Justine Sterling
Sure, we all scream for ice cream, but we really holler our heads off for the best ice cream. The Sporked taste test team has tried a lot of ice cream over the years, so to help guide you through the frozen treats aisle, we’ve compiled all the best ice creams we’ve tried so far.
How we made this list
Each one of these ice cream flavors took the top spot within a separate ranking. And each one of those rankings was decided through rigorous taste tests in which we pitted the best ice cream brands against one another.
What we looked for in the best ice cream
We prized:
- Pure flavors
- Creamy textures
- Quality mix-ins (when appropriate)
You’re really getting the best of the best ice cream flavors with this list. Whether you’re looking for the best classic vanilla or the apex of Ben & Jerry’s achievements, you’ll find the best grocery store ice cream here. Get your spoons and your vocal cords ready for some serious screaming over the best ice cream.
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- Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
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In our vanilla ice cream ranking, Sporked’s Jordan Myrick wrote, “It’s incredible. Like, it’s the absolutely perfect and most delicious vanilla ice cream you can imagine.” The vanilla bean-speckled ice cream is sweet (but not too sweet), extremely silky and creamy, and shockingly complex, considering it’s a simple pint of vanilla ice cream. If you’re looking for the best ice cream to scoop onto a slice of apple pie or to use as a base in an ice cream sundae, or maybe you’re just a vanilla purist, then Haagen-Dazs is the best ice cream brand for you.
Read the full ranking of the best vanilla ice cream
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Straus Family Creamery Organic Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream
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You really can’t do better than Straus when it comes to the best chocolate ice cream. It’s extremely smooth and light—but still deeply chocolatey. It tastes a bit like a more solid version of the best chocolate milkshake you’ve ever had. Straus is a bit of a premium brand, but it’s worth the extra cash to secure the best grocery store ice cream for chocolate lovers.
Read the full ranking of the best chocolate ice cream
Ryan Martin / Instacart
- Edy’s / Dreyer’s Cookies N’ Cream
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Jordan admitted to judging Dreyer’s by its packaging (“the carton looks so plain compared to some of the other, flashier brands on the market,” they wrote), but upon tasting they quickly learned that you can’t tell the best ice cream brands by their labels. Dreyer’s Cookies N’ Cream (aka Edy’s Cookies N’ Cream, depending on where you are in the U.S.) is creamy and packed with cookie chunks. Plus, it’s affordable.
Read the full ranking of the best cookies and cream ice cream
Credit: Paula Kunatee / Vons
- Straus Organic Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
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“If you’re looking for a high-quality, well-made, impressive mint chip ice cream, look no further than Straus Organic Mint Chocolate Chip,” Jordan wrote in their review. This is an admittedly fancy mint chip ice cream, but you deserve it. The chocolate chips are perfectly distributed and the mint flavor is pure and not toothpaste-y. If you’re looking for an upgrade on a childhood favorite, this is the best ice cream to buy.
Read the full ranking of the best mint chip ice cream
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Tillamook Coffee Almond Fudge
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This is not the first time you’re going to see a pint of Tillamook make this list—it’s one of the best ice cream brands out there for good reason. Their ice creams consist of 13.5% butterfat, creating an extra creamy, indulgent scoop that dissolves in your mouth. Their coffee flavor is nice and roasty, and the almonds and fudge keep every bite interesting.
Read the full ranking of the best coffee ice cream
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Albertsons
- Tillamook Oregon Strawberry Ice Cream
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Tangy, tart, fresh strawberry flavor meets creamy, delicious dairy in this ice cream, which took the top spot in our best strawberry ice cream ranking. There are even big chunks of strawberry (actual strawberry!) in the mix. Take a bite, shut your eyes, and let the home-churned flavor of Tillamook’s strawberry ice cream wash over you. This was the best ice cream by far in our strawberry ice cream taste test.
Read the full ranking of the best strawberry ice cream
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Target
- Van Leeuwen Sicilian Pistachio Ice Cream
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Shockingly, the best pistachio ice cream we tried in our taste test does not contain any whole nuts—or even bits of nuts. It’s totally and completely smooth. It’s so rich and creamy. And the flavor is unabashedly sophisticated. This is snobby, fancy ice cream. It’s a balanced mix of sweet, salty, and nutty. Just try and keep your pinky down when you eat a spoonful of this ice cream.
