Top 3 Selling Ice Cream Flavors

I don’t know about you, but I like all types of ice cream. I don’t play FLAVORites. 

Since ice cream came to rise, people have come up with more unique flavors like rocky road, green tea, and moose tracks. And as new flavors arise, people’s favorites continue to change. 

In this post, I’ve listed the top three selling ice cream flavors right now. So, whether you want to incorporate these flavors into your menu or try them, keep reading.

These are the top 3 selling ice cream flavors:

  1. Chocolate Ice Cream
  2. Vanilla Ice Cream
  3. Strawberry Ice Cream 

Chocolate Ice Cream

Top 3 Selling Ice Cream Flavors

Coming in for the first spot is chocolate ice cream. It’s an all-time favorite. And that’s because chocolate ice cream is the best stress reliever. Dopamine is released into the brain when you eat a scoop of chocolate ice cream, resulting in decreased stress levels.

According to Lexham Insurance’s data, chocolate ice cream accumulates an average of 97,790 monthly searches.  This is equivalent to over 1,173,480 searches a year. This gives us an idea of how many people crave chocolate ice cream in a year. 

Additionally, according to The Chocolate Store, Americans consume an average of 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate a year. To give you an idea, that’s about 11 pounds of chocolate per consumer. That’s a lot!

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Here are some reasons why chocolate ice cream is loved around the world:

  1. It’s for Anyone – The chocolate flavor is for everyone. It’s really versatile. So, anyone can enjoy the flavor of chocolate in any way they like. It can be a chocolate bar, a chip, or even a fondue.
  2. Flavor Country – Chocolate ice cream can come in many flavors. It can satisfy your taste buds. If you want something bittersweet, you can have a dark chocolate ice cream. There are more flavors to choose from like milk chocolate and white chocolate. 
  3. Perfect Complement – It can be paired with anything you like. For example, you can have a scoop of chocolate ice cream with waffles. It’s good with many toppings too, like peanuts, cookies, and fruits. 
  4. Scientifically Proven – Aside from dopamine, a scoop of chocolate ice cream can help trigger the release of other chemicals like serotonin and endorphins. Moreover, chocolate includes a substance known as phenylethylamine. When we consume chocolate, it acts as a minor mood booster, making us feel joyful or in love.

That’s why chocolate ice cream has been in and out of the first spot. It’s usually a close competition with Vanilla, but chocolate’s chemical composition and long history of evolution made it the all-time favorite flavor of ice cream.  

These are some of the best chocolate ice cream brands:

  1. Jeni’s Darkest Chocolate Ice Cream – This is the perfect chocolate ice cream if you love the bittersweet taste. They also have other chocolate flavors like Blackout Chocolate Cake flavor. 
  2. Tillamook Chocolate Ice Cream – This chocolate ice cream is super rich in flavor, creamy, and has a thick texture. You can even match it with caramel syrup or whipped cream. 
  3. Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Ice Cream – This is probably one of, if not, the creamiest chocolate ice cream. This delectable has an unchanging flavor and is made only from five ingredients. 
  4. 365 by Whole Foods Chocolate Ice Cream – This organic chocolate ice cream has a fluffy texture. A scoop will instantly melt in your mouth. 
  5. Breyer’s Chocolate Ice Cream – A classic and one of America’s favorites. This ice cream is irresistible, rich, creamy ice cream with just enough sweetness and genuine cocoa. 
  6. Blue Bunny Chocolate Frozen Dairy Dessert – This chocolate ice cream is super rich, creamy, and has a deep chocolate flavor. Some say this is perfect with peanut toppings. 
  7. Edy’s Chocolate Ice Cream – This is the perfect summer treat for kids. It’s made with real cocoa beans. 
  8. Van Leeuwen Chocolate Ice Cream – This is made with high cocoa butter, resulting in a creamy and mousse-like texture. It almost tastes like frozen ice cream.  
  9. Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Ice Cream – Fairtrade Certified® cocoa gives this ice cream its chocolaty goodness. This helps cocoa farmers protect their farms and provide only the best cocoas. 

