12 Popular Store-Bought Ice Cream Sandwiches, Ranked
One of the best treats in the world is a scoop of ice cream. Enjoyable any time of year from the chilling days of January to the blistering days of July, its cool, creamy texture might just be the perfect dessert ... unless you place it between two cookies and turn it into a sandwich. With so many options out there, there's really no wrong way to make an ice cream sandwich. Sure, vanilla ice cream with chocolate cookies is the classic, but that's not the only way to go. You could use chocolate chip cookies or vanilla waffle cones as your "bread" and any ice cream flavor you desire. You could even put a caffeinated spin on your ice cream sandwiches if you like.
But if you're not in the mood to make your own, you could grab a box from the store, and just like homemade options, there are plenty of choices out there. Of course, there's the classic chocolate and vanilla, but there are also quite a few wild flavors like cookie dough or salted caramel sandwiched between M&M or oatmeal cookies.
Unsure if you should stick with the classic or go out on a limb and try something unusual? We're here to help. We took on the tough task of trying some of the most popular store-bought ice cream sandwiches (including a non-dairy version) to let you know which ones you should skip and which you should run right out and buy.
12. Kroger Snowboard Vanilla Sandwich
When it comes to your standard vanilla ice cream sandwich, the Kroger Snowboard Sandwich is the cheapest in the bunch at around $3 (at the time of publication) for a box of 12. It's a good thing the price is so low because that's exactly how it tastes: cheap. The ice cream, what there is of it, falls flat with hints of vanilla that taste pretty artificial. Sure, it's creamy and there's enough of it, but when compared to some of the other vanilla options on this list, it simply falls short.
As for the chocolate cookies that surround the ice cream, they're nice and soft, exactly what you want in an ice cream sandwich. They have a dark chocolate flavor which is fine on the first bite or two. And if it only took two or three bites to finish off this sandwich, you'd be satisfied. But this sandwich is one of the bigger ones out there, and that's not necessarily a good thing.
It's called a snowboard for a reason because unlike most of the options on this list which are either round or square, Kroger's sandwich comes in the classic rectangle. It takes a good seven or eight bites to finish off, which is a problem once you get to bite four. That's when the chocolate cookie starts to have a not-so-great aftertaste ... sort of like what we imagine cardboard would taste like if we'd ever had it. While this may seem like a bargain, it's worth spending more for a better-quality ice cream sandwich.
11. Alden's Organic Old School Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich
As far as classic ice cream sandwiches go, this is not one we'll be picking up on future trips to the grocery store. We're pretty sad about that considering we're generally impressed with Alden's products. We were genuinely excited to try this sandwich and even went for the "Old School" version since we figured that would be the closest thing to those chocolate and vanilla sandwiches we bought from the ice cream truck growing up.
Alden's Organic prides itself on being made with organic ingredients from the milk to the eggs to the chocolate wafers. There is no artificial flavoring, no high fructose corn syrup, and no artificial sweeteners — just real ingredients.
Well, that's all fine and good if the product tasted great. Instead what we get is a flat sandwich that has a strange, bitter aftertaste. We couldn't quite put our finger on where the bitterness was coming from — the plain vanilla ice cream or the dull chocolate wafer cookie. All we know is that it was not pleasant. While the ice cream had a nice creamy texture, that wasn't enough for us to finish it.
10. Signature Select Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich
Vanilla may be the classic ice cream sandwich filling, but a lot of brands offer a variety of flavors such as chocolate and Neapolitan. The Signature Select line of ice cream sandwiches from Albertson's is no different. With a total of five flavors, we opted for the Mint Chocolate Chip because we can't think of a better flavor combination than mint and chocolate. They're a classic, especially during the holidays and into winter.
The sandwich was so pretty to look at with its mint green-colored ice cream and soft, dark brown cookies, we couldn't wait to sample it. Unfortunately, that excitement vanished as soon as we took our first bite. The mint ice cream was so artificial tasting we could barely stomach it. The flavor reminded us of that awful mouthwash you use in the morning and can't wait to spit out. Making matters worse, the mint was so strong we couldn't taste the chocolate wafers surrounding it, let alone the few chocolate chips that were scattered throughout. Needless to say, we did not finish the sandwich; our sink's garbage disposal got to enjoy the rest of it instead.
