Vanilla ice cream may be disregarded for the misconception of its simplicity in flavor, but when made right, it is a delicious, bold dessert with versatile uses. Whether you want to scoop it right out of the pint while watching television or use it as an ingredient in desserts like bananas foster or ice cream sundaes, vanilla ice cream is the perfect sweet treat for any occasion.
Mastering the vanilla flavor and texture of ice cream is difficult, and too subtle or too overbearing of a vanilla flavor can quickly spoil the treat. A great vanilla ice cream is creamy, melts in your mouth, is not too sweet, and has a notable kick of vanilla. To figure out what brands have the best kind, I tasted close to a dozen varieties. Here are the best vanilla ice cream brands you can find at the grocery store.
Blue Bunny Homemade Vanilla
As soon as you open a container of Blue Bunny’s homemade vanilla dessert, the pale yellow color of the ice cream stands out like a sore thumb from other brands’ ice creams. Notably, the brand cannot legally call the dessert ice cream, and instead refers to it as a frozen dairy dessert, due to a low milk fat content.
The most unappetizing aspect of this frozen dairy dessert was not in fact the airy texture, but rather an artificial flavor that leaves a rotten, chemical taste in your mouth. This is the only “ice cream” I tried that I would not think of purchasing again in any circumstance — it is not even worth blending to use in milkshakes.
Turkey Hill Simply Natural Vanilla Bean
Despite Turkey Hill’s simply natural vanilla bean flavor not having an abnormal amount of vanilla bean specks in the ice cream, the vanilla flavor is striking but ultimately overbearing. Each bite tastes as if you are genuinely licking vanilla beans or drinking vanilla extract due to the strong flavor. Furthermore, the texture is more chewy than creamy, making this ice cream feel like a task to continue eating.
Tillamook Vanilla Bean
The Tillamook brand specializes in dairy products from cheese to yogurt, but this ice cream relies on tara gum and guar gum for its texture, resulting in a thick texture that requires the ice cream to be chewed. Looking beyond the texture, the ice cream does utilize vanilla beans well to create just a hint of vanilla flavor. However, that well-crafted hint of vanilla flavor is overpowered by the ice cream’s excessive sweetness.
Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla
The prospect of being able to have a scoop of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in your own home is enticing, but the vanilla ice cream unfortunately was not up-to-standard when served at home. Ben & Jerry’s doesn’t designate this ice cream as a vanilla bean flavor, but they do still use vanilla beans, which come out in a very light hint of vanilla in each scoop. The flavor is slightly sweet and borders on being too sweet.
Ben & Jerry’s vanilla ice cream does not have a notably unpleasant flavor, but it also does not have a noteworthy flavor at all. The chewy texture makes the at-home ice cream feel like biting into ice cream rather than licking a scoop in a cone.
Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean
Visually, Häagen-Dazs’ vanilla bean ice cream has the most speckled vanilla beans, and it translates into the flavor. A pronounced earthy vanilla flavor is present in every bite, and it is easy to go for seconds of the flavorful and creamy treat. If you’re just looking for a sweet treat and only a hint of vanilla, Häagen-Dasz’ vanilla bean ice cream might not be for you, but it is perfect for anyone who wants to indulge themself in the bold taste of vanilla.
Breyers Natural Vanilla
Breyers’ natural vanilla ice cream, flavored with vanilla beans, melts in your mouth as the vanilla hits the back of your throat. The ice cream’s flavor is simple and refined with hints of sweetness and vanilla. The simplicity of Breyers’ natural vanilla ice cream invites you to keep going back for another scoop, or another pint.
Favorite Day Vanilla Bean
Favorite Day’s vanilla bean ice cream, one of Target’s in-house brands, has a delectable vanilla flavor and a smooth texture that is pleasant in every spoonful. The ice cream has the perfect hint of vanilla and a twinge of sweetness that come together for a delicious yet simple take on the classic frozen treat. The light texture is easy to scoop and is even easier to eat.
Van Leeuwen Vanilla Bean
There is no doubt in my mind that Van Leeuwen’s vanilla ice cream, the most costly I tried, is worth the price. The creamy, custard-like texture blends with the light vanilla flavor for an ice cream that you can’t get enough of. The ice cream is not overly sweet and allows the incorporation of Tahitian vanilla beans to speak for itself rather than artificial sweeteners. There is just the right hint of salt to balance sweet and salty flavors.
My only qualm with Van Leeuwen’s vanilla bean ice cream is how obsessed with it I am — I couldn’t stop going back for another scoop. While I tried Van Leeuwen’s vanilla ice cream right out of the pint, its smooth texture and flavor make it a versatile choice for all of your vanilla ice cream dessert needs.