We all mean to eat healthily, but actually doing it can be tough when you feel like you’re sacrificing foods you love. To help you make smart—and delicious—choices, we’ve compiled a list of healthy ice cream options that made the cut in our blind taste test.
Looking for the real deal? See which brand won our taste test for plain vanilla ice cream.
Finding the Best Healthy Ice Cream
Eating ice cream for work? That’s what we call a good day! To find the best low-calorie ice cream, we rounded up nine of the top brands available, and to make testing fair, we chose vanilla flavors from each. Our team blindly tested the products, and we evaluated the ice cream on things like:
- Flavor
- Texture
- Aftertaste
- Nutritional value
Creating a healthier version of ice cream is no easy task, as the main ingredients in this sweet treat are heavy cream, whole-fat milk, and sugar. You can swap in lower-fat dairy or cut back on sugar, but you’ll immediately notice a change in the ice cream’s consistency and taste. Many brands swap in alternative sweeteners—such as Halo Top, which uses sugar alcohol as the main ingredient.
As we searched for the best healthy ice cream, we took all these factors into account. We wanted to find a creamy, smooth variety that didn’t leave a strange taste in our mouth. Basically, we wanted a healthy ice cream that tastes as good as the real thing—and we found it!
The Best Healthy Ice Cream: Halo Top
via target.com
For a healthy vanilla ice cream, your best bet is Halo Top Vanilla Bean. This might not come as much of a shock, seeing that Halo Top has surpassed other big-name brands to become the best-selling ice cream pint in the country. Each pint contains 280 calories and 20 grams of protein.
Our testers said this ice cream was the best dupe for regular vanilla, with a sweet taste and creamy texture. It wasn’t nearly as grainy or icy as other brands we tested, and while the vanilla flavor was on the lighter side, it was still pleasant with flecks of vanilla bean in each bite.
$4 for a pint; available at retailers nationwide.
More Ice Cream Brands to Try
via target.com
Breyers Delights Vanilla Bean
Our runner-up was Breyers Delights, a low-fat ice cream, which has similar nutritional value to Halo Top. Each pint of this ice cream boasts 260 calories and 20 grams of protein. Like Halo Top, the brand uses sugar alcohol in place of traditional sweeteners.
In our testing, we found Breyers Delights to be creamy with a similar mouthfeel to regular ice cream. Many of our taste testers also liked that there were visible flecks of vanilla bean in each scoop. However, some tasters remarked that it had an odd aftertaste.
Prices vary; available at retailers nationwide.
via merchant
Arctic Zero Vanilla Bean
Rounding out our top three picks for healthy ice cream is Arctic Zero Vanilla Bean. Unlike the other products, Arctic Zero doesn’t use sugar alcohol, so it may be a good option for those who are sensitive to this ingredient.
Each pint of this healthy ice cream has just 280 calories, but there are only 8 grams of protein per pint and the sugar content is higher than most at 36 grams per container. Our testers found Arctic Zero to be super sweet and almost cake-like in flavor, but it has an icy texture that reminded them more of frozen yogurt than ice cream.
Prices vary; available at retailers nationwide.
How to Serve Healthy Ice Cream
The tricky thing about healthy ice cream is that if you want to dress it up with topping—like hot sauce or caramel—the treat crosses back over into “unhealthy” territory.
Luckily, there are some healthy ice cream toppings that you can use to dress up a sundae without feeling bad, including:
- Fresh fruit
- Shredded coconut
- Nuts
- Granola
- Crushed pretzels
When you’re looking for a treat, don’t hesitate to use healthy ice creams to lighten up the calorie load in desserts like milkshakes or ice cream cookie sandwiches. The sky is really the limit here! Check out this collection of recipes that call for vanilla ice cream.
