Key takeaways
• Mad editors and pro bakers praise Ben & Jerry’s vanilla ice cream for its creamy structure and rich, authentic vanilla flavor.
• Even the brand’s vegan vanilla base impresses with its smooth, dairy-like texture.
When I was a kid, I thought, When I am an adult I eat ice cream for dinner every day and no one stops me. I dreamed of bubble rubber-flavored scoops with rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sauce, mini M & Ms and whipped cream. A girl can dream.
My dream came true! As an adult, keeping a pint of ice in my freezer is standard policy. I eat it straight from the container whenever I want. Plus, I can’t think of a dessert that isn’t done better with a beer of ice cream – grilled peaches, strawberry cake, all the shoemakers, you name it.
It is safe to say that my taste has grown and my go-to is vanilla ice cream. Go ahead, call me “Vanilla” – I’ll take it as a compliment! Vanillais is luxurious, subtle and delicious. There is no frozen treat as reliably delicious.
Since I buy ice cream so often, I tend to reach out to what’s for sale. But should I? To find out, I asked professionally trained bakers and food editors to name their favorite brand vanilla ice cream. They gave me all the same answer.
Pro Bakere I asked
Simply Recipes / Ben & Jerry’s
The best vanilla ice cream, according to pro -bakers and food editors
Laurel describes great vanilla ice cream as “creamy with real vanilla flavor.” It sounds simple, but surprisingly, not all vanilla owners are created equal. The unanimous voice for the best vanilla ice cream is Ben & Jerry’s. (According to Alexa Harrison, Public Relations Manager for Ben & Jerry’s, it is so popular that it is the only smooth flavor-without mix-in-sealed in a pint container.)
Laurel says, “Ben & Jerry’s vanilla is rich, creamy and has the vanilla flavor I am looking for – rural with a dessert, in a sundae or all on its own.” (Try a scoop on Laurel’s Peach and Raspberry Pandowdy!)
Genevieve, which tasted over 10 brands of vanilla ice cream for serious eats, says: “A lot of vanilla owner has an artificial aftertaste, but Ben & Jerry’s taste like dairy, which has been added with real vanilla. Of all the brands I’ve tasted, it’s the smoothest and cream.
“I’m usually not one for vanilla ice cream – I prefer a lot of strawberries or something with texture, like cookie dough – but Ben & Jerry’s is someone I will gladly eat night after night,” she adds.
Megan says, “Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla Ice Cream is my go-to-brand. I love how creamy it is and how it has a recognizable but not false tasting vanilla flavor.”
Courtney, lactose intolerant, supports Ben & Jerry’s reformulated vegan vanilla base for those who want a dairy-free alternative. “I was really impressed … It’s oatmeal, but neutral in taste, which is hard to find in the ice ice ice cream, and has a shockingly creamy mouthfeel without being too rich.” Ben & Jerry’s does not have a vanilla-only vegan ice cream, but uses the base for several flavors with mix-ins.
I recently learned that Ben & Jerry’s employees can take three pints of ice cream every day. I don’t know how I got some work done. My daily checklist will include softening in the sun, touching grass and eating a pint of ice. A girl can dream.