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I don’t care what anyone says: Vanilla is the superior ice cream flavor. Some people find the straightforward taste dull, but those people are obviously not tasting the right brands. True, ice cream with synthetic vanilla flavoring can be tasteless. Yet, some ice cream brands incorporate real vanilla beans, gourmet vanilla extract, and other high-quality ingredients to achieve a more intricate flavor. Here are 7 ice cream brands that actually use real vanilla.
Wegmans Madagascar Vanilla Premium French Ice Cream
Wegmans, renowned nationwide for its foodie following, offers a vanilla ice cream unlike any other. Its Wegmans Madagascar Vanilla Premium French Ice Cream is crafted with authentic Madagascar Vanilla, which the store dubs their “most indulgent” French ice cream. It is also made with 16% butterfat for “incredible richness.” It carries the Wegmans “Our Food You Feel Good About” yellow banner, formulated “with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.”
ALDI Specially Selected Vanilla Super Premium Ice Cream
ALDI’s Specially Selected Vanilla Super Premium Ice Cream features a concise ingredient list: Cream, Skim Milk, Sugar, Pasteurized Egg Yolks, and pure vanilla extract, providing a genuine vanilla taste. “Bought this on a whim after seeing recommendations in another thread. WOW! My wife who usually isn’t a vanilla person and always opts for the Ben and Jerry’s varieties was stunned by how good this is and wants more now that we’ve finished it,” shares a Redditor.
Van Leeuwen Vanilla Bean French Ice Cream
Van Leeuwen Vanilla Bean French Ice Cream is anything but boring. “We’re bringing out vanilla’s more non-vanilla-ey traits by using Tahitian vanilla beans, cold-ground whole. Don’t screw it up from here, vanilla,” the brand writes in the website description. Milk, cream, cane sugar, egg yolks, vanilla extract (grain alcohol, vanilla bean), salt, and vanilla bean are the only ingredients.
Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla Ice Cream
Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla Ice Cream is known as one of the most delicious vanilla ice creams ever created. The ingredient list includes vanilla extract and real vanilla beans. “Their vanilla ice cream taste like real vanilla extract which taste much more complex than most brands that uses ‘natural flavoring’ which all taste chemically to me and nothing like real vanilla, and real vanilla is incredibly expensive even for extracts,” writes one Redditor, after some people complained it shouldn’t cost as much as other flavors. “To me it’s totally worth it, it’s the only few brands I can actually taste the vanilla.”
Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean Ice Cream is another brand that shoppers say is the best of the best. The gourmet dessert contains vanilla bean flecks and pure vanilla extract. “This ice cream hits the spot! Not only does it taste good but it doesn’t have all the bad junk and gums that’s in other ice cream. Just add some toppings for some variety. Simple ingredients makes it worth getting!” writes one Target shopper. “I have tried every vanilla ice cream brand and this on is the best! I only eat vanilla because I’m that person and this one is the best over all. The bean feel what makes it better in taste,” adds another.
Tillamook Premium Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Tillamook Premium Vanilla Bean Ice Cream is made with vanilla extract and real vanilla bean. One Target shopper maintains it is “creamy and rich and full of vanilla” in their five-star review. “This is my absolute favorite ice cream. All the flavors we’ve tried so far have been excellent. It seems to be a thicker, more creamy ice cream than most of its competition. I just wish that these would stay in stock a bit better,” they write. “Nice rich vanilla bean flavor. You can really taste the beans it’s a great quality in the ice cream. Makes it much more flavorful to make your favorites,” adds another.
Talenti Madagascan Vanilla Bean Gelato
Pick up a pint of Talenti Madagascan Vanilla Bean Gelato if you want to splurge and go truly gourmet. The rich gelato contains Madagascar vanilla beans for authentic vanilla flavor. It has “great vanilla flavor” according to shoppers. “This vanilla gelato beats out any high-quality vanilla ice cream, as well as other vanilla gelato brands. The vanilla bean flavor is pronounced, and the texture is smooth. My family enjoys many other Talenti gelato flavors, but the vanilla is always in our freezer!” one Target shopper writes.
