Trader Joe’s Is Ready for the Summer With Two New Ice Cream Flavors

When summertime approaches, we all dream of ice cream. Whether you’re craving a vanilla or a Rocky Road, there’s a flavor out there for you. And while homemade ice cream is particularly delicious, a high-quality store-bought pint can be just as satisfying in the summer heat.

For unique ice cream flavors and affordable price points, Trader Joe’s can’t be beat. And with new flavors coming out every season, you’re sure to find a Trader Joe’s ice cream that hits the spot. This summer, TJ’s released two thrilling new flavors. Here’s everything you need to know about them before running to the supermarket.

What Are the New Ice Cream Flavors at Trader Joe’s?

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A post shared by Natasha Fischer (@traderjoeslist)

Alongside perennial favorites like ube and chocolate-raspberry swirl, Trader Joe’s now offers S’mores Ice cream and Golden Caramel Swirl Ice Cream.

S’mores Ice Cream

The s’mores ice cream features graham cracker-flavored ice cream with marshmallow and chocolatey swirls. While many s’mores ice creams feature chunks of graham cracker or chocolate, this ice cream blend is smooth.

According to Trader Joe’s vice president of marketing Matt Sloan, “It’s not so much a deconstructed s’more as it is a mixed up ice cream that is absolutely s’mores-like in its flavors.” Additionally, Tara Miller, another vice president of marketing, mentioned that when the company tested chunks of graham crackers, they got “so soggy” that “you didn’t get that flavor.”

Golden Caramel Swirl Ice Cream

Golden Caramel Swirl is also a smooth, luscious pint. It is labeled as “super-premium” quality, referring to the high-fat content and low amount of air mixed in. This flavor consists of vanilla and chocolate ice creams with swirls of salted caramel throughout. This recipe is actually a revamp of a previous version of the flavor, and even accented with new packaging, as Natasha Fischer (@traderjoeslist) pointed out.

What Do the New Ice Cream Flavors at Trader Joe’s Taste Like?

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Thus far, fans have largely praised the new ice cream flavors. To see what all the hype was about, I also tried them each for myself. Here are our collective thoughts.

Fan Reception

Fischer called the s’mores ice cream “really good” and noted its smooth, chunk-free consistency. She continued by saying, “If I didn’t know what flavor this was, s’mores wouldn’t come to mind, but it does have a marshmallowy flavor.” One commenter on her video also complained that they only got gobs of chocolate, “no swirls.”

When trying the golden caramel swirl ice cream, Fischer said, “Oh, that is so good…Oh my gosh, that caramel swirl is amazing. This is awesome.” One commenter compared it to Baskin Robbin’s Gold Medal Ribbon ice cream, while another called it “so so so creamy and so delicious!” Regarding critiques, one commenter wrote, “It’s yummy, I just wish the caramel tasted more salted!”

I Tried It—Here’s What I Thought

First off, the s’mores ice cream delivered on its smooth texture. The graham cracker ice cream was creamy and the swirls of chocolate and pockets of marshmallow offered a subtly different, sticky texture, much like how chocolate syrup on top of a sundae might. In terms of taste, I agree with Fischer that I wouldn’t have necessarily known the ice cream was s’mores-flavored unless I really focused on it. I wish the graham cracker note came through a little more strongly; without it, you’re largely left with a very saccharine marshmallow taste. This is lovely too, but a little too sweet for my palette. Still props to TJ’s for trying out this unexpected ice cream flavor.

While the s’mores flavor took up a lot of media limelight, definitely don’t sleep on the golden caramel swirl! This was my favorite between the two by far, for both its luscious texture and nostalgic flavor. The super-premium quality delivered a notably silky mouthfeel and the caramel blended into the ice cream seamlessly. Flavor-wise, I was reminded of a classic swirled soft serve, chocolate milkshake or even Nesquik chocolate milk. While this isn’t the deepest chocolate flavor you’ll taste, the vanilla notes add complexity and a craveable, memorable flavor from childhood. The ripples of subtly salted caramel accented the ice cream without overpowering it. This meant that the bite wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet—and I could go in for more! For more extremely high-quality ice creams, be sure to check out this list of artisan brands.

How Can I Try the New Trader Joe’s Ice Creams?

According to the “Inside Trader Joe’s” podcast, the new pints arrived at Trader Joe’s nationwide on June 12. They are available now for just $3.79 a pint, so go pick one up on your next errand run. Just be sure to soften it before eating to get the full creamy, melty experience.