Read the full ranking of the best pistachio ice cream
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Tillamook Neapolitan
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Neapolitan ice cream is tough to get right. After all, with three different flavors there are more opportunities to screw one up. But Tillamook gets them all right. The chocolate is dark and rich and so good, the strawberry is bright and zippy, the vanilla is creamy if a bit basic. We tried a few other Neapolitan ice cream brands, and this one was the best Neapolitan ice cream by a mile. Accept no substitutions.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
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Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is simply packed with hunks of dough, which taste delicious and homemade. We’re talking crunchy chocolate shingles and just the right amount of salt. If cookies are simply too cooked for you, this is the best ice cream you can buy.
Read the full ranking of the best cookie dough ice cream
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Butter Half Baked
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As we’ve mentioned before, Ben & Jerry’s is the best ice cream brand if you’re really mostly interested in the mix-ins. And the best Ben & Jerry’s flavor that is simply packed with sweet treats is Peanut Butter Half Baked. The base is a blend of chocolate and peanut butter ice cream stirred together with chunks of peanut butter cookie dough and fudge brownie hunks. It’s salty. It’s sweet. It’s totally indulgent. It’s the best ice cream to eat by yourself while crying.
Read the full ranking of the best Ben & Jerry’s flavors
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Target
- bettergoods Ducle de Leche
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When we tasted all of the bettergoods ice cream at Walmart, our top picks were, for the most part, dairy-free. But the very best bettergoods ice cream was the exception to the rule. This dairy-full dulce de leche ice cream tastes like really good vanilla ice cream with a hint of caramel. Is it true dulce de leche? No. But is it some of the best ice cream to buy at Walmart? For sure.
Read the full ranking of the best bettergoods ice cream
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Blue Bell Cookie Two Step
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Texas-based Blue Bell ice cream makes some seriously good ice cream. But the best Blue Bell flavor we’ve ever had is the Cookie Two Step. You get ultra creamy vanilla ice cream studded with both sugar cookie and chocolate chip cookie crumbles, and it’s unbelievably good. In fact, Sporked’s Ariana Losch says that it’s not just some of the best ice cream she’s ever had, but one of the best desserts she’s tasted, period.
Read the full ranking of the best Blue Bell ice cream flavors
Credit: Merc / Blue Bell
- Van Leeuwen Buttermilk Berry Cornbread
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While the pistachio is incredible, the best ice cream from Van Leeuwen is actually the Buttermilk Berry Cornbread. It tastes like homemade cornbread slathered with butter and fresh jam—just, you know, it’s ice cream. There are ribbons of tangy jam, chunks of tender cornbread, and perfectly creamy buttermilk ice cream. It’s totally unique and definitely some of the best ice cream we’ve ever tried.
Read the full ranking of the best Van Leeuwen ice cream
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Halo Top Mix-Ins Strawberry Cheesecake
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This might not be the lowest calorie Halo Top flavor but it’s the best by far. It’s much, much creamier than other flavors and the mix-ins are top tier. There are bits of strawberry that actually taste like real strawberry and, the true star, graham cracker crust chunks. If you’re cutting calories but still want your frozen dessert to taste like real ice cream, this is the best ice cream to buy.
Read the full ranking of the best Halo Top flavors
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Graeter’s Lemon Meringue Pie
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It’s hard to go wrong with pretty much any Graeter’s ice cream. Overall, it may be the best ice cream brand we’ve had the pleasure of sampling. But the flavor that really and truly wowed us was the Lemon Meringue Pie. There are bursts of tangy lemon candy strewn throughout the creamy, dreamy lemon ice cream, and hunks of tender pie crust, as well. If you don’t live in the Midwest, you might have to order it online. It’s worth the shipping cost.
