Just when we thought it couldn’t get better than the Berkey Creamery, Penn State raised the bar. Cow & Cookie is the newest hot spot for the coolest treats this school has to offer. It combines delicious bakes like cookies and brownies from the Penn State Bakery with Berkey Creamery ice cream for a dessert as delicious as it is unique. Here’s everything you need to know about Penn State’s newest frozen treat spot!
The Birth of Cow & Cookie
Penn State’s Berkey Creamery has been part of the university’s history for the past 155 years. In 1865, Penn State began its dairy research and established the creamery which has ultimately led to the production of some of the best dairy products in the country. But the creamery is more than just ice cream (although, that’s arguably the best part)! It also produces about 3 million pounds of milk annually which is used for their ice cream, cheese and other assorted dairy products. From cookie dough to mint chip to death by chocolate, the Berkey Creamery has it all — but remember, no mixing flavors and blue & white sprinkles only!
Started in 1947, the Penn State Bakery has been turning out delicious baked goods daily and serving them at roughly 30 locations in the Penn State community. Whether you’re at a dining hall on campus, enjoying a stay at The Penn Stater Hotel or paying a visit to the Bryce Jordan Center, you’re sure to find a delicious bakery treat. But we’re not just talking about cakes and cookies — although the bakery does produce over 1 million chocolate chip cookies, annually. The Penn State Bakery also makes a variety of other treats including donuts, dessert bars, bread, rolls, muffins and other specialty desserts!
However, a partnership between the creamery and the bakery is not completely new. Before the birth of Cow & Cookie, the two actually collaborated to create ice cream cookie sandwiches which are sold in the Berkey Creamery store. Two freshly baked cookies hug a hefty scoop of creamery ice cream for the perfect handheld treat. But just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, Penn State’s Cow & Cookie was born.
Visiting Cow & Cookie
You can find Cow & Cookie in the HUB within the Sbarro dining area. They’re open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. and offer 11 different “Quakes” to choose from. However, orders can only be placed through Penn State Eats, which is part of the Penn State Go app.
This crossover between two of Penn State’s finest — that is, the Berkey Creamery and the Penn State Bakery — has reached a new level when it comes to creative desserts. Cow & Cookie calls it their “Quake” — a deliciously swirled combination of Berkey vanilla soft serve and delectable bakery treat mix-ins, similar to Dairy Queen’s Blizzard. Flavors include blueberry, blueberry cheesecake, brookie, brownie, candy pieces cookie, cheesecake, chocolate chip cheesecake, chocolate chip cookie, strawberry, strawberry cheesecake and sugar cookie. (Yes, they’re all pretty much exactly what they sound like.)
Worth the Hype?
But how do these “Quakes” measure up to what the creamery already has to offer? We spoke with Will Marsh, a fourth-year student and self-proclaimed creamery connoisseur, who gave us the inside scoop (pun intended) about these sweet treats!
“I ordered the brookie quake; it was incredible,” Marsh said. “It was a good temperature when I picked it up; the consistency was great. It was a little thicker than a normal creamery milkshake.”
So far, so good, right? Marsh went on to share that he thought the “Quake” was a good mixture of ice cream and brownies and cookies.
“The only suggestion I had — I would’ve loved to have bigger chunks, and I know others agreed as well,” Marsh said.
Overall, it sounds like this Penn State treat enthusiast was pretty impressed by his first Cow & Cookie experience. He did, however, mention that he had a little trouble ordering through the app since the location does not offer in-person ordering. Marsh also shared that he prefers the actual experience of going to the Berkey Creamery and waiting in line, anxiously awaiting your frozen treat and actually getting to watch your ice cream being scooped.
“I will always prefer that, but taste-wise, this was by far the best ice cream/ pastry combination I’ve ever had,” Marsh said.
There you have it. It sounds like Cow & Cookie is at least worth a try if you love all things sweet! Cow & Cookie is even planning to make adjustments and possible expansions to their menu after assessing customers’ initial feedback. Why not give it a try!
Have you tried Cow & Cookie? Tweet us, @VALLEYmag, and tell us what you thought about it!