9. Klondike Classic Vanilla Sandwich
"What would you do for a Klondike bar?" We all know the jingle that goes with those delicious chocolate-dipped vanilla bricks that are over 100 years old. Well, we'd do a lot for the original bar ... but not so much for the brand ice cream sandwich. The Klondike Classic Vanilla Sandwich continues with the square trend and is an okay choice if you're longing for a standard sandwich. Unlike the bar though, the vanilla ice cream here harkens more toward a light soft serve than its standard thick, rich ice cream, not that that's a bad thing. It just means you can't take your time while eating this sandwich or the whole thing will melt before you have a chance to finish it.
As for the chocolate cookies surrounding the ice cream, they're also just okay. Nice and soft, with plenty of chocolate flavor, this wafer is nothing special ... which is sort of the takeaway from this whole sandwich. It definitely satisfies the ice cream sandwich craving, but if you're looking for something that you'd do anything for, there are better options. Perhaps Klondike should bring back the Choco Taco and ditch these.
8. Cafe de La Plage Chocolate Chunk Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich
The chocolate chunk cookie sandwich from Le Cafe de la Plage may be a case of too much of a good thing. While both the cookie and the ice cream were delicious, the whole doesn't quite equal the sum of its parts. The cookie was soft and chewy with so many chocolate chips you could get dizzy. But Le Cafe de la Plage doesn't stop at dozens of mini chips; they add three giant chocolate chips to the top cookie for some reason. While the extra chocolate was a nice touch and looks cool, it doesn't enhance the cookie at all.
Meanwhile, the ice cream is rich and creamy and full of vanilla bean specks which really bring the vanilla flavor. We loved it ... when we tasted it. See, that's the problem with this sandwich: Separately the ice cream and cookie are delightful. We would absolutely order them separately if we made it over the cafe's Malibu brick-and-mortar location. Unfortunately, when the ice cream is combined with those decadent cookies, it gets lost in the shuffle. Yes, it's there and you can sort of taste it, but the cookie absolutely overpowers it. Considering this is one of the more expensive sandwiches on this list, coming in at roughly $6 each at the time of publication, we expected more.
7. It's-It Vanilla
This San Francisco brand that dates back to 1928 is revered for its unique spin on the ice cream sandwich. Where other sandwiches use vanilla ice cream and chocolate wafers or chocolate chip cookies to create the sweet treat, It's-It offers a variety of flavors including mint and cappuccino, all encompassed by an oatmeal cookie. But it doesn't stop there. Once the sandwich is created, the whole thing is dipped in dark chocolate. What you end up with is a delicious treat that's perfect any time of day or night.
The oatmeal cookie really was delicious. Soft and chewy with just a hint of cinnamon. And the chocolate shell was not only sweet and full of chocolate flavor, but it also added a nice crunch turning the sandwich into a sort of combo ice cream sandwich and Eskimo pie. As a matter of fact, the only reason this sandwich doesn't rank higher on the list is because of the ice cream.
Our flavor of choice was vanilla, which didn't really taste like ice cream. Instead, it was soft and airy, reminding us more of a thick, sweet whipped cream. It was still delightful, but considering there are several other sandwiches with ice cream fillings that are nice and rich, we were disappointed by this sandwich's main attraction.
6. FatBoy Premium Vanilla
If you're not into interesting wafers or unusual ice cream flavors, then FatBoy could be the sandwich for you. Doing the classic sandwich justice with a chocolate wafer surrounding a square of vanilla ice cream, the brand clearly believes the ice cream is the most important part of the sandwich. Unlike all the other sandwiches on this list, the vanilla ice cream is a nice-sized brick that comes in at about an inch thick, which if you're a vanilla fan, will make you very happy. It's nice and creamy without being too heavy. As a matter of fact, the only reason this didn't rank higher on our list is because of the cookie.
Where the ice cream is a nice, fat slab, the wafers are so thin, they're barely there. They feel like an afterthought, simply meant to protect your fingers from getting sticky. Don't misunderstand us, the wafer has a decent chocolate taste and a nice texture, it's just when paired with so much ice cream, it ends up getting lost. Otherwise, this is a solid ice cream sandwich.
5. Nestlé Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich
If there's any product that goes hand in hand with chocolate chip cookies, it's Nestlé Toll House, which is why we expected this ice cream sandwich to rank higher on our list. The cookie was fine: chewy with a crisp exterior, and it is full of those delicious Nestle Toll House chocolate chips. But we felt something was missing. Maybe it's the fact that the cookies aren't homemade. Or perhaps it's the fact that they're frozen and lacked that signature chew when freshly baked. Regardless, it's just not what we think of when Toll House cookies come to mind.
Even though the cookie was lacking and the sandwich was on the smaller side compared to others on this list, the flavor was great. Made with the standard vanilla ice cream, it was thick and creamy and had just the right amount of vanilla. Overall it was a fine choice, just not our top pick.
