Is there a more perfect hot-weather food than ice cream? We don’t think so. Are you craving some sweet refreshment? Have an ice cream float. Feeling inspired at the strawberry farm? Add ice cream to your berries for a delicious sundae. Need a quick snack before hitting the beach? Pop a scoop into a waffle cone, and away you go. Has your summer romance spiraled out of control? Ice cream’s got you covered with a spoon and a binge-watching session. 

Whether standing in the grocery store’s frozen food aisle or lining up at your favorite ice cream shop, you’re probably overwhelmed with the wide range of flavors to try. Do you want to go with a classic vanilla ice cream or shake things up with a non-traditional flavor? No matter your dietary preferences, there are now several lower-calorie frozen desserts and plant-based ice cream options. You can even go gourmet with all-natural gelatos.  

It’s a real conundrum.

Let’s take some pressure off. There’s no such thing as a “best ice cream flavor” — it’s ice cream; there is no wrong answer. But unless you want to taste-test every single one, here are our recommendations for where to start your search for this season’s best ice cream brand. 

1. Tillamook Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream 48oz

This is your grandfather’s idea of the perfect vanilla ice cream. Tillamook has crafted a clean, classic, all-American vanilla that is sweet and creamy, with a hint of marshmallow flavor. This is the perfect ice cream base for all your scoop-shop creations, such as milkshakes, sundaes, and root beer floats.

$7.69

2. Ben & Jerry's Half Baked Ice Cream 16oz

Coming to you direct from Vermont and filled with luscious chocolate chunks of fudge brownie and cookie dough, Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked Ice Cream pint is a time-tested favorite among snack lovers of all persuasions. It's crafted in partnership with Greyston & Rhino Bakeries and outfitted with sustainably sourced packaging, so you can feel good about eating your feelings.

$6.49

3. Blue Bell Cookies n' Creme Ice Cream 16oz

The pride of Brenham, Texas, Blue Bell Creamery has been churning out delicious ice cream since the early 1930s. They are a Lone Star State tradition and were the first to combine creamy vanilla ice cream with tasty chunks of chocolate creme cookies. Their signature Cookies n’ Creme ice cream is as popular today as when it debuted in 1980.

$4.99

4. Talenti Gelato Pacific Coast Pistachio 16oz

Take a bite out of the Dolce Vita with this delectably velvety-tasting Italian ice cream. Rich and delicious, Talenti gelato is handcrafted from scratch and slow-cooked in small batches using premium ingredients. Gelato is made primarily with milk, not cream, so it has less fat than regular ice cream, letting you indulge in a slightly larger serving. Enjoy Pacific Coast Pistachio after pizza for a full-flavored Italian escape.

$6.99

5. Haagen-Dazs Butter Pecan Ice Cream 14oz

Haagen-Dazs is arguably the best grocery store ice cream you can buy, and their Butter Pecan Ice Cream is the pinnacle of that achievement. They have folded buttery roasted pecans into their velvety sweet vanilla ice cream to create a rich and delicious frozen treat. It’s the perfect addition to seasonal desserts or simply delicious all on its own. Haagen-Dazs Butter Pecan is an ice cream classic made fantastic.

$6.99

6. NadaMoo! Organic Mint Chip Dairy-Free Frozen Dessert 16oz

It’s hard to improve on a classic flavor like mint chip, but NadaMoo! understood the assignment. They created a dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, certified vegan frozen dessert as creamy and luscious as traditional mint chocolate-chip ice cream. Made with certified organic coconut milk, Organic Mint Chip is NadaMoo's first flavor creation and is loaded with creamy, crunchy, mint-chocolatey goodness for you to enjoy virtuously.

$7.49

7. Serendipity Frrrozen Hot Chocolate Pint

Who says you have to give up your favorite winter beverage once the warmer seasons are in full swing? Not Serendipity, New York’s wonderland of bold and beloved ice cream flavors. Frrrozen Hot Chocolate is Serendipity’s signature ice cream flavor combining rich chocolate ice cream with a whipped cream swirl and crispy chocolate shavings — delicious any time of the year.

$6.99

8. Milk Bar Cereal Milk Ice Cream 14oz

Time for dessert? Think outside the (cereal) box and reach for Milk Bar Cereal Milk Ice Cream. This scoopable pint is an ultra-creamy, custard-style Cereal Milk Ice Cream that comes with a cornflake crunch swirled right in (sweet and salty, a little corny — tastes like the bottom of your cereal bowl). It’s the perfect indulgence for those who want ice cream for breakfast.

