Ice cream is a universal sweet treat and over the years more and more ice cream flavors are pleasing palates. We love all types of ice cream and there will never be a shortage of ice cream flavors to choose from.

We’re sharing some of our favorite ice cream flavors, reader favorite ice cream flavors, and talking about the different types of ice cream flavors.

You can enjoy ice cream year round, so be sure to check out our post on homemade ice cream, as well as our post on Cuisinart ice cream recipes.

We’ve included some common ice cream flavors and some that are newer to the ice cream recipe scene.

If you don’t see one of your favorite ice cream flavors, let us know in the comments below and we’ll consider creating a recipe for it.

Most ice cream shops offer several ice cream flavors, with some including a signature ice cream flavor. It’s super fun to go to ice cream shops and try something new.

TYPES OF ICE CREAM

First off, for a frozen treat to be qualified as ice cream, the mixture used to make the ice cream must be no less than 10% milkfat. The higher the fat, the creamier the texture.

You’ve probably heard of dairy-free ice cream (we call ice cream without dairy “dairy-free ice cream” as well) but not all dairy-free ice cream is technically considered ice cream. We’re not here to take away the fun of ice cream but we thought we’d mention it, since it is a fact that if it’s less than 10% milkfat, it’s not considered ice cream.

Sorbet isn’t technically ice cream either. Sorbet is its own category that we touch on below but since it’s frozen, we’re considering it loosely related to ice cream. Plus, we really wanted to share sorbet recipes.

There are several types of ice cream but we’re going to cover the ones we hear about the most.

Custard Based – Traditionally, many ice cream recipes begin with an egg custard. Custard based ice cream uses a combination of milk, cream, eggs, and sugar, and is first cooked then frozen.

Philadelphia Style – Philadelphia style ice cream is simply ice cream made without eggs. It can be made in an ice cream maker, or without, using a few simple steps.

No-churn using sweetened condensed milk – You can also make a Philadelphia style ice cream using sweetened condensed milk in place of the sugar and some of the milk fat. This is one of the simplest ways to make ice cream and it’s perfect for when you want to switch up flavors with add-ins.

Both churn and no churn ice cream recipes work well in milkshake recipes.

Soft Serve Ice Cream – Soft serve ice cream is a style of ice cream where air is introduced during freezing, making it softer than traditional churned ice cream. It usually has less milk fat and it’s stored at a higher temperature than ice cream.

Sorbet – Again, it’s not ice cream but we want to include it. Sorbet is frozen treat that contains little to no dairy (depending on the sorbet). Although it’s not considered an ice cream because it doesn’t have any milk-fat, it is a delicious frozen treat and it’s a great option for those that can’t have dairy. Because it is made by using frozen fruits, sugar and water (also called sweetened water), it’s light in texture. There are some sorbet recipes that call for a small amount of dairy.

BEST ICE CREAM FLAVORS

Vanilla

Vanilla might be the number one universal ice cream flavor. You can add anything to it to make dress it up until something different. Vanilla ice cream is simple and smooth, and it’s one of those ice cream flavors that’s good on its own, or with toppings.

There are several types of vanilla ice cream, including no churn vanilla ice cream and custard style vanilla ice cream, that uses egg yolks in the base.

Chocolate

Chocolate, like vanilla, is also a very standard traditional ice cream flavor. You have to love chocolate in general to like chocolate ice cream. You can add most ice cream sauces and toppings to chocolate ice cream.

Chocolate ice cream flavors can be lite or rich, depending on if you make a custard base ice cream or a no churn chocolate ice cream. Also, how much chocolate you add plays a big role in the flavor profile.

If you like chocolate, but you like a mix of ice cream flavors, you might want to make this chocolate marshmallow ice cream. It’s incredibly delicious and has a luscious balance of chocolate and marshmallows.

Peanut Butter

Smooth, creamy, and sweet, peanut butter ice cream has been a reader favorite ice cream flavor. It’s like a cold reeses peanut butter cup, only better. Peanut butter ice cream makes a decadent peanut butter milkshake and it’s incredible with chocolate sauce and crushed cookies.

If you love chocolate and you love peanut butter, you’ll want to use peanut butter ice cream to make a chocolate peanut butter milkshake.

You will love Peanut Butter Ice Cream on a sundae bar, or as a late night TV watching treat. If you’re a peanut butter lover, you have to try this amazing, creamy recipe.

Pistachio

Pistachio Ice Cream is a traditional ice cream flavor that comes with lots of nostalgia. It was my number one most favorite ice cream flavor, which is rare for a kid. Most kids go for bright and colorful ice cream flavors with lots of add ins, but not me. Pistachio was always my go-to and it’s why it’s on this list of best ice cream flavors.