Recipes to Make with Vanilla Ice Cream
Coconut-Lemon Ice Cream CakeI developed this cool treat because I wanted to find a new use for cream of coconut. The sweet coconut combines beautifully with the tart lemon juice, and the streusel adds a nice crunch. Look for cream of coconut in the cocktail mixer section of your grocery store. —Janet Gill, Canton, Ohio
Guinness FloatThat very first sip of a Guinness is what inspired this quick and easy dessert. The rich, creamy foam that gathers on the top of a freshly poured draft made me think of vanilla ice cream. At that point, I knew I had to combine the two in a Guinness float. —
James Schend,
Dairy Freed
Grilled Peach SundaesThese peaches with a hint of grill flavor are sweet and juicy. We serve them in a waffle bowl with ice cream. That’s jackpot at our house. —Nancy Dentler, Greensboro, North Carolina
Thick Strawberry ShakesCool off with a thick and rich treat that will remind you of a malt shoppe! Nothing can beat this strawberry shake recipe. —Kathryn Conrad, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
S’mores Milk ShakeWhen cabin fever hits, we whip up a beverage that tastes like s’mores. Oven-toasted marshmallows and a blender make it happen. —Sarah McKenna, Centennial, Colorado
No-Fry Fried Ice CreamThis ice cream has a crispy cinnamon coating just like the fried ice cream served at Mexican restaurants, but minus the oily mess. Make ahead of time and freeze until serving. —Tim White, Windsor, ON
South Carolina CobblerWith peach orchards just a couple of miles from home, it's easy to treat my family to this traditional dessert. —Mattie Carter, Rock Hill, South Carolina
Slow-Cooker Blueberry CobblerI love blueberries, and this easy cake mix cobbler showcases them deliciously. Serve the treat warm with a big scoop of French vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
Easy Apple CrispHere's an easy apple crisp! This is a delicious dessert perfect for young cooks to prepare. It's super simple to make since there's no crust—just a crumbly topping. Plus, with apples and oats, it's a wholesome treat. —Sheri Hatten, Devil's Lake, North Dakota
Brownie SundaesCap off dinner with these brownie sundaes. With prepared brownies, I can fix this sweet treat in a flash. For extra flair, I roll the ice cream in pecans before placing them on top of the brownies. It's a perfect finish to a mouthwatering meal. —Ruth Lee, Troy, Ontario
Homemade Ice Cream SandwichesWhy settle for store-bought ice cream sandwiches when you can have ones that taste even better and aren't that difficult to make? —Kea Fisher, Bridger, Montana
Disney’s Dole WhipYour kitchen will be the happiest place on earth when you serve this sweet-sour treat. The recipe comes directly from the Disneyland app and tastes just like the real deal you'd order at the park. —
Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Cherry and Chocolate Ice Cream PieWe took cherry pie to a whole new level as a frozen treat. With a luscious layer of chocolate fudge inside, this is one impressive pie. —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia
Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream CakeWhile growing up, I loved treats from the ice cream truck that rolled through my neighborhood. This ice cream cake is inspired by one of those crunchy, strawberry novelties. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Almost It’s-It Ice Cream SandwichesYou'll discover why this treat is so popular in San Francisco. It's snack heaven—ice cream, delicious oatmeal cookies and a touch of chocolate. Swap the vanilla ice cream for your favorite flavor. —Jacyn Siebert, San Francisco, California
Ice Cream KolachkesThese sweet pastries have Polish and Czech roots and can also be spelled "kolaches." They are usually filled with poppy seeds, nuts, jam or a mashed fruit mixture. The ice cream is a unique twist on traditional kolachkes, and it's simplest to use a square cookie cutter to cut the dough. —Diane Turner, Brunswick, Ohio
Banana Split SupremeThis lovely and delightful dessert has the classic flavor of a banana split. It's a cool, creamy treat with no last-minute fuss since you just pull it from the freezer. It always solicits praise from our big family. —Marye Franzen, Gothenburg, Nebraska
Peppermint MilkshakesRich ice cream and refreshing peppermint make this peppermint milkshake recipe a special treat, especially during the holidays. For a twist on this classic, stir in chocolate syrup and top with chocolate shavings. —
Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Grasshopper Baked AlaskaCan you believe it? This stunning dessert is completely make ahead, including the meringue. All you need to do is bake it for a few minutes in the oven before serving.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Limoncello Cream PieAfter a big Christmas dinner, we love the cool refreshment of a frozen lemon pie. Limoncello brings a little sophistication to each smooth, creamy slice. —Jessie Grearson-Sapat, Falmouth, Maine
Thin Mint Milk ShakeSave a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies for this creamy milkshake that's fun for kids and adults, too. —Shauna Sever, San Francisco, California
Gluten-Free Ice Cream SandwichesThese chilly gluten-free ice cream sandwiches are perfect for hot, sunny days. The gluten-free chocolate cookie is so tasty you could eat it plain…but you won't want to miss out on the ice cream! —
Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Caramel Nut Crunch PieThis cool and creamy pie has a lot going for it. It’s easy to make, it can be assembled well in advance to save time, and it's impressive enough to serve guests. To make this dessert even more decadent and delicious, you can chop extra peanuts and candy bars and crumble a few more cookies to sprinkle over the top. —Andrea Bolden, Unionville, Tennessee
Frozen Grasshopper TorteI first made this minty cool torte for a ladies' meeting at our church. I’m still making it, and the compliments keep coming. —Elma Penner, Oak Bluff, Manitoba
Vanilla Ice Cream Dessert FAQ
How do you level up vanilla ice cream?
Admittedly, many of these desserts require baking or some extra work. If you want dessert ASAP without much effort, think about your favorite
ice cream toppings. A good place to start is sweet and salty add-ons like pretzel bits, salted nuts, chocolate chips or crushed candy. You can also use dessert sauces like
hot fudge,
lemon curd or
salted caramel sauce.
How do you serve vanilla ice cream desserts?
Bowls have always been the go-to for serving ice cream, but there are some other fun ways to enhance your dessert. Place cobblers and sundaes in
mini trifle glasses. Pour milkshakes into
Mason jars with handles or Irish coffee mugs for smaller servings. And, of course, make use of your
waffle cone maker and serve up dessert in waffle bowls or cones.
Next: If you want to play a bit more with flavors, pick up a few extra pints to make these
recipes with ice cream.
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How We Chose the Winners
Our Taste of Home Test Kitchen and editors team up to taste all kinds of popular foods and run essential kitchen gear through the paces. We rank them, discuss and test again, if needed, to arrive at the products we recommend for you and your kitchen. Find out how we choose the best products and see everything we’ve tested.
See All Our Healthy Winners
