Over this past semester, I have developed an ice cream obsession. While I usually enjoy eating frozen yogurt, I think the core element that was missing was the creamy and rich consistency that ice cream provides. While I could be going to parties on the weekends, I usually just lay in my dorm room and eat ice cream while I watch RuPaul's Drag Race. Exciting, right?
Ben and Jerry's, known to be Vermont's finest ice cream, has been working hard to push their new 'Core' flavors and I decided to put them to the taste and rank them.
What Does 'Core' Mean?
Ben and Jerry's 'Core' flavors usually consist of ice cream mixed with different toppings with a center filling of various toppings including cookie dough, brownie bites, caramel, cheesecake and more. According to Ben and Jerry's website they have "taken some of (their) favorite ice cream ingredients and turned them into a thick core in the center of the pint."
6. Sweet Like Sugar Cookie Dough Core
Sugar cookies are nostalgic for some reminding them of childhood, while for others they are just another cookie. This flavor consists of sweet cream ice cream with a hint of almond flavor mixed with shortbread cookies and cherries alongside a sugar cookie dough core.
Personally, I did not like the addition of cherries because I felt that it overpowered the sugar cookie flavor. However, my mother loved this flavor because she likes cherries and sugar cookies and thought that this combination was sweet and savory.
The sugar cookie dough core itself was incredible with its buttery and sweet taste that practically melts in your mouth.
Rating: 5.5/10
5. Salted Caramel Core
Salted caramel has become one of the most popular ice cream flavors. This flavor consists of sweet cream ice cream mixed with blondie brownies and a salted caramel core. I had a feeling that this flavor was going to be delicious, but it was more than I expected. The blondie chunks mixed within the ice cream with a hint of salted caramel created the perfect sweet, salty, and crunchy combination that was heavenly.
While I am a salted caramel fan, this flavor might be a bit intense for those who like it in small doses since it is so salty.
Rating: 6.5/10
4. Brownie Batter Core
If you are a brownie fanatic, then this flavor is for you. This flavor consists of chocolate and vanilla ice cream mixed with fudge brownie pieces alongside a brownie batter core.
Sometimes with ice cream it is a hit or miss whether or not you get both ice cream and topping within each bite, but with this flavor every bite was equal in its ice cream to brownie bite ratio. I was not left looking for brownie bites within the ice cream nor did I feel like I was eating only brownie bites.
My only critique about this flavor is that I think it should have been all chocolate. While the vanilla is good, I think it kind of detracted from the overall chocolate brownie goodness.
Rating: 8/10
3. Peanut Butter Fudge Core
For all peanut butter lovers, this flavor is for you. This flavor consists of chocolate and peanut butter ice cream mixed with mini peanut butter cups alongside a peanut butter fudge core.
This flavor has peanut butter within every bite and not just a little swirl, but chunks. This is the peanut butter ice cream I have been waiting for all my life because it does not leave me searching for more peanut butter the entire time.
The chocolate and peanut butter ice cream flavors worked well with each other creating the illusion of eating a peanut butter cup with each bite.
Rating: 8/10
2. Cookie Dough Core
I don't think you can ever go wrong with chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and this flavor is everything and more. This flavor consists of cookie milk ice cream mixed with fudge chips alongside a chocolate chip cookie dough core.
While there was not cookie dough within each bite, the chocolate fudge chips were extremely satisfying alongside the ice cream and when you would get some cookie dough it would be a nice surprise.
I think the ice cream itself could have had some cookie dough chunks spread throughout, but the fudge chips do a great job of keeping the flavor alive.
If you are the ultimate cookie dough fan, then this flavor is for you.
Rating: 9/10
1. Wake & No Bake Cookie Dough Core
Wake & "No Bake" is the flavor that I never knew that I needed until now. The flavor consists of vanilla ice cream with peanut butter cookies, peanut butter ice cream with fudge chips, and a no bake cookie dough core. This core is the best core out of all of the flavors I have tried. The consistency of the cookie dough is crunchy and gooey and pairs well with both the peanut butter and vanilla ice cream. I never want to eat ice cream again if it isn't this flavor.
Rating: 10/10
Overall Thoughts
Ben and Jerry's 'Core' flavors are definitely worth the hype and exceeded my expectations. There are a wide variety of flavors so that everyone can find something that they will enjoy. If you don't think you are ready to try these yet, half-baked is still there.