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We have embarked on a taste test tour of your favorite supermarket foods. We nibble, we score, and we share the results with you to help you avoid the paralyzation that can come with Brand Choice Overload. Today's topic: ice cream sandwiches.
Last time around, we tested bottled ranch dressings. Some of you were psyched--ranch is, after all, the most popular salad dressing offered in restaurants of North America. But some of you were put off by the idea of bottled salad dressings and their long, unpronounceable lists of ingredients.
Reader biankat, for example, commented: "Making my own [ranch dressing] with buttermilk, some mayo, greek yogurt, and fresh herbs is just as good."
Homemade food--prepared with fresh ingredients--is almost always better (and healthier) than store-bought items. (Especially if you use a Bon Appetit recipe, we like to think.) And we know our readers love to cook. But in a pinch, it's good to know how things stack up in the aisles of your local grocery store.
To best satisfy our readers this time around, we posted the question on Facebook and Twitter: "What is your favorite store-bought ice cream sandwich?" We received an overwhelming response, and an enthusiasm for several store-bought brands. We then purchased the six most voted-for brands of classic vanilla ice cream, chocolate wafer sandwiches, and went to tasting town.
#1 Big Daddy
Nutrition: 1 serving = 270 calories; 10 g fat; 200 mg sodium; 38 g carbohydrates
Cost: $19.00 for a case of 24
Blind Tasting Notes: "Cookie retains crunch"; "Better cookie than the others"; "Soft serve-like ice cream"; "Tastes like a real chocolate cookie"
#2 Julie's Organic
Nutrition: 1 serving = 200 calories; 11 g fat; 115 mg sodium; 23 g carbohydrates
Cost: $2.19 for one
Blind Tasting Notes: "Sticky cookie is a classic, but slightly funny taste to ice cream"; "Strong vanilla flavor"; "Ice cream tastes a little like Cool Whip"; "Nice balance of ice cream and chocolate"
#3 Fat Boy
Nutrition: 1 serving = 220 calories; 9 g fat; 115 mg sodium; 32 g carbohydrates
Cost: About $4.49 for a box of 6
Blind Tasting Notes: "Better cookie texture but not enough ice cream", "Ratio off"; "The cookie has a nice chocolate flavor, but ice cream flavor tastes bland"
#4 Dolly Madison
Nutrition: 1 serving = 160 calories; 6 g fat; 150 mg sodium; 24 g carbohydrates
Cost: $3.69 for a box of 6
Blind Tasting Notes: "Cookie tastes kind of strange"; "Artificial tasting"; "Has a weird tang to it"; "Reminds me of the ice cream sandwich I grew up with"; "Soft chocolate-y crust"
#5 Skinny Cow
Nutrition: 1 serving = 140 calories; 1.5 g fat; 135 mg sodium; 30 g carbohydrates
Cost: $5.59 for a box of 6
Blind Tasting Notes: "Flavorless"; "A little cloying"; "Too sweet"; "Ice cream tastes artificial/chemically"; "No chocolate taste"; "Tastes like diet ice cream"
#6 Tofutti Cuties
Nutrition: 1 serving = 130 calories; 6 g fat; 121 mg sodium; 17 g carbohydrates
Cost: $4.99 for a box of 8
Blind Tasting Notes: "Yuck! Could barely take a bite of this. Also a super weird color"; "Bleh"; "Weird texture"; "Tastes like sweet Styrofoam"
And the winner is...IT's-IT brand Big Daddy.
Note: A lot of our readers are fans of Blue Bell ice cream sandwiches. Unfortunately, the company, which sells its products in select states, does not have a shipping system set up. In this series, we're trying to stick to brands that are readily purchasable nationally. IT's-ITS, too, are regional products--they're sold in stores in the northwest (California, Washington, and Oregon) and Hawaii--but you can easily have them shipped to you overnight. Same with Fat Boy.
The "Other" Category
There are other goodies that fall under the category of ice cream sandwich, namely cookie ice cream sandwiches. We tasted a few brands of these, and, once again, IT's-IT came out on top. About the classic vanilla IT's-IT ($19.00 for a case of 24), our staffers said "Best overall flavor for me! A hint of spice!"; "Yes! Best best!"; "Nice crunch, lots of cinnamon." And the Chips IT ($19.00 for a case of 12): "Chunkier cookie is nice, but ice cream is a little weird" "Delicious--amazing vanilla"; "This cookie represents everything I love in the universe."
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