Malai
Ice cream shop · Carroll Gardens ·
Egg-free ice cream with unique Indian-inspired flavors
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Egg-free ice cream with unique Indian-inspired flavors
"I happened upon the Brooklyn scoop shop and went for a split-scoop ($7.50) of mango and cream (because duh) and masala chai; the former was a creamy ice cream with mango bits, the latter a comparatively floral scoop with subtle spice, and together the flavors were delightful—making my walk back to the train that much more pleasant." - Melissa McCart
"A Brooklyn import that quickly became a local favorite for South Asian–inspired ice creams and rotating soft‑serve, notable for flavors like cardamom pistachio crumble and masala chai, and for vegan offerings such as mango and cardamom yogurt that evoke a ripe mango lassi." - Regan Stephens
"Malai makes some of our favorite ice cream in the city, hard or soft. The difficult part of eating here is choosing which of their Indian-inspired flavors to order, but since they only have two rotating soft serve flavors at any given time, the decision-making process is easier. Think flavors like saffron and pistachio—or better yet, get both of them swirled." - willa moore, hannah albertine, arden shore, molly fitzpatrick
"If we had more freezer space, we’d always have multiple pints of Malai ice cream on hand. A little after-dinner scoop of rose with cinnamon roasted almonds, or red chili chocolate? Coming right up. Malai’s flagship location in Carroll Gardens has an impressive pint selection for whenever we achieve peak host skills, but in the meantime, you’ll find us eating a masala chai cone in this pink space on Smith Street." - bryan kim, willa moore, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick, kenny yang
"A Brooklyn shop and cookbook rooted in South Asian flavors and personal family stories, using ice cream as a platform for cultural expression. The recipes feature turmeric, masala chai, jaggery, fenugreek, hawla, gulab jamun, shrikhand frozen yogurt, cardamom kulfi pops, nimbu pani sorbet, and a carrot halwa ice cream inspired by family tradition. The tone is warm, playful, and family‑oriented; the base omits eggs in favor of a cornstarch thickener and often includes cream cheese for a pleasant tang and balanced sweetness, with the jaggery recipe singled out for its thick, rich texture and depth of flavor." - Rebecca Flint Marx