Popular Breyers Ice Cream Flavors, Ranked Worst To Best
There are so many desserts to choose from in the world of sweets. You could keep it simple with some candy, go all out with a slice of cake, or find some healthy middle ground with a nice pie, a rustic galette, or an indulgent cheesecake. But when the weather starts getting warmer (or just when you feel like something nice and cold), there's only one dessert that will really get the job done right: ice cream.
If you're a frequent ice cream buyer, then you already know that there are an astonishing number of brands to choose from. But no matter where you live, you probably have Breyers at your grocery store. It's one of the most well-known ice cream brands out there, and for good reason: it has a super wide variety of flavors. Don't even think about sticking to plain chocolate or vanilla when there is so much more to suit your taste buds.
There's only one problem. With so many different flavors, how do you know which ones are delicious and which ones just aren't worth your time? It can be difficult to tell. Luckily, we've done most of the hard work for you to decide which popular Breyers flavors are the best. Keep in mind that this is just our opinion, and this doesn't include every flavor in the bunch. Feel free to try these out for yourself to see if you agree with us or not. Here are the most popular Breyers flavors, ranked.
18. Cherry Vanilla
Not every fruit-loving ice cream-eater is going to agree with us here, but we feel pretty strongly about the flavor that deserves to go in last place: Cherry Vanilla. Wow, this stuff was just not good. Let's start with the vanilla. Unfortunately, Breyers doesn't have our favorite vanilla ice cream on the market. It's not bad, just a bit boring compared to the competition. But there's something about the vanilla that appears in this particular flavor that just doesn't do it for us. It's not as creamy as you might want it to be, and the vanilla flavoring just isn't that strong.
But our real issue comes in with the cherries. Sure, you may love cherries, and you may even want your ice cream sundae topped with one. But when you mix it into plain vanilla ice cream, the result is not tasty. The cherries got hard and unappetizing in the ice cream, which then made them incredibly chewy. Long after the ice cream melts in your mouth, you will still be gnawing on those cold, dry cherries. Doesn't sound very pleasant, does it?
Plus, the flavor of the cherries completely overpowers the vanilla, so you're left with an ice cream that tastes slightly like the medicine your mom would force you to take when you were a kid. When you consider everything that's not working for this ice cream, it's clear why it earns the last spot on our list.
17. Lactose-Free Vanilla
Listen, we get it. Not everyone out there can eat or drink lactose and feel good afterward. Lactose intolerance is a real thing, and it can have a seriously negative effect on those who suffer from it. So from that standpoint, we totally appreciate that Breyers is trying to offer those people a product they can truly enjoy. The only problem? Their Lactose-Free Vanilla ice cream doesn't taste good at all.
The first thing you're going to notice is the flavor of this ice cream. It doesn't have the creamy consistency you would expect from a normal Breyers flavor. Instead, it's harder and icier. In fact, it may be a little bit difficult for you to scoop at first if you don't have a strong arm and a decent ice cream scoop. Leaving it out on the counter for a few minutes helps, but not much.
The next problem is the flavor, and that's because there is none. This ice cream is so bland, you may wonder why you don't just go eat plain ice instead. If you bought a carton of this stuff by accident and wanted to use it up, it may help to add some toppings to it. But otherwise? We wouldn't suggest you waste your time with it when there are other, more delicious options out there for you to choose from.
16. Cinnabon
We can see where Breyers was going with this one, and in all honesty, it's not a bad idea. Combine your favorite ice cream with your favorite sweet mall snack? In theory, it should be delicious. In practice, though, it's anything but. The Cinnabon flavor is still not our favorite when it comes to options from Breyers.
According to the company, this ice cream has "swirls of gooey cinnamon roll flavor and delicious dough bites in a sweet cinnamon flavored base." But if you think about it, that's a lot of cinnamon flavor. In fact, when you first take a bite of this stuff, that's all you're going to taste at all. We love a good cinnamon bun, but the flavor here is really overwhelming. The cinnamon-flavored base isn't bad, and we might be able to enjoy that if it were on its own. But the "gooey cinnamon roll flavor" that's added in as well just takes it over the top.
While we really did not like this option, we didn't put it in the last place because the idea of it does sound really good, perhaps because of so many people's love for Cinnabon itself. We'll be keeping an eye out to see if Breyers changes its recipe anytime soon. After all, this could be a delicious dessert with just a few tweaks.
15. Salted Caramel
Sometimes, Breyers just isn't subtle enough with their flavors. They want to go big and bold, which can sometimes be great, but it can also just be too much at other times. That's especially the case when it comes to their Salted Caramel flavor. Over the last few years, salted caramel has been all the rage. After all, it combines the very best of sweet and salty flavors to create something that's out-of-this-world amazing. Generally, we would jump at the sight of salted caramel anything. But this ice cream? We'll pass.