This French style pistachio ice cream is made with a creamy custard base, chopped nuts, and has the perfect amount of sweetness, and is naturally gluten free.

Cookies and Cream

Cookies and cream ice cream has been around for several years. Who wouldn’t love a rich creamy vanilla ice cream churned with crushed cookies? It’s one of the best ice cream flavors that works for kids and adults.

This homemade cookies and cream ice cream recipe uses 4 simple ingredients and it’s super creamy and dreamy. There’s no ice cream maker required to make this cookies and cream ice cream recipe, but you can use one if you like.

While cookies and cream ice cream is incredible on it’s own, it’s next level when enjoyed in a waffle cone.

Sweet Cream

Sweet cream ice cream might be one of the first ice cream flavors offered, possibly before vanilla. It’s a basic ice cream recipe made with sweet cream, and sometimes vanilla is added.

Sweet Cream Ice Cream is a delicious and simple Philadelphia style churned ice cream that you can make at home with four simple ingredients.

This sweet cream ice cream recipe is naturally gluten free, egg-free, and nut-free.

The addition of sea salt turns this sweet cream ice cream into the perfect sea salt ice cream recipe.

Cotton Candy

Cotton candy ice cream is a fun and colorful ice cream flavor that kids gravitate towards. The cotton candy ice cream flavor can be achieved a few ways but the most common is to use cotton candy or cotton candy flavoring.

You can find cotton candy ice cream flavors in most ice cream parlors and grocery stores. It’s super fun and easy to make at home.

Mississippi Mud

A mix of fun ice cream flavors, this Mississippi mud ice cream flavor is making waves and you can now find it in grocery stores and ice cream shops. Mississippi Mud Ice Cream holds all of the deliciousness you’d expect from a Mississippi Mud pie, including cookies, chocolate, coffee, and cream.

Popular fast food chains are now using this ice cream flavor to make shakes, blizzards, malts and more.

Mint Chocolate Chip

Mint chocolate chip is one of the best ice cream flavors and you can get it almost anywhere year-round. Smooth, creamy, mint ice cream studded with pieces of chocolate that melt in your mouth – you can’t go wrong.

While we don’t have our recipe for mint chocolate chip ice cream up yet we do have a recipe for a mint chocolate chip milkshake that uses mint chocolate chip ice cream from the store.

Our favorite brands of mint chocolate chip are Tilamook and Dryers. Some stores have a store brand of mint chocolate chip ice cream that are also really good, so check them out.

Cherry

Cherry has been a popular ice cream flavor for centuries. From black cherry ice cream, cherry garcia ice cream, to cherry vanilla ice cream – they are all good.

With so many types of cherries, you can have a variety of cherry ice cream flavors. Cherry ice cream flavors are a little harder to find in the grocery store but don’t fret, there are tons of cherry ice cream recipes to make.

And if you’re sure you want to pick up a pint at the store, Ben and Jerry’s is the way to go.

Cookie Dough

One day we’re eating vanilla ice cream topped with cookie dough pieces and the next day we’re seeing cookie dough ice cream in the freezer section of every grocery store.

I don’t know about you, but I’m that person that digs all the cookie dough out of the pint.

Strawberry

Another universal ice cream flavor that you can find in most grocery stores – strawberry ice cream! We love all things strawberry including this strawberry shortcake ice cream and strawberry sorbet.

We also love making milkshakes with strawberry ice cream. This strawberry banana milkshake is one of our favorites.

We’re not super big into strawberry flavored ice cream. We want the real deal – slow churned ice cream with chopped strawberries mixed throughout.

Coffee

Coffee flavored ice cream is one of the most popular ice cream flavors. From Java chip ice cream to Baskin Robins Jamoca Almond Fudge, you can’t go wrong with coffee ice cream flavors.

There’s something comforting about a smooth, creamy ice cream flavored with fresh roasted coffee. Some coffee flavored ice creams using actual flavoring while others are made with coffee beans.

We don’t judge when it comes to coffee ice cream.

Pumpkin

Although pumpkin may seem like a fall flavor pumpkins are grown year-round so we should treat pumpkin ice cream like a year-round flavor, in my opinion.

If you can’t find pumpkin ice cream in the store, we have a few different recipes you might like. Pumpkin Spice Ice cream is super simple to make and it rivals any store bought version.

Pumpkin pie ice cream is like pumpkin spices plus one, with gingersnaps mixed into the pumpkin ice cream. Perfection!

