Coney Waffle brings ‘Freak Shakes’ to the Shore

Sophomore Emma Hecht of Wall tried the new shake.

Blot Photo courtesy of Emma Hecht

Sophomore Emma Hecht of Wall tried the new shake.

Allie Kuo

Toppings for a milkshake typically consist of whipped cream, or perhaps a maraschino cherry on top, if you’re feeling adventurous.

But that is not the case at Coney Waffle on Ocean Avenue in Belmar, N.J. Their “Freak Shakes” are giant milkshakes topped with enough sweets and desserts to make your teeth ache, without even taking the first sip – or bite.

Can’t decide if you want an ice cream sandwich or cotton candy to go with your shake? Don’t worry, you can have both along with a chocolate covered pretzel, Rice Krispie treat and cookie on top, just to name a few options.

But just don’t plan on finishing one by yourself, said senior Riley Mullan of Long Branch.

“I shared the mint chocolate chip Freak Shake with two other people, and it was so good, but we couldn’t finish it,” Mullan said.

Coney Waffle also offers other cold treats like ice cream-topped waffles and floats, but the Freak Shake is the most well-known, thanks to colorful Instagram photos of the extravagant dessert. With 1,426 Instagram posts under #coneywaffle and 147 #shakeslayers, its social media presence is unavoidable.

The Belmar shop isn’t the only place that offers insane shakes. Black Tap Burgers and Beer in NYC, with locations in SoHo and the Meatpacking District, serves not only creative burgers, but also photo-worthy milkshakes studded with M&Ms, giant gummy bears, lollipops and even an ice cream cone if the other offerings aren’t decadent enough for you.

The lines at Black Tap are often out the door, with people queuing up to try their milkshakes, according to an Eater New York article about the restaurant’s famous sweet.

But are all these desserts truly delicious, or are they simply an extravagant novelty that people want to check off of their “must-eat” lists and document on social media?

Whatever the reason, this summer’s sweetest confection may be hard to beat – and also quite a challenge to eat.