Read the full ranking of the best Graeter’s ice cream flavors
Credit: Liv Averett / Graeter’s
- Tillamook Peaches & Cream
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You can probably tell just by how many Tillamook flavors made it on this list, but we’re not shy about calling Tillamook one of the best ice cream brands out there. (In fact, you may remember the fateful day when managing editor Gwynedd Stuart sat down to film herself trying all the Tillamook ice cream flavors in one go. We sure do have fun around here.) Though it’s hard to choose just one standout, Tillamook’s Peaches & Cream really blew us away. The flavor tastes like a perfectly sun-ripe peach, not some artificial peach flavoring. Every spoonful bursts with natural sweetness and slight tartness, enhanced by real peach pieces and a luscious peach swirl. If you love peaches, this just might be one of the best ice cream flavors you’ve ever tasted.
Read the full ranking of the best Tillamook ice cream
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart
- Jeni’s Lemon & Blueberries Parfait
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As you may have deduced, we’ve got a habit of buying every flavor from an ice cream brand—this time Jeni’s, another one of the best ice cream brands in stores—and tasting them on camera. Their Lemon & Blueberries Parfait was a revelation. The tart, zesty lemon ice cream is more like a creamy gelato. The slightly sour tang from the buttermilk gives it an artisan appeal. The swirl of fresh blueberry jam is the perfect touch. It’s the kind of flavor that feels both nostalgic and gourmet, making it impossible to resist another scoop.
Read our full ranking of the best Jeni’s ice cream
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart
- Talenti Raspberry Cheesecake
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Imagine a creamy, tangy slice of cheesecake. Now imagine it frozen and stuffed into a tub, shocked through with fresh raspberry puree. That’s what this Talenti gelato tastes like. It’s so delightful and one of the best grocery store ice creams out there. It’s so good you can serve it for dessert at a dinner party and everyone will applaud.
Read the full ranking of the best Talenti flavors
Credit: Merc / Talenti
- Trader Joe’s Speculoos Cookie Butter Ice Cream
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“I’m not a Trader Joe’s superfan. It’s not even in my top three grocery stores, to be totally transparent with you,” admits Sporked junior writer Ariana Losch. “But TJ’s has done something truly ingenious here, and I mean ingenious.” And she’s right—this Speculoos Cookie Butter Ice Cream combines crisp, crumbly pieces of spiced Belgian gingerbread cookies with a lightly sweet cream. It’s like cookie butter, gingersnaps, and vanilla ice cream had a baby. The next time you visit TJ’s, you have to try it.
Read our full review of the best Trader Joe’s ice cream
Credit: Merc / Trader Joe’s
- Specialty Selected Dulce de Leche
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Out of 23 different pints and tubs of Aldi ice cream, this was the best ice cream we tasted. It’s caramel ice cream with a caramel swirl. It’s truly a caramel lover’s dream ice cream. Plus, since it’s Aldi, you can count on it being cheap. This ice cream punches way above its weight class and cements Aldi’s Specially Selected as one of the best ice cream brands out there.
Read the full ranking of all the Aldi ice creams
Credit: Merc
- Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
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Even if you can handle dairy, you will love this non-dairy version of fan favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Phish Food. It tastes almost exactly the same. And it’s still packed with all those good, B&J signature mix-ins. Made with almond milk, it’s shockingly creamy (so many vegan ice creams are way too icy). It really needs to be tried to be believed. Vegans, this is the best grocery store ice cream for you.
Read the full ranking of the best non-dairy ice cream
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Target
- Signature Select Ice Cream Low Carb Butter Pecan
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Most no-sugar-added ice creams have a weird chemical taste going on, but not Signature Select’s Low Carb Butter Pecan. This is sweet, buttery, and packed with roasted pecans, giving it a rich flavor that sets it apart from other low-sugar options. While it’s not particularly low in calories or fat—180 calories and 14 grams of fat per serving—that’s likely why it tastes so satisfying, and it’s still only 14 grams of carbs and 4 grams of sugar. If your grocery store carries Signature Select (the house brand at Albertsons-owned supermarkets), definitely try this!
Read our full ranking of the best no sugar added ice creams
- Favorite Day Peppermint Bark Ice Cream
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In their review, Jordan said that this wasn’t just the best peppermint ice cream, it was the best seasonal ice cream they’ve tasted. “The base is so creamy, the pieces of bark are plentiful, and the mint flavor is just right.” Target doesn’t always hit with their Favorite Day brand, but in this case, they knocked it out of the park with one of the best ice creams for wintertime licking.
