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An Honest Ranking of the Dairy-Free Ice Creams You Can Get at Whole Foods

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at GWU chapter.

Let’s be honest, it is difficult to grocery shop, even with a list, and not get a dessert. But when you are lactose-intolerant or simply choose not to eat dairy, the options are more limited. Thankfully, many dairy-free ice creams have been popping up.

For all of you lactose-intolerant and dairy-avoiding folks, here is an honest ranking of dairy-free ice creams that you can find at Whole Foods.

Dairy-Free Ice Cream
Molly Lumsden

Rice Dream Organic Rice-Based Non-Dairy Vanilla

Taste: You can definitely taste the rice, not enough vanilla flavor

Texture: Weirdly spongy

Overall: 2.5/10

Price: $2.27

Calories (per 1/2 cup): 160

Sugar (per 1/2 cup): 14

Dairy-Free Ice Cream
Molly Lumsden

Almond Dream Almond-Based Non-Dairy Chocolate

Taste: Can taste almonds, solid chocolate flavor, similar to chocolate mousse, you can tell it is dairy-free ice cream

Texture: Regular ice cream texture, a tad spongy

Overall: 6.5/10

Price: $4.59

Calories (per 1/2 cup): 180

Sugar (per 1/2 cup): 17

Dairy-Free Ice Cream
Molly Lumsden

Almond Créme Dairy-Free Organic Coffee Bean

Taste: Stronger than straight black coffee, like chewing coffee grinds, even the hardcore black coffee drinker hated it 

Texture: Way too many coffee bean pieces, would have been better without them

Overall: 1/10

Price: $3.47

Calories (per 1/2 cup): 170

Sugar (per 1/2 cup): 15g

Dairy-Free Ice Cream
Molly Lumsden

So Delicious Dairy-Free Coconut Milk Cookie Dough

Taste: You can taste the coconut, cookie dough chunks are great, could have more vanilla flavor

Texture: Regular ice cream texture, good amount of chocolate chips and cookie dough

Overall: 7/10

Price: $6.69

Calories (per 1/2 cup): 210

Sugar (per 1/2 cup)19g

Dairy-Free Ice Cream
Molly Lumsden

Luna&Larry’s Organic Coconut Bliss Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, Soy-Free, Non-Dairy, Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie

Taste: Can taste coconut, almost has an alcohol flavor, you can definitely tell it is dairy-free and gluten-free

Texture: Cookie bits are dry, ice cream is smooth and creamy

Overall: 6/10

Price: $6.49

Calories (per 1/2 cup): 250

Sugar (per 1/2 cup): 14g

Dairy-Free Ice Cream
Molly Lumsden

Nada Moo Mmm… Maple Pecan (Made With Coconut Milk)

Taste: Exact maple flavor, cannot taste coconut, good pecan pieces

Texture: Soft and creamy, good amount of pecan pieces

Overall: 8/10

Price: $6.99

Calories (per 1/2 cup): 140

Sugar (per 1/2 cup): 7g

I am not dairy-free by choice, so as it became more popular in society to go dairy-free, the ice cream followed suit, and I am truly thankful. 

food blogger, kombucha enthusiast, dog lover, let’s be friends