The flavor of this frozen treat isn't bad — it's just way, way too strong. The caramel is almost sickly sweet, so much so that it might even leave your teeth hurting. Then, they have to balance out all that sweetness with an aggressive amount of salt. When it's all mixed together, it's just too much.
However, we do admit that this kind of ice cream could come in handy if you're the kind of person who likes to eat just a small amount of very rich food for dessert. You're definitely not going to want a whole bowl of the stuff, but if you can just grab a small spoonful every now and then? It's not the worst. If you're looking for a proper dessert, though, this is simply not where it's at.
14. Natural Strawberry
Now, this one might just be an "us" problem. But starting right off the bat, strawberry ice cream just isn't very good. If you want an indulgent bowl of ice cream, you probably don't want something that's full of fruit. (If you did, there are frankly much better fruit-based desserts out there for you to choose from.) So there, we said it. You can certainly feel free to disagree with us if you so choose.
That said, on the spectrum of strawberry ice creams available out there, we're not a huge fan of Breyers' Natural Strawberry. First of all, when you order strawberry ice cream, you expect that it'll come out looking pink, right? After all, that's arguably some of the joy of choosing this variety. But with Breyers, that's not what you get. Instead, it just looks like vanilla ice cream with little chunks of strawberry in the mix. Plus, the chewy little pieces of fruit make what would otherwise be a decent texture kind of funky. Do you really want pieces of fruit getting stuck in your teeth when you're eating a bowl of ice cream?
Luckily, the fruit doesn't get dry and hard in this flavor like it does in the cherry ice cream above, but it's still not a pleasant experience. We wish we could get on board with such a summery flavor, but it's just not what we're looking for when we go to grab a dessert.
13. Natural Vanilla
Next up on the docket is Breyers' Natural Vanilla ice cream. We'll start off by saying that no vanilla ice cream is that good. Just think about it for a moment. The word "vanilla" is literally used to describe something that's boring, right? But decent vanilla can really knock it out of the park, even if you'd rather have something that has a more complex or bold flavor. But when you choose Breyers' vanilla, that's not what you're going to get.
Now, this flavor isn't bad, by any means. The texture is fine too. There's just nothing that makes it stand out. If you eat more than a few spoonfuls, there's a good chance that you'll be so bored with it that you won't even finish the whole bowl. Of course, there are ways to remedy this if you're saddled with this unremarkable ice cream. You could add in a variety of toppings, from fruit to crushed-up Oreos, that can make the experience a bit more interesting. But that shouldn't be a requirement just to enjoy the ice cream you've already purchased.
There is one group that's probably going to like this ice cream quite a bit: kids. It's sweet and inoffensive, so even the pickiest eaters shouldn't have a hard time eating it up. But for the adults? Pick something a little bit more exciting — you'll be happy you did.
12. Butter Pecan
Butter Pecan is next up. The best we can say about this flavor is that there's not much going on. If you buy a carton of it, you're not going to regret it, necessarily, but you're not going to dream of the next time you take a bite. It's fully in "decent" territory, but that's probably not what you're looking for when you buy yourself a frozen treat at the grocery store.
Like a lot of Breyers flavors, the taste is quite strong. The ice cream itself is very sweet, and it may be too much for those who don't have a developed sweet tooth. Luckily, the pecans play an important role in this ice cream because they give it some much-needed texture. Without them, it would be very one-note, but the nuts do make a difference, which is why Butter Pecan has earned the ranking it has.
While this ice cream flavor is creamy with a little bit of crunch, there are much better options to look into the next time you're standing in the frozen aisle at the grocery store. But if you're looking for something that's fairly innocuous that nobody will complain about, you might consider this one.
11. Coconut Fudge Breeze
If you want a dessert that's going to make you feel like you're at the beach while at the same time being downright indulgent, then you may want to look to Breyers' Coconut Fudge Breeze. It has that tropical flavor from the coconut, but then you add in the chocolate, and it becomes a whole new experience. It sounds great, right?
Well, we wouldn't go quite that far. It's decent — good, even — but it didn't blow us away. That's probably due to the fact that the coconut flavor was very, very faint. Like, you can't really tell that there's coconut on the mix at all. If they had left it off of the packaging, we wouldn't have even known a difference. If you buy this product because you just love coconut, you're almost definitely going to be disappointed.
The swirls of chocolate in the mix were really good, and the overall result was pretty tasty. If we didn't know what the flavor was supposed to be, the Coconut Fudge Breeze would probably have made it higher on our list. But since it was lacking that taste of coconut that we were craving, we couldn't honestly put it any higher. Don't get us wrong: This ice cream is good, and you may even want to pick some up. Just don't get too excited about the whole coconut factor, because you may be let down.