Read the full ranking of the best peppermint ice cream
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Trader Joe’s Mini Hold the Cone Pumpkin Ginger
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Some people look forward to pumpkin pie when fall comes around, but we’re all about pumpkin ice cream. And of all the pumpkin ice creams we tasted, Trader Joe’s adorable mini cones were the best ice creams for seasonal, handheld enjoyment. The cone is gingery, the ice cream is spiced and pumpkiny, and the size is perfect.
Read the full ranking of the best pumpkin ice cream
Credit: Merc
- Trader Joe’s Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches
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According to Jordan, these are not only the best ice cream sandwiches you can buy, but also some of the best Trader Joe’s products to buy, period. “The cookie is soft without being mushy, the ice cream is creamy, and the chocolate chips along the sides provide the perfect texture,” they wrote in their review. We must insist these have a place in your freezer.
Read the full ranking of the best ice cream sandwiches
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Trader Joe’s
- Halo Top Sea Salt Caramel Keto Pops
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The best keto ice cream is actually an ice cream pop. Sorry if you had your keto heart set on using a spoon. The pops are relatively creamy (most keto ice cream is not) and the flavor is on point. It is salty. It is caramelly. This is not the best ice cream to buy if you aren’t going keto, but if you are, these pops will get you your ice cream fix.
Read the full ranking of the best keto ice cream
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart
- FatBoy Sundae Best
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These sundae cones straight up taste like an ice cream sundae in a cone. There’s the gooey fudge and caramel sauces. There’s the crunchy nuts. There’s the creamy ice cream. It’s the best ice cream cone you can buy at the grocery store, no question.
Read the full ranking of the best sundae cones
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Mikawaya Vanilla Mochi Ice Cream
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Call us boring, but we stand behind our opinion that Mikawaya’s vanilla mochi ice cream is the best mochi ice cream you can buy. “The vanilla flavor in these is big and bold without being overpowering,” Gwynedd wrote in her review. And that flavor contrasts against the mild, marshmallow-y flavor of the mochi coating. These little cupcake-shaped mochi treats are well worth getting your fingers all powdery.
Read the full review of the best mochi ice cream
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart
- Magnum Double Raspberry Ice Cream Bar
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We’ve argued in the past that the best ice cream bars are simple and straightforward. But this decadent double raspberry bar is the exception to the rule. Layered with frozen raspberry sauce and thick dark chocolate coating, this tart and sweet ice cream treat was clearly crafted with indulgence in mind. It tastes expensive. Like a true luxury. At the end of the day, you really can’t beat fresh, fruity raspberry and bold dark chocolate. That combo will always make for one of the best ice cream flavors out there.
Read our full ranking of the best ice cream bars
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- The Original Klondike Bar
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Sometimes originals just can’t be beat. Such is the case with the Klondike Bar. The classic combo of vanilla ice cream and the thin chocolate coating cannot be bested. Klondike Bars are one of the best ice cream treats you can hold, and the classic chocolate-vanilla flavor is the best of the best.
Read the full ranking of the best Klondike Bar flavors
Credit: Merc / Klondike
Best Vanilla Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Chocolate Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Cookies & Cream Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Coffee Ice Cream
Rating:
9/10
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Best Strawberry Ice Cream
Rating:
9.5/10
Sporks
Best Pistachio Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Neapolitan Ice Cream
Rating:
7.5/10
Sporks
Best Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Ben & Jerry’s Flavor
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best bettergoods Ice Cream
Rating:
8.5/10
Sporks
Best Blue Bell Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Halo Top Flavor
Rating:
9/10
Sporks
Best Graeter’s Flavor
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Tillamook Flavor
Rating:
10/10
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Best Jeni’s Flavor
Rating:
10/10
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Best Talenti Flavor
Rating:
10/10
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Best Trader Joe’s Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
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Best Aldi Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
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Best Dairy-Free Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
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Best No Sugar Added Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
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Best Peppermint Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
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Best Pumpkin Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
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Best Ice Cream Sandwich
Rating:
10/10
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Best Keto Ice Cream
Rating:
8.5/10
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Best Sundae Cone
Rating:
10/10
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Best Mochi Ice Cream
Rating:
10/10
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Best Ice Cream Bar
Rating:
10/10
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Best Klondike Bar
Rating:
10/10
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Tyler Bowers
Jordan Myrick
