14 Things You Need To Know Before Eating At Baskin-Robbins
We've got the scoop on the famed "31 flavors."
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Everyone has a go-to ice cream order, but true connoisseurs never tire of trying out new flavors. Since its start, Baskin-Robbins has been the place to go to sample countless varieties before making a final scoop decision. Devour all the details about the popular ice cream parlors before you order an ice cream cake or sample your way through their roster—turns out there are way more flavors than 31.
It all started with two brothers-in-law
Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins were both already in the ice cream business in their hometown of Glendale, CA when they decided to join forces. They merged their respective ice cream parlors — Burton's Ice Cream Shop and Snowbird Ice Cream to form a joint, family-friendly shop in 1945.
The "31 flavors" slogan began in the '50s
Irv Robbins' former shop, Snowbird, offered 21 flavors — a large selection that was unheard of at the time. Newly formed Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream topped that by serving 31 different varieties of ice cream, so customers could hypothetically try a new flavor every day for a whole month.
The most popular flavor was a homemade recipe
Though flavors like vanilla, chocolate and mint chocolate chip are some of the chain's top sellers, the all-time favorite, Pralines 'n Cream, was first created by Irv Robbins and his wife Irma in their kitchen at home. It's the best-selling flavor, internationally.
The flavor selection has changed with the times.
Since opening, the company has introduced more than 1,300 flavors, including several limited-edition varieties meant to commemorate historic events. Decades ago, Gorba Chocolate came out in honor of Mikhail Gorbachev and the fall of communism.
Those pink spoons are iconic
From the start, Baskin-Robbins has always allowed customers to sample as many flavors as they like before deciding which one to buy. The bubblegum pink tasting spoons have been around since the late '50s, and the chain even introduced a "Pinky the Spoon" character back in 1988.
There's a spotlight flavor every month
Make sure to check out Baskin-Robbins' Flavor of the Month — it could be a brand-new addition like the Reese's 3-Pointer, a limited-time variety or an old favorite like "Mom's Makin' Cookies" to celebrate Mother's Day in May.
You can usually get coffee with your ice cream.
Baskin-Robbins became a part of Dunkin' Brands, Inc. in 2005, and since then new locations are often co-branded with Dunkin' Donuts. That means you can grab a scoop and an iced coffee in one stop.
There are some famous former scoopers.
During the summer of 1978, Barack Obama himself spent his days scooping ice cream cones at Baskin-Robbins near his grandparents' home in Hawaii. "Rows and rows of rock-hard ice cream can be brutal on the wrists," he said in a LinkedIn post, and a few other famous names might agree — Bobby Flay, Julia Roberts and Rosie O'Donnell have all worked at the chain.
It's the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty shops
With over 7,600 locations — 2,500 shops in the U.S. and 4,800 more internationally — Baskin-Robbins stands as the #1 ice cream franchise in the world. You can find locations in almost 50 different countries, serving foreign flavors like Red Bean, Black Currant and Cantaloupe.
The chain holds a sweet world record.
Back in 2005, Baskin-Robbins secured a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records by dishing up the largest-ever cup of ice cream. The massive vanilla scoop, weighing 8,865 pounds, was put together to celebrate the store's 60th anniversary.
You can order some insane cakes.
Baskin-Robbins was one of the first ice cream parlors to create ice cream cakes for their customers back when it started. Now they put together some pretty impressive confections, even the occasional wedding cake for super-fans, and you can order them online!
You can snag discounted scoops.
The chain regularly runs Celebrate 31 promotions during select months. In the past, the shops have served scoops for just $1.31 for every month that ends on the 31st, but inflation seems to have brought the price up to $1.50, and you'll have to check online to find out when the offer is going on. When it is, you can grab discounted regular or kids' size cups or cones in the flavor of your choice.
Now the shops even serve pizza.
But not the cheesy kind you're thinking of. Last year, Baskin-Robbins introduced dessert pizzas called Polar Pizza — a giant cookie pie topped with ice cream and other fixings like crumbled Oreo, cookie dough bites, sprinkles and icing. We'll take a slice of that.
You can scoop your own at home.
If you don't live near a scoop shop, or just have a real addiction to the stuff, you can pick up half-gallon containers of Baskin-Robbins ice cream from supermarkets across the country. Don't forget to grab toppings for an at-home sundae bar.
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