$7.49

9. Jeni's Darkest Chocolate Ice Cream 16oz

This mouth-filling and palate gripping dark chocolate ice cream took five years for Jeni’s to perfect. It’s packed with so much Fair Trade cocoa that it’s overflowing with rich, bittersweet chocolate that it almost can’t be called ice cream. This frozen confection has a dense, creamy texture similar to the inside of a dark chocolate truffle — a testament to the care and quality that Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams puts into their products. This chocolate ice cream will ruin all other chocolate ice creams for you. Eat it if you dare.

$9.99

10. Eclipse Cookie Butter Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert 14oz

Imagine a silken pool of luscious vanilla bean ice cream mixed with delicious, chewy chunks of golden cookie dough. Sound good? You bet! Now make it 100% plant-based, GMO-free, and dairy-free. Impossible? Not for Eclipse Foods. Eclipse has created a frozen dessert with the taste and feel of decadent creamy ice cream using oat milk. Dessert doesn’t get better than this.

$7.69

11. Magnum Double Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream in Chocolate Shell 14.8oz

Your favorite ice cream treat is now available in scoopable form. Magnum combines rich Madagascan vanilla ice cream with a dreamy ribbon of sea salt flavored caramel, then surrounds it with a thick shell of delicious Belgian chocolate. Each spoonful of Magnum Ice Cream is a luxurious experience to be savored slowly and often.

$6.99 

12. Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough with Toll House Morsels Ice Cream 14oz

Some days, you can’t decide. Are you craving ice cream or chocolate chip cookies? How can you choose just one? You don't have to with Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough Ice Cream. Bite-sized chunks of cookie dough are loaded with Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chips and then blended into deliciously smooth vanilla ice cream. Enjoy every spoonful, knowing you don’t have to compromise your cravings.

$4.99

13. Van Leeuwen Honeycomb Ice Cream Pint 14oz

This is the perfect topper for Mom’s apple pie. Despite being called honeycomb, it’s not made from any honey. This ice cream is jam-packed with caramel candy. That might seem confusing until you realize that ice cream is also made without ice. You can take comfort in knowing that Van Leeuwen delivers on its promise of crafting a rich, delicious ice cream that will keep your taste buds happy.

$7.49

14. Halo Top Birthday Cake Ice Cream 16oz

Talk about having your cake and eating it too. This light-tasting ice cream blends authentic vanilla flavor with a colorful dash of sprinkles to delight your eyes and tickle your taste buds. It’s also a lower-calorie option and a good source of protein, packing in 19 grams into every pint. Halo Top Birthday Ice Cream is an indulgence you can enjoy, whatever you’re celebrating.

$6.99

15. Noona’s Taro Ice Cream Taro 14oz

Asian ice creams have a reputation for their exotic blends of flavors. Noona’s Taro Ice Cream is no exception. This lilac-colored ice cream is made with taro, an Asian root veggie, which infuses this creamy frozen treat with floral vanilla notes and a delightful nuttiness reminiscent of cookies and cream. Break the ice cream mold and give Noona’s a try.

$10.99

FAQ

Which ice cream brand is best?

Deciding which ice cream brand is the best depends on what you’re looking for in a frozen indulgence. There’s a lot to consider. Do you want to make your dessert à la mode? Tillamook Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream is the perfect accompaniment to home-baked cakes and pies. Had a hard day and need a chocolate fix? You can’t get any more chocolatey than Jeni's Darkest Chocolate Ice Cream. Are you looking for a bit of childhood nostalgia in your bowl? Give Milk Bar Cereal Milk Ice Cream a try. 

No matter the flavor, craving, or time of day, there’s an ice cream to suit your mood and desires. You just need to grab your spoon and give them a scoop.

What are the top 10 brands of ice cream?

If you are interested in following the crowd to the freezer section, and who can blame you, here are the top 10 most popular ice cream brands available for delivery. You can also refer to our list above — most of these brands are available from Gopuff.

• Nestle

• Halo

• Serendipity

• Breyers

• Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream

• Van Leeuwen

• Tillamook

• Blue Bell Creameries

• Haagen-Dazs

• Ben and Jerry’s All Natural Ice Cream

These are just a small sampling of the great ice creams, frozen desserts, and gelatos available. Get your spoon and dig in.

What is the number one ice cream brand?

It should come as no surprise that Ben and Jerry’s sits at the top of most people’s best ice cream lists. It’s probably one of the most recognizable brands making ice cream today. 

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield launched their ice creamery from the back of a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont, in 1978 and began franchising their ice cream shop in 1981. They’ve been growing ever since. Their most popular flavor, Cherry Garcia, was introduced in 1987, followed soon by Chunky Monkey, Half Baked, Phish Food, and other favorites. They’ve also expanded their product range to include frozen yogurt, vegan, and non-dairy options.

Ben and Jerry sold more than 202 million units of ice cream in 2019, with roughly 25% of all American households reporting that they bought at least one pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream in the three months before the survey.

That’s a lot of ice cream, and Ben and Jerry don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.