We need to be okay with being proven wrong. There was a time when the brightest believed the Earth was flat. There was also a time when I hated mochi ice cream. Minds have been changed about these equally important things, and I have Bubbies to thank pretty single-handedly for my revelation.
I’ve had a lot of sub-par mochi ice cream, but pairing a chewy outside with a frozen inside is a delicate balance that Bubbies has clearly conquered, putting out a range of creative year-round flavors (which appear in our ranking of the best mochi ice cream) in addition to a round of holiday classics. I tried their three new, limited-edition holiday mochi ice creams, so you don’t have to (but I think you’re going to want to).
White Chocolate Raspberry
White Chocolate Raspberry with White Chocolate Drizzle
“Super-premium white chocolate ice cream wrapped in sweet raspberry mochi and topped with a white chocolate flavored drizzle.”
Pros: Off the bat, I was surprised by how much flavor there is in the mochi itself. Where most mochi wrappers are neutral with a touch of sweetness, this one has the extra tartness of berry that makes this new mochi ice cream intriguing from the very first moment. Though the flavor is raspberry, it is actually pretty reminiscent of Japanese strawberry chocolate. If you’ve ever tasted it, you’d know this is, in no way, a complaint. The ice cream itself really does taste like white chocolate—sweet and creamy with the slightest tang without pushing into cheesecake territory.
Cons: My only knock is that I wish there was more punch of raspberry because the sweet white chocolate could benefit from just a touch more brightness.
Pros: This ice cream is a textural dream. The mochi is soft. The ice cream is creamy but light—almost like frozen Cool Whip. I don’t know how it’s so fluffy, or that I even wanted my ice cream to be fluffy, but apparently I do. The flavor of the mochi is pretty neutral, but the ice cream has a good, cooling peppermint flavor without giving toothpaste. Frozen York patties walked so that these babies could run.
Cons: As good as the peppermint flavor is, I do find myself missing the chocolate part of peppermint bark. There is a dark chocolate drizzle on top, but I would have loved more of that or a thin layer of chocolate inside. I also wouldn’t complain about some peppermint pieces for crunch. This is an 11/10 for peppermint, but 8.5/10 for peppermint bark.
“Super-premium salted caramel ice cream wrapped in sweet mochi and topped with a caramel flavored drizzle.”
Pros: This is a little unnerving because it has all the taste of a Werther’s Original without the warmth and stickiness of it being forgotten in your pocket for three weeks. This is a delicious way to enjoy those same butterscotch flavors, but infinitely more fun (and less painful) to chew. If you like caramel and butterscotch, you will adore this, because it pulls no punches when it comes to giving that sweet, rich flavor. Cons: Although these are tasty, they are teetering on being a little too sweet and a little one-note. A hit of salt or getting rid of the caramel drizzle would take this over the top.
Hebba Gouda is a freelance contributor to Sporked who will die on the hill that a hot dog is not a sandwich. She’s proud to spend weekends falling asleep at 9 p.m. listening to podcasts, always uses the Oxford comma, and has been described as “the only person who actually likes New Jersey.” She’d love to know how on earth she somehow always has dirty dishes, if donkeys hear better than horses, and how the heck you’re doing today? Hopefully swell - thanks for reading!
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Hebba Gouda
Jordan Myrick
Ariana Losch
Naajia Shukri
Danny Palumbo
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!