What is a frozen dairy dessert?
Cost: $3.99-$6.29 (46 ounces)
Calories: 250 per 2⁄3 cup
Scoopability: Easy right out of the freezer.
Base ice cream: Rich and creamy vanilla. Cookie dough: Big pieces with above average cookie dough flavor.
Cookie dough to ice cream ratio: Cookie dough in every bite.
Overall: Vanilla ice cream that would be excellent as a standalone flavor and that doesn’t overpower chunks of cookie dough. The flavors complement more than compete. Occasionally pieces of chocolate dominate.
The FDA sets standards for what can legally be labeled as ice cream. It’s a lengthy set of regulations written in a lovely government dialect including this delightful sentence:
“Ice cream contains not less than 10 percent milkfat, nor less than 10 percent nonfat milk solids, except that when it contains milkfat at 1 percent increments above the 10 percent minimum, it may contain the following milkfat-to-nonfat milk solids levels ...”
The next sentence starts with an exception to that standard. In short, anything labeled “frozen dairy dessert” doesn’t meet minimum regulations to be labeled ice cream.
Base: Smooth, rich vanilla that melts nicely. Cookie dough: Anyone who’s eaten Pillsbury’s ready-to-bake cookie dough before baking knows this flavor.
Cookie dough to ice cream ratio: Small pellets of dough in every bite. The uniform size and distribution of cookie dough is impressive.
Overall: Putting the Pillsbury Dough Boy on the label sets the cookie dough flavor expectations. In that regard, expectations met. The ice cream at the base is also of typical Kemp’s quality.
Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough
Cost: $3.79-$6.49 (48 ounces)
Calories: 210 per 2⁄3 cup
Scoopability: Easy right out of the freezer.
Base ice cream: Basic vanilla.
Cookie dough: Good size chunks with flavor reminiscent of dough made following Nestle’s basic chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Cookie dough to ice cream ratio: forward. Plenty in each bite.
Overall: Many mini chocolate chips boost the tasting experience without being overpowering. While not bad, Nestle’s version would benefit from a creamier base ice cream and bigger burst of cookie dough flavor to justify the price when not on sale.
Note: I only spotted a few of these at Festival Foods.
Cookie dough
Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Cost: $3.99-$5.49 (14 ounces)
Calories: 370 per 2⁄3 cup serving
Scoopability: Hard. Needs time at room temperature to soften.
Base ice cream: Basic vanilla.
Cookie dough: Good size chunks with above average cookie dough flavor.
Cookie dough to ice cream ratio: forward.
Overall: Vanilla ice cream and cookie dough flavors are present but occasionally get overtaken by chocolate flavor from extra pieces. There’s nothing wrong with the flavors and texture, it’s just you’d expect more from an ice cream with a premium price.
Cookie dough
Great Value Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Cost: $2.99 (48 ounces)
Scoopability: Easy right out of the freezer.
Base ice cream: Creamy with flavorful vanilla. Cookie dough: Big chunks with above-average cookie dough flavor.
Cookie dough to ice cream ratio: in a complementary balance.
Overall: The added chunks of chocolate don’t overpower the ice cream or cookie dough. While Great Value (Walmart’s store brand) doesn’t quite surpass name brands like Blue Bunny or Kemp’s in quality, it’s not too far behind and a solid option when your preferred cookie dough ice cream isn’t on sale.
Evenly dispersed
Cedar Crest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Cost: $4.49-$6.39 (48 ounces)
Calories: 220 per 2⁄3 cup serving
Scoopability: Fair. Needs a little extra muscle right out of the freezer.
Base ice cream: Mild vanilla flavor and creamy texture.
Cookie dough: Big hunks with mild flavor. Cookie dough to ice cream ratio: Cookie dough in every bite.
Overall: Plenty of cookie dough and a solid ice cream base. Nobody’s going to complain but there are better options.
Dean’s Country Fresh Ice Cream Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Cost: $2.79-$3.69 (48 ounces)
Calories: 200 per 2⁄3 cup serving
Scoopability: Easiest to scoop of those tested. Base ice cream: More like a French or New York vanilla style.
Cookie dough: Good size chunks with minimal cookie dough flavor.
Cookie dough to ice cream ratio: Had a few bites without getting any cookie dough.
Overall: Inconsistent dispersion of cookie dough chunks off the top. Fans of French vanilla will like the base ice cream.
Schoep’s Cookie Dough