Following a delectable dinner at Leunig's Bistro in downtown Burlington, some fellow bloggers and I were treated to dessert at the local Ben & Jerry's scoop shop a short walk away. After browsing the available flavors, I quickly settled on Coconut Seven Layer Bar. This scoop-shop exclusive is described as coconut ice cream with coconut and fudge flakes, walnuts and swirls of graham cracker & butterscotch. Seeing as how I was still stuffed from the meal I'd had minutes earlier, I only opted for a single 3 ounce scoop; but that would be more than enough to provide an accurate representation. This particular flavor was so dense with mix-ins that it was practically impossible to sample anything independently, but also ensured that every bite had a tremendous texture. The coconut ice cream was much sweeter than I was expecting; a welcomed surprise considering most coconut bases are overly mild. My first full bite finished with a mouthful of coconut pulp, which provided the authentic feel of the actual fruit and another bit of coconut flavoring.
The fudge flakes, unlike they do in most freezer packed pints, avoid an overly hard consistency and provide a soft, slightly-chewy burst of chocolate that works well with the coconut components. The walnuts are the same used in Chunky Monkey and provide an easily breakable texture that adds the ideal amount of nutty flavoring. Coconut Seven Layer Bar is rounded out by a pair of swirls that enhance this scoop-shop exclusive even further. The graham cracker swirl adds a gritty feel to any bite it makes its way into; offering some additional sweetness to boot. The last ingredient comes in the form of butterscotch and looks similar to a standard caramel swirl; only giving away it's true identity with the unique flavoring offered by the butter and brown sugar inside. Every bite of Coconut Seven Layer Bar combines a bevy of top-notch tastes and textures; begging the question: why not offer this in pint form? Hopefully Ben & Jerry's will soon release this flavor from the confines of the ice cream counter.
Where I Found It: Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop in Burlington, Vermont