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Vanilla Ice Cream 

Top 3 Selling Ice Cream Flavors

Number two on our list is vanilla ice cream. It’s considered the “default” ice cream flavor. It’s like when you enter an ice cream shop, the first thing that comes to your mind is “I want vanilla ice cream.”

Having said that, some also dub vanilla a “plain” flavor. There’s even an adjective for describing something that doesn’t have extra, special features. It’s “plain vanilla.” For example, if you encounter someone who has a bad sense of fashion, you can say something like “your fashion is plain vanilla.”

But despite that description, vanilla is still one of the top-selling ice cream flavors. According to the International Dairy Foods Association, vanilla is the top 3 flavor among consumers and the top 2 flavors among ice cream makers and ice cream shops. 

According to a YouGov poll which was conducted during National Ice Cream Month, 59% of Americans like vanilla ice cream.  And 11% of them say that vanilla is their favorite ice cream flavor. This gives us a clear idea of how popular vanilla ice cream is. 

Vanilla ice cream because its “plain” taste is what sets it apart from other flavors. It’s also very versatile and delicious. It can come in many forms:

  • Root Beer Floats 
  • Cookie Sandwiches
  • Crepes and Vanilla
  • Waffles and Vanilla Ice Cream 
  • Key Lime Pie Ice Cream Cupcakes
  • Vanilla Ice Cream on Apple Pie

Here are some of the best vanilla ice cream brands:

  1. 365 Everyday Value – Whole Foods Market’s vanilla ice cream is made with organic ingredients. This brand is famous for its rich vanilla flavor and creamy texture. 
  2. Baskin Robbins –  Baskin Robbins’ vanilla ice cream is made with quality ingredients like real vanilla cream. It’s also perfect with any toppings.
  3. Ben & Jerry’s – Their vanilla ice cream is the perfect treat for any occasion. It’s popular for its super rich vanilla flavor. 
  4. Breyers – Breyer’s Natural Vanilla Ice cream is made with fresh cream and Rainforest Alliance-certified vanilla beans. This results in a perfect treat that doesn’t have a bad aftertaste. 
  5. Edy’s – This is the perfect vanilla ice cream for kids. It’s perfect with any toppings like sprinkles, nuts, and chocolate sauce. 
  6. Friendly’s – Friendly’s vanilla ice cream is perfect for consumers on a diet. They offer vanilla fat-free frozen yogurt. 
  7. Häagen-Dazs – Their vanilla ice cream is made with special Madagascar vanilla. This results in creamy and refreshing ice cream. 
  8. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream – Their Honey Vanilla Bean ice cream is made with Fair Trade vanilla beans. This results in a warm and distinct flavor. 
  9. Tillamook – This brand offers an Old Fashioned Vanilla ice cream. It has a balanced sweetness, creaminess, and real vanilla taste. 
  10. Turkey Hill – Their Original Vanilla ice cream is a fan favorite. It’s popular for its creaminess, original vanilla taste, and soft texture. 

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Strawberry Ice Cream 
Top 3 Selling Ice Cream Flavors

The last ice cream flavor on our list is strawberry ice cream. It has always competed with chocolate and vanilla because it was one of the original ice cream flavors developed. It was served in 1744 by Maryland Governor Thomas Bladen. Since then, strawberry ice cream continued to become more popular. 

One of the things that made this flavor popular is National Strawberry Ice Cream day, which is celebrated in America every January 15 of the year. It’s the event where ice cream stores can expect an increase in sales as people gather at shops and get a scoop of strawberry ice cream.

According to YouGovAmerica’s poll, 41% of U.S adult citizens like strawberry ice cream. This goes to show that strawberry is one of the most craved ice cream flavors in the US. 

What sets strawberry apart from other ice cream flavors is its distinct taste. It’s not like chocolate that’s too sweet or vanilla that’s too plain. It has a unique taste and smell that really attracts consumers. 

According to an article, strawberries have a unique smell. It was stated that strawberries have a sweet caramel-like scent. This is due to two compounds named furaneol and mesifuran, which have five-membered carbon ring structures.