10. Mint Chocolate Chip
When we were trying to figure out where to place Breyers' Mint Chocolate Chip in our ranking, we were flummoxed. This is one of the most controversial flavors out there, and we knew that some would be unhappy with it wherever we placed it. So, we just stayed true to our hearts, and it ended up in the middle. That's because while it's decent, it was nothing impressive enough to truly wow us.
One thing we did like about this ice cream flavor is the color. Some mint chocolate chips are dyed an unnatural green color that somehow makes them less appetizing. We were glad that Breyers kept it natural, though. The white mint is the way to go. The problem, though? It's not that flavorful. While there is a hint of mint there, it's nothing that's going to blow you away. The chocolate chips are a nice touch, but at the end of the day, this is a flavor that's just kind of boring.
If you're looking for a gateway into the world of mint chocolate chip ice cream and want something that's not too overpowering, then this may be the ideal ice cream for you. But in our opinion, there are better mint chocolate chip ice creams out there.
9. Rocky Road
Rocky Road is one of those classic flavors that you have to try at least once in your life. And if you're looking for it in the grocery store, you might as well pick some up from Breyers. We'll start off by saying that Rocky Road is not an ideal flavor, to begin with. It's packed with marshmallows, so it may not be what someone with the most sophisticated palate would reach for at first glance. But if you have kids (or just a raging sweet tooth), it may be your thing.
If it is, then you're not going to feel let down by the Rocky Road you'll get from Breyers. It's got the classic chocolate ice cream that's been spiked with plenty of marshmallows. That gives it an almost sticky texture that's actually really good. Don't forget the chocolate-covered almonds to finish it off and give it a kind of crunch.
While it may not be our favorite ice cream of the bunch, it is a good option if you want something that's even more indulgent than your usual bowl of ice cream. Hey, it doesn't hurt to give it a try, right?
8. Oreo
What happens when you mix your favorite cookie with the creamy ice cream you've come to expect from Breyers? Breyers' Oreo ice cream is what. Basically, this is your standard cookies and cream number, which just about everyone loves. Think about it: you take a chocolate cookie stuffed with cream and mix it into rich ice cream. It's hard to go wrong with that sort of combo. We love that, despite the sweetness, the flavor isn't too overwhelming, while the texture from the crunchy-but-soft cookies takes this ice cream to a whole new level.
Though this may not be that creative of a flavor, it doesn't have to be. Sometimes, you just want to stick with the classics, and that's exactly what you'll get to do when you choose this ice cream.
Oh, and want a tip? If you want to make an even more over-the-top dessert, get some more Oreos on the side, crush them up, and sprinkle them on top for even more fun. You heard it from us first.
7. Peach
As you can tell, we're usually not big fans of fruit in ice cream. Other of Breyers' experiments in this area have not seemed to do too well, plagued by weird textures and ineffectual flavor. But if you were looking for a fruity offering and you wanted to make sure it would be something you'd actually want to eat after your purchase, then you'd do well to check out the Peach flavor.
Peach is an essential summer flavor, so you may want to keep this stuff around during the warmer months when you need something cold and refreshing. The creamy vanilla ice cream is paired with real peach pieces. These pieces of fruit are surprisingly moist and juicy, so they lend a lot of flavor to the ice cream. At the same time, there aren't too many of them, so it won't feel like you're biting into mostly frozen peaches.
Peach isn't for everyone — it's an especially sweet fruit with a distinctive taste — so we know that this may not be the most popular of the bunch. But since this one has such a nice texture and combination of flavors, we think it deserves its spot in this ranking. Give it a try and see if you agree with us.
6. Reese's
What could go wrong when you combine your favorite candy with your favorite ice cream? If the Reese's flavor from Breyers is any hint, then only good things. This ice cream takes pieces of Reese's and smashes them to form a kind of salty and sweet crumble that gets mixed in with the vanilla ice cream. There's also a fudge swirl that adds even more texture to this dessert.
When the Reese's candy is all broken down and mixed together with the ice cream, it creates the perfect storm of flavor. Of course, it's super sweet, but that may be what you need every once in a while. We just have one complaint about this ice cream. We wish that there were even more Reese's chunks added to the mix. As it stands, you can sometimes take a big bite of this ice cream without getting a single piece of chocolate or peanut butter, which can be a tad disappointing.
However, since that's really our only complaint, we think it's safe to say that Reese's ice cream is a real winner.
