We Tried Dunkin’s Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Cake Donut

I think I missed the boat on ice cream cake, folks. I can’t recall ever enjoying a slice of ice cream-and-cake in a single bowl, but it’s certainly a birthday-dessert genre some people can’t get enough of. Case in point, Dunkin’ recently released a new creme-filled donut based on a Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Cake. I headed to Dunkin’ to figure out what was going on with this amalgamation of no fewer than four different desserts: Cookie, Ice Cream, Cake, and Donut. That might be a dessert ouroboros record!

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It’s been a minute since I checked out a Dunkin’ donut, for one simple reason. The Fruit Punch donut they released earlier this year was not my favorite in the slightest. I’ll admit, I was a little scared to see what else that innovation kitchen thought was worth releasing. That said, this donut came highly recommended, and as you’ll soon learn, I’m a sucker for the color scheme.

Is this actually a Baskin-Robbins collaboration?

Somehow, the answer is yes and no. Both Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins are owned by Inspire Brands, so there’s no reason this couldn’t be an official collaboration between the two siblings of the same corporate parent. That said, the promotional material for this Dunkin’ donut says it’s “inspired by” Baskin-Robbins. As such, I feel comfortable calling this a Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Cake donut even if Dunkin’ doesn’t, but for posterity, it technically isn’t a collaboration between the two treateries.

Dunkin’ Ice Cream Cake Donut Review

New Dunkin’ Donut!

Pros: You don’t have to work too hard to convince me with a vanilla-and-chocolate dessert. Between Shake Shack’s Black & White Shake and every black & white cookie on earth, I’m always down for a good monochromatic time. This donut goes back and forth a few times to great effect. A yeast donut is filled with chocolate buttercreme, topped with vanilla buttercreme, and absolutely coated in chocolate cookie crumble.

The end result is a donut that somersaults between vanilla and chocolate not just in every bite, but every time you chew. I would love to see this concept brought back with a few twists to create Strawberry or Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cakes. I know I’m a fan of excess, but this treat truly delivers more than you’d expect for the sticker price.

Cons: The cookie crumble texture was lost atop such a thick layer of buttercreme, but it still contributed to the overall flavor contrast I clearly enjoy. (I’m not sure when I became a professional donut nitpicker, but here I am.)

Credit: Griffin Parker / Dunkin’

Rating:

8.5/10

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