Pineapple

Super sweet, fun, and refreshing, pineapple ice cream has been around a long time and it’s one of the simplest ice creams.

Pineapple ice cream is a reader favorite and is perfect on its own, in a milkshake, or included in an ice cream sundae.

You can add come coconut to the top of your pineapple ice cream for a pina colada spin.

DIFFERENT ICE CREAM FLAVORS

Here are some additional different ice cream flavors that you might not always find at the store.

Dulce de Leche Ice Cream – A rich custard base means that this French Style ice cream is extra smooth and creamy, and it’s churned in your favorite ice cream maker with a sweet, rich swirl of dulce de leche syrup.

Marshmallow Ice Cream – Marshmallow Ice Cream is a traditional French-style churned ice cream with a creamy custard base packed with warm vanilla flavor and toasted mini marshmallows.

Sprinkles Ice Cream – This Sprinkles Ice Cream is a Philadelphia style, churned ice cream. This means that it requires no eggs and no cooking, and is super creamy and delicious.

Banoffee Pie Ice Cream – The perfect flavors of sweet bananas and buttery toffee combined to create Banoffee pie ice cream.

French Silk Ice Cream – A rich chocolate ice cream with a French style custard base is swirled with a fluffy vanilla mousse to create this delicious homemade French silk ice cream This French silk ice cream is naturally gluten-free and nut-free.

Melon Ice Cream – A flavor that you aren’t likely to find in a grocery store, Melon Ice cream is a fruity, fresh, and delicious gourmet ice cream flavor that you can make at home.

Black Raspberry Ice Cream – Black raspberry ice cream is a sweet, fruity ice cream flavor that so many people love. This French style churned ice cream recipe uses an egg custard base to create a rich, creamy, delicious black raspberry treat.

Toasted Almond Ice Cream – This traditionally churned, French style, Toasted Almond Ice cream recipe features a rich, creamy base flavored with toasted almonds, and a crunchy texture from even more toasted almonds.

Birthday Cake Ice Cream – An ultra-creamy homemade ice cream with a rich, buttery vanilla flavor. Pieces of real cake and rainbow sprinkles make it a super fun ice cream too.

Peppermint Ice Cream – Super fun, refreshing, and full of vanilla and peppermint, this peppermint ice cream is a reader favorite.

Christmas Ice Cream – A super fun ice cream for Christmas! This recipe is simple to make and it’s lovely with extra Christmas cookies.

Matcha Ice Cream – Sweet, creamy, and slightly earthy, you’re going to love this unique ice flavor.

MORE ICE CREAM FLAVORS

• Butter Pecan
• Pralines and Cream Ice Cream
• Oregon Ice Cream
• Bubble Gum Ice Cream
• Rocky Road Ice Cream
• Superman
• Funfetti Ice Cream
• Butterscotch Ice Cream
• Banana
• Raspberry Ice Cream
• Blueberry Ice Cream
• Coconut Ice Cream
• Lemon Ice Cream
• Lime Ice Cream
• Mango Ice Cream
• Rainbow Sherbet
• Peanut Butter Cup
• Black and White
• Chunky Monkey
• Peach
• Red Velvet Ice Ceram
• Pralines and Cream
• Orange
• Chocolate Peanut Butter
• Swirl
• Cookie Butter
• Avocado
• Horchata
• Apple
• Honey
• Lavender

Don’t see an ice cream flavor on this list? Let us know in the comments below.

HOW LONG DOES ICE CREAM LAST?

Unopened store bought ice cream lasts 2-3 months. Homemade Ice Cream stays good for 2-3 weeks, depending on the ice cream flavor.

When in doubt, if it looks bad or icy, throw it out. Make sure to label your homemade ice cream with the date that you churned it, so you can keep track of how long it’s been in the freezer.

HOW DO I SCOOP HARD ICE CREAM?

There are a couple of methods for scooping hard homemade ice cream. First, you can allow the ice cream to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before scooping. You can also use a heated ice cream scooper. We prefer to set a metal ice cream scooper in hot water for 5 minutes, dry the ice cream scoop, and use it to scoop ice cream.

• Cuisinart 2QT Ice Cream Maker – Works with ice cream, sorbets, and frozen yogurt.
• Loaf Pan – You can use any 9 x 13 loaf pan or a shallow pan, but we like this one.
• Ice Cream Scoop – Make sure you have a good ice cream scoop. This is one of our favorites.
• Ice Cream Bowls – You can use any bowl, but we think these are fun.
• Ice Cream Containers – We love keeping a couple of ice cream containers on hand for when we make homemade ice cream.

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ICE CREAM FLAVORS LIST