Call me basic, but I LOVE vanilla ice cream. The ultimate accompaniment for everything from cherry pie to brownies, it’s also perfect for melting down and whisking into French toast batter or drizzling into a white Russian. And there’s nothing more superb than a scoop of vanilla ice cream served on its own. Maybe with a drizzle of hot fudge.
But finding a truly great vanilla ice cream can be surprisingly difficult. Vanilla beans are the second most expensive spice in the world, and many brands skirt the cost by skimping on the flavor. Also, without any big blockbusting chunks or rich swirls to distract, the subtle nuances of texture and the prominence (or absence) of egginess in the ice cream become VERY apparent. So, which brands can you count on to deliver?
I blindly tasted 13 different brands of vanilla ice cream, scoring each one on a scale of 1-10 as I tasted. My producer, Halle Burns, scooped each sample directly from the container (kept carefully out of my sight, of course!) so I could get the freshest tasting possible. After I tasted and rated all 13 samples, I determined my top brands in several different categories and named an overall favorite. Here are the results:
Note: All these opinions are 100% my own and may not align with your individual preferences. I stand behind all of these (totally unpaid) recommendations, but I also encourage you to try other brands you might be curious about. If nothing else, I hope reading this encourages you to taste more thoughtfully the next time you buy a pint of vanilla ice cream!
Best Classic Vanilla Ice Cream: Häagen-Dazs
I’ve heard world-class ice cream makers such as Jeni Britten-Bauer recommend Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream, so I was not surprised to discover it had scored top marks. With a strong vanilla essence, a rich, creamy texture, and a luscious body that didn’t melt too quickly, this brand easily out-classed all the other offerings in its category.
Häagen-Dazs' defining success factor was its strong vanilla presence. Many other ice creams in this category were significantly lacking in actual flavor—often, I could only taste cold creaminess. In some cases, I found myself wondering if the token “vanilla bean” specks were present as a visual cue to make up for the blatant lack of flavor. With Häagen-Dazs, the vanilla was fully present—even without the specks.
Best Healthy Alt Vanilla Ice Cream: Oatly
Crafting a healthy alternative ice cream that’s just as delicious as any standard offering is challenging but Oatly delivered. Featuring that signature oat base, their vanilla non-dairy “frozen dessert” was smooth and creamy with an undeniable vanilla flavor. True, its texture wasn’t quite as smooth as some of the full-fat dairy offerings in the classic category, and it also had a certain oaty vibe that isn’t exactly part of the traditional vanilla flavor profile, but when it came to the overall eating experience, it beat out all the other options in its category.
On a practical note, I earmarked that pint to take home. Let that speak for itself.
Best Premium Vanilla Ice Cream: Adirondack Creamery
If you’ve ever wondered why people are so obsessed with “French” vanilla, one bite of Adirondack Creamery’s offering will make you a believer. With a gorgeous golden yellow color and a warm toasty vanilla flavor to match, this ice cream handily topped all the ice creams in its category (except the best overall—see below!)
It’s worth mentioning that of all the offerings in the premium category, this ice cream seemed to melt faster, which is probably the biggest reason it lost out to the best overall champion. Also, it’s definitely a prima donna in the world of vanilla ice cream—those toasty vanilla notes (which according to the brand is the product of a “special blend of vanillas from Tahiti and Madagascar”) are poised to steal the spotlight wherever it appears. But if you’re looking for big Vanilla flavor (with a capital V), this is definitely it.
Best Overall: Blue Marble
I’ve been a fan of Blue Marble for years, so I wasn’t surprised when their Just Vanilla took the blue ribbon (pun fully intended!) Featuring powerful vanilla flavor, and a texture so rich and smooth it was almost custardy, this golden-hued offering easily surpassed every other ice cream I tried.
Where other brands may have melted a bit too quickly, tasted a little icy, or lacked that essential vanilla oomph, Blue Marble delivered in every category. I was particularly impressed by its texture—super smooth, almost silky—and the way it held itself instead of melting almost immediately as some of the other samples did. I’d put it on everything from a warm brownie skillet to a piece of pecan pie, but I’d also eat it straight out of the carton standing in front of the freezer any day. Which, in my opinion, is the hallmark of a really great vanilla ice cream.