5. Coffee
As an adult with plenty of responsibilities to handle on a daily basis, you probably turn to coffee pretty frequently to give you the energy you need. That's totally understandable. At the same time, though, you probably wish you could return to the carefree times of your youth and reach for some ice cream instead of another espresso.
Well, we're here to give you some good news. Now, you can do both at the same time when you try out Breyers' Coffee flavored ice cream. This stuff combines creamy ice cream with rich coffee flavor to give you a very grown-up ice cream-eating experience. We love how this stuff tastes, and even though we wish that there were a bit more coffee in the mix, we still think that it's one of the best options in the bunch.
You're not going to get a ton of extra stuff when you choose this option. It's simple and classic, and that's why we love it so much. Coffee ice cream may not be the most creative idea in the book, but it doesn't have to be when it tastes as good as this one does. We give this flavor a solid thumbs up.
4. Chocolate Truffle
So, you want some chocolate ice cream. There's just something about a rich chocolate treat that can make your evening magical. But why would you settle for the same old boring chocolate you've been eating your whole life when you could try something new and — dare we say it — magical? If you're ready to expand your chocolate ice cream horizons, then you're definitely going to want to give Breyers' Chocolate Truffle a try.
First, it starts with the ice cream itself. This variety is dark chocolate-flavored, so it's even more intense than your average chocolate ice cream. That part is already amazing. But then you add in the dark chocolate truffles on top of that, and it's clear why this ultra-rich flavor belongs in the top four.
Of course, the Chocolate Truffle isn't for everyone. You have to be the kind of person who really, really likes chocolate. And you have to want something that's on the richer side because this is definitely not a light or dainty option. If you can check those boxes for yourself, though, there's a very good chance that you're going to come back to this ice cream flavor again and again.
3. New York Style Cheesecake
Just imagine: It's after dinner, and you're trying to decide what you want to have for dessert. Cheesecake sounds amazing, but the process of making one and letting it set overnight in the fridge can be a big hassle when you live a busy lifestyle. But what if we told you that you could get the cheesecake flavor you love in the convenient packaging of an ice cream container? Sounds like a game-changer, right? Well, that's why we love the New York Style Cheesecake flavor from Breyers so much.
This isn't just your average cheesecake-flavored ice cream, though. It's got an edge to it. First is the strawberry sauce, which adds a nice texture and sweet but tart flavor to the mix. This isn't the kind of strawberry you'd find in the Natural Strawberry flavor we mentioned above. Instead, it's the kind of rich topping that you'd want to put on any good sundae.
And the excitement doesn't end there. You'll also love the fact that there are cheesecake pieces that are coated in graham crackers. That way, you get luscious bites of cheesecake actually in the ice cream from time to time. If that doesn't sound like a winner, we don't know what does.
2. Black Raspberry Chocolate
Do you ever have those days when you just can't decide what to eat? Maybe you want something fruity. No, wait, maybe you want something that's filled with chocolate. When you feel this way, it can be difficult to pick the perfect ice cream to tempt your taste buds. But we have a solution, and it's Breyers' Black Raspberry Chocolate flavor.
The vanilla ice cream is mixed with black raspberry swirls that provide the perfect amount of tartness to the otherwise very sweet dessert. But the best part is the addition of the chocolate chips. Nothing goes together better than chocolate and raspberry, so the flavors in this ice cream are really a match made in heaven. Breyers does an amazing job of balancing the competing tastes to create something that really is delicious. While this combination may not be novel or groundbreaking in any way, Breyers gets top marks for doing a classic so well.
This stuff is perfect for the warmer months when you want something that's on the lighter side with the addition of fruit, but you can really enjoy it any time of the year. It may not be our very top choice, but if you love fruit and chocolate together, then you absolutely have to pick up the Black Raspberry Chocolate from the store the next time you pass the frozen section.
1. Chocolate Pretzel Swirl
If you're looking for a dessert that's totally out of the ordinary and that will really blow you away, then you have to get your hands on Breyers' Chocolate Pretzel Swirl. Wow — we couldn't believe how good it really was. First, it starts out with a creamy chocolate ice cream that melts in your mouth immediately. If that wasn't good enough, there are also chocolate chips added into the mix. But what's truly the best part is the crushed salty pretzel swirls.
You know we weren't all that fond of the salted caramel, but this salty-sweet treat is making our dreams come true. Yes, the chocolate is super rich, but it's balanced out extremely well with the pretzel swirl because it provides just a touch of salt. It's not overwhelming, but it's just enough to make you crave more.
For all those who love foods that are both salty and sweet, this is definitely the product from Breyers that you should try first. It's everything we love about an indulgent dessert neatly packaged in a carton so you can eat it at any time of day (or night). Try it out for yourself so you can decide if it indeed deserves the number one ranking on this list. We think you'll have to agree.