The article stated that strawberries contain esters. These are responsible for the fragrance of other fruits, like banana and pineapple, which give strawberries a delicious scent.

That, along with the smoothness, freshness, and sweetness of strawberry ice cream, makes it a fan favorite. Not to mention that the pink hue, which is said to have a relaxing effect, makes the dessert even more refreshing.

Here are some of the best strawberry ice cream brands:

  1. Halo Top – Their strawberry ice cream strikes the right taste of strawberry. It also brings the signature healthy brand of Halo Top with 15g of protein and only 270 calories per pint. 
  2. Blue Bell – Blue Bell’s strawberry ice cream is made with succulent strawberries which result in its creaminess. Their strawberry ice cream is extra fluffy too. 
  3. Breyers – Their Natural Strawberry Ice Cream is made with “sun-ripened” California strawberries. This makes the treat more delicious and creamy. 
  4. Edy’s  Edy ‘s strawberry ice cream is specifically made for kids. It’s super pink, extra fluffy, and a bit artificial in terms of flavor. This is perfect for ice cream parties. 
  5. Häagen-Dazs – Their strawberry ice cream is rich in flavor and extra creamy. It’s popular for its perfect strawberry flavor. 
  6. Tillamook – Tillamook offers Oregon Strawberry Ice Cream. They use only natural ingredients which makes the ice cream more creamy and delicious. 
Conclusion 

All in all, these are the top 3 selling ice cream flavors:

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1. Chocolate Ice Cream  

  • This flavor is in the first spot because it’s an all-time favorite and the best stress reliever. It receives an average of 97,790 monthly searches. This equates to roughly 1,173,480 searches every year. That’s an idea of how many people crave ice cream a year. 
  • In addition Every year, Americans eat 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate. That amounts to around 11 pounds of chocolate for each person.

2. Vanilla Ice Cream

  • Vanilla flavor is dubbed the “default ice cream flavor”. It is popular for its versatility. It’s perfect for ice cream float, waffles, apple pie, and crepes. 
  • 59% of Americans prefer vanilla ice cream, according to a YouGov study. And 11% of them say their favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla.  
  • Some of the best vanilla ice cream brands are Tillamook, Ben & Jerry’s, Jeni’s, Breyers, and Edy’s.

3. Strawberry Ice Cream 

  • This ice cream flavor is one of the original flavors developed. It was served in 1744 by Maryland Governor Thomas Bladen.
  • 41% of U.S adult citizens like strawberry ice cream. And one of the reasons why it’s become popular is National Strawberry Ice Cream day. 
  • Another reason for its popularity is its caramel-like aroma and pink color, which provides a calming sensation.
  • Some of the best strawberry ice cream brands are Halo Top, Blue Bell, Breyers, Edy’s, Häagen-Dazs, and Tillamook. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there hotdog-flavored ice cream?

Yes, there is. Oscar Mayer offers a hotdog-flavored freeze pop called “The Cold Dog.” The meat brand describes this out-of-this-world ice cream flavor as “bun-derfully odd and surprisingly delicious frozen pop flavored like the beloved Oscar Mayer wiener.”

What is the oldest flavor of ice cream?

According to Sarah Lohman, a culinary historian and author of Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine, chocolate was likely the first contemporary ice cream flavor developed. The earliest recipe for frozen chocolate comes from Naples, Italy, and was recorded in Antonio Latini’s 1692 book The Modern Steward. 

What was the most popular ice cream flavor in the 70s?

The most popular ice cream flavor in the 1970s is Mint Chocolat Chip. Marilyn Ricketts, an English culinary student, won a contest in 1973 with her invention of mint ice cream sprinkled with chocolate chips, and she was honored to have it served at Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips’ wedding luncheon. Since then, it has been a favorite among Americans.

To learn more on how to start your own ice cream/gelato business check out my startup documents here

This blog post is provided for informational purposes only. The information contained is not intended to constitute legal advice or to substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney.