The Best Vanilla Ice Cream, According to Our Taste Test

Vanilla ice cream often gets a bad rap. It’s seen as an accompaniment to brownies and pies, or as a base for good hot fudge and milkshakes. But as a standalone flavor, many people consider it too plain. Well, after tasting 11 pints side by side, we can say once and for all: a good vanilla ice cream is anything but plain. Read on to discover which brands of vanilla ice cream should be stocked in your freezer at all times.

How we determined the contenders

We only considered ice creams that are available in most supermarkets, nationwide. We decided to taste both vanilla and vanilla bean flavors, which, in some cases, meant trying two flavors of the same brand.

Notably, we only tasted products that the USDA defines as “ice cream,” meaning they have at least 1.6 pounds of total milk solids per gallon, weigh at least 4.5 pounds per gallon, and contain at least 20% milk solids and at least 10% milkfat. We did not try products labeled as “frozen dairy desserts.” To the same effect, we did not include any non-dairy, lactose-free, or low-calorie desserts. 

How we tested

For the taste test, we gathered a group of seven Food & Wine editors. We let each ice cream thaw for 10 minutes before scooping. We then scooped them into paper bowls set over ice, to prevent them from melting quickly. As always, our editors were unaware of the brands or the flavors they were tasting. Since we knew the ice cream would soften a bit during the taste-testing process, we encouraged every editor to taste the products at random, so that every ice cream was evaluated at its firmest and meltiest. 

The editors were asked to rate the ice creams based on flavor and texture. For flavor, they considered the prominence of vanilla, the level of sweetness, and any other unique flavor profiles (i.e. egginess). For texture, they looked for ice creams that were light, creamy, and chewy, noting other less desirable consistencies like airiness or iciness. Editors also gave each ice cream an overall rating, which reflected their general enjoyment of the product, its versatility, and how likely they’d be to buy it again. 

The editors’ scores were added and averaged to determine the top four vanilla ice creams on the market. We did not consider brand name or price in our final selections. But conveniently, our top pick is one of the more affordable options, at about $5 for a pint. 

Best overall: Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Even before the taste test, our editors had raved about Häagen-Dazs’ vanilla bean flavor, which is  made with  few and simple ingredients: cream, skim milk, cane sugar, egg yolks, vanilla beans, and vanilla extract. After comparing it to every other popular vanilla ice cream on the market, we can confidently declare it to be the best-tasting. 

“This is what I want when I think of vanilla ice cream,” said social media director Sam Gutierrez. While it was one of the sweetest vanilla ice creams we tasted, the sugar was well balanced with a strong, smooth vanilla flavor thanks to both vanilla extract and a generous amount of vanilla beans. We also loved that its texture was creamy but still light, making it extremely versatile. Have this classic ice cream with pie, hot fudge, in a milkshake, or just straight from the pint. No matter how you scoop it, it’s reliably delicious. $5 for 14 ounces

Most creamy: Van Leeuwen Vanilla Bean French Ice Cream

Just by looking at Van Leeuwen’s vanilla bean ice cream, we could tell that it wasn’t quite like the others. It was slightly more yellow in color, likely due to its egg yolk content. While there were egg yolks in all four of our top vanilla ice creams, we found them to be most prominent in this pint, giving it an ultra creamy, almost custard-like consistency.

The vanilla was more subtle than Häagen-Dazs’, and we found the flavor to be more reminiscent of sweet cream. Given the gentle nature of this ice cream, both in taste and consistency, we recommend keeping it simple. Pair it with another flavor on a cone, or top it with some fresh berries to add a bit of brightness. $7 for 14 ounces

Best for people who are bored by vanilla: Alec’s Tahitian Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

If you’re not a fan of vanilla ice cream, you’d be likely to skip over this pint at the grocery store. But although we enjoyed it, we found it to taste unlike other vanilla ice creams on the market. 

Nearly all of our editors picked up on a strong, nostalgic flavor. To editorial director Dylan Garret, it had a “cotton candy quality.” Social media editor Alexa Rockwell compared its flavor to a waffle cone, and for me, it was nearly identical to a Carvel ice cream cake. This ice cream isn’t for anyone expecting straightforward vanilla, but the unique, almost buttery flavor is worth trying in its own right. Go light on the toppings to not overwhelm its distinct flavor, or capitalize on its creamy quality and blend it into a milkshake. $9 for 14 ounces

Most vanilla bean-forward: McConnell’s Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Taste and appearance-wise, we found McConnell’s vanilla bean ice cream remarkably similar to Häagen-Dazs. Both were light in color, with a strong, natural vanilla flavor. The one edge McConnell’s had over Häagen-Dazs was the quantity and quality of the vanilla beans. The Madagascar vanilla beans added a delightful crunch to every bite (or lick), adding some nice variance to the otherwise underwhelming consistency — one that was initially creamy, but melted too quickly. For some editors, this pint made vanilla cool again. “It’s very tasty and creamy,” noted Rockwell. “This one made me realize that I actually like vanilla ice cream.” $12 for one pint

The full list of contenders, from highest to lowest ranked

1. Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
2. Van Leeuwen Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
3. Alec’s Tahitian Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
4. McConnell’s Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
5. Alden’s Organic Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
6. Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla Ice Cream
7. Tillamook Old-Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream
8. Edy’s Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
9. Friendly’s Vanilla Ice Cream
10. Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream
11. Breyer’s Natural Vanilla Ice Cream