Some people wake up early to go to the gym. Some people wake up early to be productive members of…read moresociety. I set an alarm for National Ice Cream For Breakfast Day.
When Candy Mountain Creamery announced they'd be opening at 7am for build-your-own waffle ice cream sundaes, I felt personally called to action. Because if you're not celebrating extremely niche food holidays with reckless enthusiasm, what are you even doing?
Also working in my favor: I had recently signed up for the Cumberland Valley Coffee & Chocolate Trail, and realized Candy Mountain Creamery was a participating stop. Two birds. One waffle-shaped destiny.
Alarm set for 5:45am on a Saturday. Commitment level: alarming.
At 7:52am, with temperatures hovering around 15° and wind chills that felt emotionally aggressive, I walked into the shop smiling like a person who makes excellent life decisions. Parking was easy thanks to their strip mall location -- always a win when you're battling winter just to eat dessert for breakfast.
I fully expected chaos. Lines. Fellow sugar enthusiasts wrapped in blankets waiting for their moment. Instead? I was the only one there.
The universe clearly said, "This is your main character moment."
The staff were warm, friendly, and somehow just as excited about ice cream as I was. They told me to pick three flavors and they'd take it from there. My pre-caffeine brain selected: Cherry Cordial, Banana Nut Bread, and Maple -- which in hindsight sounds like the ice cream equivalent of chaotic good energy.
While they prepared my masterpiece, I completed my Coffee & Chocolate Trail check-in and used a coupon for a free medium latte, because nothing pairs with ice cream breakfast like financial efficiency.
Moments later, they handed me a golden waffle piled high with three enormous scoops and pointed me toward the toppings bar AND a roaring gas fireplace. I nearly ascended.
The toppings bar had everything -- Reese's Pieces, whipped cream, strawberry topping, caramel, peanuts -- and I exercised exactly zero restraint. Reese's Pieces? Yes. Peanut butter drizzle? Obviously. Whipped cream? Don't insult me.
Then I settled into a cozy chair by the fireplace and proceeded to absolutely demolish this breakfast like a person with no regrets and excellent priorities.
The ice cream itself was fantastic -- creamy, flavorful, and distinct enough that each scoop held its own despite my slightly unhinged flavor combo. The latte was piping hot and perfect for balancing out the sugar-fueled chaos.
Honestly, aside from the waffle sundae itself, the fireplace deserves its own Yelp listing. I expected to be freezing while eating ice cream before sunrise -- instead I was warm, cozy, and deeply at peace with my life choices.
A few other brave souls eventually wandered in, which reassured me that I am not the only person willing to eat ice cream at breakfast in sub-freezing temperatures.
Huge thanks to Candy Mountain Creamery for being one of the only local spots open early enough to support my commitment to food-based holidays, for having incredibly friendly staff, a fantastic latte, and a warm space that turned a cold winter morning into something genuinely memorable!
