8 Store-Bought Peanut Butter Ice Creams, Ranked

Peanut production is at an all-time high in the United States. What can we say, Americans love peanut butter and peanut-centered treats; in fact, 50% of all peanut consumption in the U.S. comes from peanut butter, according to a study. Despite these huge numbers, there isn't much peanut butter ice cream — if you can believe that. I recently tried flavored peanut butters and was on a peanut butter kick, so I also wanted to test out peanut butter ice cream. 

After some research, pure peanut butter ice cream was extremely hard to find, so I ended up primarily finding various PB ice creams with other flavors and mix-ins. As you might imagine, peanut butter and chocolate are a popular combination. Hence, most of the ones I tried have some iteration of that, but there is an outlier or two in this list. To effectively judge the flavored ice creams, I had to nitpick. 

I ultimately judged them based on how prominent the peanut notes were in the peanut butter ice cream and how well the other mix-ins complemented the treat in both flavor and texture. Lastly, I was also looking for a delicious ice cream that I would be happy to try and recommend. Chill and find out which PB ice cream is best out there.

To find the best ice cream, we must begin at the bottom. Signature Select's Premium Peanut Butter Chocolaty Candy Crunch is a sweet lover's delight, with peanut butter ice cream as the base, plus Butterfinger pieces, chocolate flakes, and a peanut butter candy swirl. But upon digging in with a few spoonfuls, I found it hard to detect any peanut butter flavor in the ice cream itself. 

I scooped around the enormous carton, also searching for the Butterfinger bits, but they were few and far between. As the orangey candy swirl melts in the bowl, it becomes very gooey, disrupting the sensory experience. It's hard to focus on the flavor of the supposed peanut butter ice cream when the gobs of gooey candy sauce pop in every bite. Not just that, but all these additions make it incredibly sweet, particularly if you accidentally get a mouthful of goop. 

This doesn't deliver much peanut butter flavor; some mix-ins are lacking, while others are overabundant. Every bite is totally different and disproportionate; I could get a huge scoop with little to no add-ins or one with a puddle of candy swirl. Worse, the ice cream itself hardly tastes like PB. I wouldn't get this again when there are other tasty brands to pick from.

According to the Häagen-Dazs Peanut Butter Brittle lid (that says "new new new" around the entire edge), this is one of the brand's newer ice creams. What do you think of when you think of peanut brittle? I'll answer for you: crispy, crunchy, sweet goodness that gets stuck in your teeth. That is not at all how it comes in this Häagen-Dazs ice cream. The brand's peanut brittle is more like a peanut ooze. You might mistake it for some sort of nutty caramel. And wouldn't you believe, after reading the description, that's kind of what the brand is going for. 

It features peanut butter ice cream, peanut butter caramel ribbons, and caramelized peanuts. Caramel ribbons do not equal brittle. I truly don't think it's accurate to call the frozen treat Peanut Butter Brittle, but that's just me. It tastes good enough with its deeply sweet caramel-like taste, but I would not say that it delivers on the brittle aspect. I like that it comes in swirls, but it just doesn't translate. I don't get caramelized nuts either. Instead, they seem somewhat soft and without a caramel taste. I don't like the execution, but at least the ice cream base is clearly peanut butter-forward to rank above Signature Selection's option. Still, I wouldn't be inspired to buy this again.

I've actually had this Protein Pints Ice Cream 30G Protein Peanut Butter Chip before and think it holds up well compared to some other ice creams on this list. The chocolate pieces are perfectly dispersed, and you get chocolate in each bite, so it checks that box. The ice cream, though, is noticeably icy in texture, especially when compared to others with rich creaminess. It isn't as satisfying in that regard, but it still has a peanut butter essence and a fair number of mix-ins to ensure it gets favorable marks. 

As such, it may be the perfect fit for those seeking a more nutrient-dense ice cream, with 10 grams of protein per serving. It is advertised as 30 grams, likely because it accounts for the possibility that people may consume the whole pint. Again, with that in mind, this is a great contender for your freezer when you want something that has creaminess, PB, and chocolate in a lighter format. 

It's a little unfair to pit a protein ice cream against extraordinarily rich pints that are higher in calories, fat, and sugar — to me, this means a more comforting, favorable flavor and mouthfeel. For context, another writer deemed the brand the best out of several protein ice cream brands – it is not without its accolades. This flavor delivers on the factors I was looking for, but it just isn't as flavorful and scrumptious as others on this list. On to the next.

Although this ranks toward the bottom, I still think I like the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups & Peanut Butter Swirl Ice Cream more than the regular Reese's candies — which used to have a simpler ingredients list and a deeper, richer chocolate taste. When I tried various Reese's PB cups, my top two were the dark chocolate and the plant-based ones. Perhaps that's why this ice cream tastes pretty good. There's virtually no Reese's chocolate.

The photo shows pieces of evenly dispersed Reese's peanut butter cups, and the packaging also mentions them, but I did not find one measly morsel. I excavated about half of the 48-ounce cart before calling it quits. I shouldn't have to hunt for the advertised mix-in. So, on the one hand, it delivers a deep peanut butter flavor, with PB swirls that transform from rich shards to melty goodness in my mouth. But on the other hand, it absolutely misses the peanut butter cup mix-in.

Additionally, this frozen creation is considered a light ice cream, so it's creamy but not quite as luscious as others. Hershey's description says it's "packed" with the milk chocolate candies, but perhaps it was supposed to say "lacked." Reviews reiterate this, noting that they found only one piece in the entire 1.5-quart container. The PB taste and intensity put it ahead of the previous, but the lack of chocolate keeps it low in the ranking.

