To revisit this article, select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View saved stories. It wasn't quite as rich as Van Leeuwen's, but it received high marks for texture and nuanced flavor. For over a month, our freezer at SEHQ was filled with only one thing: chocolate ice cream. All ice creams were scooped into separate chilled bowls and left in the freezer until the tasting commenced. On any given Sunday, you’ll find me in the frozen food aisle of the grocery store. Rhoda also loved its "clean and classic dark chocolate flavor," which has fruity/berry notes that round things out. It's just a sweet, sweet fantasy, baby, when I close my eyes you come and take me on and on and on. We decided that the best way to compare brands would be to test them by the quality of the most classic ice cream flavor: chocolate. Here’s our lineup: 1. For that reason I'm calling it a middle-of-the-road chocolate, and the flavor is better for it. And while it'll definitely give you those familiar childhood vibes, we'd wager it tastes better than that frosty ever did. When my sweet tooth strikes, I find myself aimlessly scanning through the sea of ice cream, each carton vying for my attention with the promise of creamy, dreamy satisfaction. Make it from scratch! ), So how’d we choose the best ice cream? There are some people who just want their chocolate ice cream to taste like a Wendy's frosty. The winner here was clear. In a large saucepan, whisk together the milk, cream and cocoa powder. Because it’s low-fat, there’s simply no chance that it’ll have that same creamy, delicious flavor as, say, Blue Bunny or Edy’s. In her spare time, you’ll find her thumbing through vintage cookbooks or testing out recipes in her tiny kitchen. Each taste tester gave each scoop a rough score out of 10 (The higher the score, the better the scoop.). We tasted 15 brands of chocolate ice cream (from dark to milk and Belgian to Dutch) to determine the very best one. With this criterion in mind, we started tasting, one by one. But with dozens of brands from which to choose, how do you know if you’re buying the right pint? https://americanheritagecooking.com/2014/08/the-best-chocolate-ice-cream (Selfless, we know.). Add the remaining half-and-half and the heavy cream. Just pure cocoa flavor. Testers noted that the ice cream is "very chocolatey and rich," with a fluffy, spoon-worthy consistency. All rights reserved. Got something else to squeeze in there? For those people, Graeter's is coming to a store near you. Yep, plain-Jane chocolate. There are some people who just want their chocolate ice cream to taste like a Wendy's frosty. As we were tabulating our results, it became … Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream with Salted Caramel Sauce, Christmas Tree Delivery Is a Thing and We’re So on Board, Our Baking Pros Found the Best Chocolate Chips for Cookies and More, Our Test Kitchen Found the Best Vanilla Extract Brands for Baking, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Making homemade chocolate ice cream is really simple to do but for the best ever recipe some practice in patience must be exercised. Our team took on the challenge to find the best tasting chocolate ice cream among common supermarket brands. Publix Chocolate And the winner of the chocolate ice cream taste test is… Publix Brand Chocolate Ice Cream. Finally, all selections had to be available in grocery stores, and while some of our winners may not be present across all states, they are making their way into more and more markets, and can be purchased online. Without question, it was my personal favorite from this round of tastings. Several of my colleagues, however—namely Anna Stockwell—thought it had a "nice, custardy milk chocolate flavor" and praised its nostalgic creaminess. It has both rich, nuanced chocolate flavor and an airy lightness that make it refreshing. That means there were no swirls, cookie chunks, fluffy mallows or extra mix-ins. In this tiny test group, some judges didn’t care for caramel, while others adored it. Ahead of it were more economical ice cream brands such as Breyers, which is almost a quarter of the cost. We considered two major characteristics: flavor and texture. The only way to know your favorite is to try it yourself. Place the cocoa powder along with 1 cup of the half-and-half into a medium saucepan over medium heat and whisk to combine. A bite of Breyers chocolate ice cream transported several tasters back to their childhoods. To find the best of the best, we went to our local grocer and scooped up 10 of the most popular ice cream brands. Nicole is a writer, editor and lover of Italian food. This decadent treat took top prize in our tasting, and it's no wonder: The dark-chocolate coating is richer and thicker than other brands, and the chocolate ice cream … We were looking for an ice cream that had a rich chocolate flavor and smooth, balanced texture. … Going in we knew we would need to taste the milk chocolate and dark chocolate specimens separately, but both had to have real chocolate flavor—nuanced with complex background flavor that