time-honored Southern American summer treat. The filling includes ingredients such as lemon juice, eggs, and condensed milk, and the crust is made graham crackers and butter. UConn's Lemon Ice Box Pie Ice Cream offers a new twist on this classic dessert.
I decided to take a trip to the dairy bar to give the flavor a try. Upon the first bite, it's easy to see why Lemon Ice Box Pie Ice Cream was loved by the judges.
Though I'm normally not a huge fan of lemon flavors, the Lemon Ice Box Pie Ice Cream provides the perfect balance of tart and sweet. The bits of graham cracker pie crust are crumbled in small pieces throughout the ice cream, adding a sweet and buttery texture.
The flavor is refreshing and unique. Even though I've never personally tried Lemon Ice Box Pie, I felt like I was getting a taste of a freshly-made homemade pie in ice cream form. Of course, the beauty of the dairy bar scenery only made this experience more enjoyable.
The UConn Dairy Bar, which has been in operation since 1953, gets 100% of their milk from the university's Holstein and Jersey cows. Dining services owns the dairy bar, but the creamery is managed by the animal science department.
If you're looking for a new ice cream flavor to try, I would highly recommend the Lemon Ice Box Pie. This flavor is only available seasonally, but the ice cream has been so highly praised they are considering making it a permanent addition the menu.
The Dairy Bar typically rotates between 10 seasonal flavors throughout the summer, fall, winter, and spring months. Fall seasonal flavors include Maple Walnut, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Pumpkin. Peppermint Stick is a winter favorite.
UConn Dairy Bar seasonal hours can be found below.
Fall & Winter Hours of Operation (September 3rd - October 27th)
Monday - Thursday: 11:00am - 7:00pm
Friday - Sunday: 11:00am - 8:00pm
(October 28th - March 31st)
Open Daily: 11:00am - 7:00pm
Spring Hours of Operation (April 1st - May 23rd)
Open Daily: 11:00am – 8:00pm
Summer Hours of Operation (May 24th - September 2nd)
Open Daily: 11:00am - 10:00pm