Penny Licks - scooponcones.com

We were excited to learn of another vegan ice cream provider, but Penny Licks in Williamsburg proved disappointing.

The lure is a mini-cone dubbed a “Penny Lick” that costs a mere $1. Clearly a misnomer, but the price is lower than other mini-cones we’ve seen around town.

We tried the vegan Mint Chocolate Chip, which tasted just like the filling of a peppermint patty and had about that texture. That might sound appealing, but there’s a reason those candies are small. We didn’t even finish our dollar lick, uh, penny lick.

The non-vegan Maple Walnut was no better, it had a strange chalky consistency.

Penny Licks offers mostly traditional flavors, including Strawberry, Cookie Dough, and Cookies & Cream.

A bit of New York City history: Around the end of the 19th Century, vendors sold ice cream in small glasses called penny licks. The customer either licked out the ice cream or scooped it out with his or her fingers, then returned the glass to be rinsed or wiped for the next customer. Ah, the good ol’ days. (Source: Of Sugar and Snow: A History of Ice Cream Making by Jeri Quinzio)

Hours: Noon- 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; Noon-midnight Friday-Saturday

Price: $1 penny lick; $3.50 single scoop

Special Diets: Vegan

Phone: (718) 384-0158