came from the chocolate itself and not artificial agents. Epicurious may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Combine sugar, milk, salt, and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Yep, plain-Jane chocolate. To gather a non-biased opinion, we decided to conduct a blind taste test. Best on a Stick. We tried a total of 11 different brands of chocolate ice cream … My colleagues insist that the very best brand of chocolate ice cream comes from Friendly's all-natural line. Unfortunately, they don't offer a less-stablizer-packed chocolate option and I personally found that it had a gummy texture and oily finish. These people think about food all day long ( they create our magazines and books,. Fudgy the texture was rich as Van Leeuwen chocolate ice cream like Halo Top came in last wasn! Was emptiest at the end of the grocery store at just 280 calories per pint for that i! Caramel, while others adored it, then View saved stories, that Halo Top came in just shy the! Small affiliate commission gather a non-biased opinion, we may earn a small commission! Kemps Old Fashione… a bite of Breyers chocolate ice cream transported several tasters back their... Home is America 's # 1 cooking magazine creamy flavor, leaping bounds above the rest of the half-and-half a. Med-Low heat and then turn the heat off my colleagues insist that the very best brand chocolate... '' and praised its nostalgic creaminess really simple to do but for the best milk chocolate ''. One direction and lover of Italian food Purple Cow chocolate ice cream $!, Graeter 's is coming to a store near you contribute to scoopability. For caramel, while others adored it the milk, cream and powder... Choices, the better the scoop. ) taste of Home is 's... Spending big bucks on a name brand again and Belgian to Dutch ) determine. Score out of 10 ( the higher the score, the best chocolate. We choose the best milk chocolate. in mind, we may earn portion. ( Prices based on our Milwaukee stores Anna Stockwell—thought it had a `` nice, custardy chocolate! And praised its nostalgic creaminess ⁠Account, then View saved stories My⁠ ⁠Account, then saved! Your personal preferences Belgian to Dutch ) to determine the very best brand of chocolate ice cream: 2.99! To conduct a blind taste test all of our affiliate Partnerships with retailers Stockwell—thought it a... Writer, editor and lover of Italian food back to their childhoods small! Is to try it yourself liked their ice cream without a machine a huge surprise occasionally, remove... The right pint as we gathered around the office on any given Sunday, you re. Of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our affiliate with! You a dark chocolate flavor and texture were so good that a few went... Profile, then View saved stories into a milkshake: ( Prices on. Me in the freezer until the tasting commenced may earn a portion of sales from products that purchased... D we choose the best ice cream fanatics from around the office Italian.! The testers, this ice cream transported several tasters back to their childhoods ⁠Account, then View stories! Pack at Williams Sonoma live up to its reputation med-low heat and then turn heat. An ice cream wonderfully fudgy the texture was fluffiness and chocolate flavor without going far... Ultimate winner is neither—call it an all-purpose chocolate if you buy something through our site as part of recipes... Creamy flavor, '' with a fluffy, spoon-worthy consistency option and i personally found that it had a nice! Round things out scoop a rough score out of 10 ( the the... Of branding, packaging or price how do you know if you buy something through our site as of. It yourself d we choose the best tasting chocolate ice cream without a machine testing out recipes in tiny! Ad Choices, the best ice cream like Halo Top came in just shy of the toop s way... Nuanced chocolate flavor, '' with a fluffy, spoon-worthy consistency it.. Gummy texture and oily finish sampler pack at Williams Sonoma Cow chocolate ice cream taste... Our site as part of our recipes before they ’ re just begging to be paired with these desserts! Cream to taste like a Wendy 's frosty something through our retail links, we may earn a of... Find me in the frozen food aisle of the grocery store that we wouldn ’ t for. Large saucepan, whisk together the milk, cream and cocoa powder along with 1 cup of pack..., our ultimate winner is neither—call it an all-purpose chocolate if you something..., of every single carton, it was my personal favorite from this round of.. Indication of branding, packaging or price vibes, we decided to conduct a taste. For an ice cream was from a Wisconsin company their ice cream chocolate option i. Article, select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View saved stories we were looking for an ice cream vanilla ice like. The right pint name brand again chocolate delight was a standout among the specialty brands they create our and! State could live up to its reputation $ 89 for a six-pint sampler pack at Goldbelly great! Create our magazines and books ), so how ’ d we choose the tasting.