Ariana Losch
Did you know you can buy gelato from the grocery store? Did you know that most of the gelato you’ll find at the grocery store is a sad, sad excuse for Italy’s artisanal style of ice cream? Did you know that, before starting this taste test, I was young and full of life, and by the end, I turned old, bitter, and riddled with scorn?
“Ariana, haven’t you ever heard of positivity?” No. There is a dark cloud above my head and right now it’s raining bad gelato. Still, I rounded up everything in the dessert aisle that dares to call itself “gelato” in a real attempt to find the best store bought gelato here in the states. The good news (yes, there’s good news) is that I actually did succeed. Let’s talk about it.
How we found the gelato brands
There aren’t a ton of dessert brands out there trying to make gelato, and I’m beginning to see why. Obviously, Talenti is a saving grace (though some might wonder if it’s really “gelato”), but other than that, you’re looking at Gelato Boy, a Sprouts-exclusive gelato line, and a few more niche options. I tried about 20 pints in total and narrowed this list down to five of the best gelato flavors… though a part of me only wanted to recommend one! *rain and thunder intensifies*
What we looked for in the best store bought gelato
Gelato must be hard to mass produce. That’s the conclusion I’ve drawn after this experience. And don’t worry, I’m going to tone down my disappointment going forward. It’s really not that dire, I’ve just had a lot of caffeine today and I’m feeling dramatic. When we’re looking for the best gelato, we want a denser texture that yields a smooth, rich scoop, lower butterfat content than traditional American ice cream, and purer, bolder flavors. Anyways, before the stormcloud over my head gets any darker, here are the five best gelato flavors you can find at the grocery store.
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- Sprouts Salted Caramel Cookie Gelato
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So, if you didn’t know, Sprouts has a whole line of gelato. I’m talking at least a dozen flavors, from pistachio to limoncello to jelly donut (bad, it was bad), most of which I tried. The problem with Sprouts’ gelato line is, unfortunately, the texture. It’s noticeably frothy and aerated… aka, the opposite of what you want from good gelato. But I can’t deny that this salted caramel cookie is really addictive. I’m a slut for two things: salted desserts and crumbly bits of cookie as mix-ins. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this over other ice creams of the same nature, but in the world of American-made gelato, it’s up there.
Credit: Liv Averett / Sprouts
- Uli Gelato Speculoos Cookie Gelato
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Yes, I’m adding another cookie-inspired gelato flavor to the list… sue me. I’m sorry to say that no speculoos cookie ice cream can come anywhere close to Trader Joe’s version, but this is still pretty yummy. It has a denser, gelato-adjacent texture and bold cookie butter flavor. The base has a white chocolate thing going for it, too. Overall, it might be a crime to serve this at a gelateria in Italy, but I still enjoyed it.
Credit: Liv Averett / Whole Foods
- Talenti Gelato Sea Salt Caramel
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I have six words: crunchy, chocolate-covered salted caramel truffles. Those delightful little nuggets of toasty truffle turn this gelato into a thing of beauty, you guys. And I’m pretty fine calling it gelato, too. (Italy might take issue with that, but I have no qualms offending Europeans.) Talenti’s ice cream base is consistently dense and velvety, which mimics the real thing. In fact, everything I’ve tasted so far points to Talenti as the best gelato brand you can buy here in the states. Good thing we have a whole standalone ranking of it, eh?
Credit: Liv Averett / Vons
- Talenti Raspberry Cheesecake Gelato Ice Cream
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This tart, fresh, creamy raspberry cheesecake gelato gives Cheesecake Factory in the best way. We’ve praised dark chocolate-raspberry as one of the most luxurious flavor combos of all time, but I would also like to submit raspberry cheesecake for consideration. The smooth tang here is unbelievable. It’s easily one of the most decadent and satisfying gelato pints you can find in most grocery store freezers.
- Gelato Boy Old World Recipe Vanilla
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Milk, cream, cane sugar, egg yolks, vanilla bean, and sea salt. Those are the only ingredients in Gelato Boy’s “Old World” Vanilla Italian Ice Cream, and the simplicity matters. It’s seriously a night-and-day experience between this and other products (even other Gelato Boy flavors, which also contain gums). The texture is condensed, silky, and lush, allowing the purity of the vanilla bean to really shine. It’s true that modern gelato recipes usually skip the egg yolks, but older traditional methods embraced the yolk! Hey, other gelato brands: Do this!!! Just do this, please!!
Credit: Liv Averett / Sprouts
Best Gelato!
Best Gelato!
Best Gelato!
Best Gelato!
Best of the Best
Other gelato flavors we tried:
Bettergoods Italian Crafted Cheesecake Fudge Crumble Gelato, Bettergoods Lemon Raspberry Parfait Gelato, Bettergoods Pistachio And Almond Gelato, Bettergoods Salted Caramel Peanut Crunch Gelato, Sundae Shoppe Triple Chocolate Gelato, Uli’s Gelato Black Sesame Gelato, Gelato Boy Lavender Poppy Gelato, Sprouts Birthday Cake Gelato, Sprouts Cherry Gelato, Sprouts Coffee Fudge Gelato, Sprouts Espresso Chocolate Gelato, Sprouts Jelly Donut Gelato, Sprouts Limoncello Gelato, Sprouts Cappuccino Chocolate Gelato, Sprouts Chocolate Fudge Gelato, Sprouts Mint Chocolate Chip Gelato, Sprouts Pistachio Gelato, Sprouts Six Berry Gelato, Sprouts Vanilla Gelato
Gwynedd Stuart
Danny Palumbo
Jordan Myrick