The pint of Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream from Ben & Jerry's is described as peanut butter ice cream mixed with peanut butter cups. It's simple but effective. One thing I like about Ben & Jerry's is that it doesn't skimp on the mix-ins; I ate an entire peanut butter cup, though not as large as Reese's. It has a fantastic, straightforward peanut butter flavor with a muted, not-too-sweet profile. Still, then you get a random, enormous chunk of peanut butter cup, which really sets it to new heights; none of the other ice creams had peanut butter cups — Reese's was supposed to, but you know how that went.

However, it is worth noting that they are quite firm and crunchy (given that they're frozen), so you may want to avoid this ice cream if you have sensitive teeth. The photo on the packaging shows them as smaller. I found many pockets of only peanut butter ice cream, and then a surprise piece of chocolate. Some pieces are quite large, so you need to be aware that it really breaks the overall mouthfeel. Also, I found myself eating a half or whole frozen PB cup and then spoonfuls without any. 

The ice cream tastes like it is good quality, perfectly decadent, and it feels like I struck gold when I get a peanut butter cup. Ben & Jerry's was my ultimate pick in the ranking of s'mores-flavored products because the ingredients were so well-balanced and dispersed; that was a major flaw in this ice cream, which holds it back to my No. 4 pick.

Now we've reached the elite squad, the final three. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream is described as a peanut butter and chocolate ice cream, all in one convenient pint. Despite a cocoa-heavy base (I'm still not sure if it's supposed to be just chocolate), the peanut still comes through in every bite — perhaps it's the peanut oil that seems infused into the ice cream. Essentially, peanut butter is still prominent, pairing well with cocoa. 

The ice cream is chocolate-forward, but then you slowly get hints of peanut butter in the background. I like that there's no fighting between ingredients ... until you hit a peanut butter chunk and that takes over everything — in the best way possible. The large frozen chunk of PB brings different richness into the fold, almost like eating a spoonful of peanut butter. Interestingly, the description does not mention these pops of peanut butter coils (just that there's PB), so it's a little surprise that helps it taste even more like its title.

This treat has only a handful of ingredients, ideal for those who prefer a minimalist approach to ice cream. If you prefer a well-made, bare-bones choco-PB combination, this Häagen-Dazs version is your best bet, as others have more complex inclusions. It feels the most balanced out of everything so far with its prominent peanut notes. I really love the unique, extreme chocolate here, so this is a great way to go if you want something with more cocoa. 

I consider Jeni's Ice Creams one of the more elevated ice cream brands because of its use of unique ingredients, which I really enjoy. Jeni's Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flecks takes a more classic approach, grinding the salted and roasted peanuts directly into the cream to create a peanut butter ice cream. It features dark chocolate flecks swirled within. The frozen dessert is inspired by Ohio, the Buckeye State, and its regional candy.

Although these are classic ingredients, it is well made and thoughtful. You don't need swirls or big gobs of candy when the ice cream base is rich and effective. The peanut element is creamy, salty, and nutty in a very precise way. It's earthy, like you're chewing on a peanut, but it gives way to milky richness, a touch of salt, and the appropriately sized chocolate. Given that the peanuts are ground directly into the ice cream, it makes sense that it has tiny textural bits and a more nuanced taste rather than the intensity I associate with peanut butter.

It isn't one of those in-your-face ice creams, but it's rich and nutty, and that salty element rounds it all out. I would be pleased to have it in my freezer at any point in time. The next ice cream has a very similar profile, but I like it a little bit more. Jeni's ice cream is wonderfully peanutty in the best way; if you want the most classic peanut butter chip type of ice cream, this is your best bet.

The crème de la crème of ice creams is none other than McConnell's Fine Ice Cream in its Double Peanut Butter Chip flavor. This treat features peanut butter ice cream — although the description is much fancier — with peanut butter and bittersweet chocolate swirled in. It has everything Jeni's has, but the bittersweet chocolate and added PB freckled through are excellent and more evenly dispersed. Every bite ensures the perfect ratio of rich, peanut-buttery ice cream and cocoa-earthy flakes. It's a balance of textures, too, thanks to the mesh of creamy and crunchy. 

The chocolate pieces are small, so they don't take much to chew, making for an even, scrumptious combination — petite, potent, and plenty. I am so thoroughly pleased with this treat. It tastes like something you'd pay top dollar for at a fancy, sit-down restaurant. The chocolate is so prominent that it positively affects the overall texture; it's crunchy yet still delicate enough that it melts in your mouth. 

Don't worry, it is not cloying, thanks to the somewhat salty, almost savory quality of the peanut and the bittersweet chocolate. The unsung hero hiding out in the ingredients list is Guittard bittersweet chocolate — known as being the best chocolate chip brand. The brand doesn't advertise saltiness, but kosher salt and the overall sodium content back that up. There's a hint of salty PB that makes this an excellent, multidimensional pint to stock in your freezer. This is an easy first-place pick based on overall taste, texture, and execution of add-ins.

I had to do a lot of searching to find peanutty ice creams. PB had to be a major factor in the ice cream for it to make this list. I purchased everything from Albertsons in one shopping trip, though other stores may offer other options. I started by taking a small spoonful of each one, one after the other, to get an understanding of the baseline flavor. After that, I tried them again on another day to better understand the nuances, flavors, and textural differences. 

I judged them based on taste, the richness of the peanut butter ice cream base, and how any mix-ins affected the flavor and texture. Therefore, I was looking for an ice cream that genuinely tasted like peanut butter, and whose mix-ins only enhanced the final product. Higher-ranking ice creams had a more decadent peanut butter flavor and successful mix-ins. Lower-ranking options were less flavorful, less rich, less peanut-forward, or lacking mix-ins. I mention certain ingredients to convey the flavors and textures I experienced.