4. So Delicious Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Sandwich
While most of the sandwiches on this list are dairy-based, there are several brands available that are dairy-free for those who are allergic or lactose intolerant. One of the more well-known brands out there is So Delicious and it lives up to its name.
We really couldn't tell the difference between this ice cream sandwich and the numerous others we tasted. While the other sandwiches use milk and eggs, So Delicious opts for coconut milk as well as coconut and palm oils. The end result is ice cream that's so creamy it would fool even the most discerning palate into assuming that this is a dairy product. Although there was a slight hint of coconut in the ice cream, it didn't take away from the overall flavor. As a matter of fact, we think it may have enhanced it. See, there's another flavor combination out there of which we can't get enough: coconut and chocolate. That's why we're so happy So Delicious chose to follow the classic sandwich recipe and place its ice cream between two chocolate wafers.
Those wafers were soft and chewy with just the right amount of dark chocolate flavoring. When paired with the non-dairy ice cream, we got a sandwich that we'd be more than happy to sub in when we want to take a break from dairy.
3. Coolhaus Classic Vanilla Sammie
Another chocolate chip cookie option, the Coolhaus ice cream sandwich, or Sammie as the company calls them, is the ice cream sandwich we all dream about. Coolhaus not only offers some really fun flavors but its ice cream is super creamy and packs a tasty punch. The Sammie is the item that started it all for the brand, and thankfully the store-bought version isn't much of a departure from what you would be served directly from a Coolhaus truck.
Though we kept things simple with classic vanilla, it was luscious and a serious flavor bomb. The vanilla tasted authentic, which makes sense since it's made with actual Tahitian beans (this is one of the reasons we included Coolhaus on our ranking of the best ice cream brands). You can even see those beautiful dark flecks throughout all that white, creamy deliciousness! But if all you know about Coolhaus is its ice cream, you have to grab a box of Sammies because the cookies are just as spectacular.
Made with the same care as the ice cream, these are what Nestle Toll House's cookies should have been. They're soft and chewy and have so much character, we can't believe Coolhaus doesn't package them and sell boxes on their own. While both the ice cream and cookies are amazing separately, when combined you get a sandwich that's off the charts! It may be a little on the small side, but this is absolutely everything we want in an ice cream sandwich, or rather, Sammie.
2. 365 Organic Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich
Another in the classic chocolate/vanilla ice cream sandwich game is 365, Whole Foods Market's organic in-house brand. Out of all the rectangular sandwiches on this list, this gets our top vote. Made with organic ingredients, you can absolutely taste the difference. Since real eggs and milk are the base of the ice cream, the "meat" of the sandwich was delightfully rich and creamy, having an almost frozen custard quality, while the vanilla flavor was subtle but delicious. It was also the only sandwich we tried that seemed proportionate, as the ratio of ice cream to chocolate wafer was just about equal.
Speaking of those chocolate wafers, you couldn't ask for a better "bread." They are soft and chewy with a wonderful, dark chocolate flavor. When eaten all together we got the perfect morsel, and since it's a decent size, it won't be gone in just three or four bites. While this wasn't the prettiest sandwich on the list (the bar of vanilla ice cream expanded well beyond the borders of those yummy chocolate wafers) it was definitely one of the best. So much so, that we'll absolutely be going back for seconds and thirds.
1. Tillamook Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich
Breaking the tradition of the familiar vanilla ice cream and chocolate wafers, Tillamook takes the cake when it comes to ice cream sandwiches. This is one fantastic treat! While there is a vanilla bean option, we opted for the Peanut Butter Chocolate and we're so glad we did. The ice cream was light and airy but substantial at the same time. Though the peanut butter is subtle, when coupled with the chocolate ribbons laced throughout the ice cream it's a perfect match. We just couldn't get enough of it. But it was the cookie that really put this sandwich over the top.
Unlike some of the other sandwiches on this list that use a soft chocolate wafer, Tillamook makes its cookie out of waffle cones. That departure absolutely makes the sandwich. The tried and true edible ice cream vessel maintains its shape and won't fall apart in your hand. It has a delicious cocoa flavor that only enhances the whole sandwich. We also noticed something strange: After a couple of bites there was a crunch. It appears that Tillamook makes a very smart move and lines each cookie with a chocolate coating. That shell protects the cookie from getting soggy, but doesn't take away from the sandwich as a whole. On the contrary, it makes the sandwich even more delightful. If we had anything bad to say, it's that it simply wasn't big enough. We had to go back for a second one to satisfy our sweet tooth.