Key Points
All three chefs agree that the best ice creams use simple, real ingredients—think fresh dairy, real sugar, egg yolks, and natural flavorings, with minimal stabilizers or additives.When it comes to brand loyalty, every chef named Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams for its rich, custardy texture and thoughtfully layered flavors that taste true to their ingredients.High-quality ice cream shines beyond the scoop, pairing beautifully with warm desserts, espresso, or baked goods for elevated treats at home.
There’s no shortage of ice cream at the supermarket. After all, it’s one of the most popular desserts, and it can be used in so many delicious ways. You might even have a favorite brand or flavor that hits the spot when you’re craving something sweet. But if you’d like to elevate your ice cream game, what’s the best brand to try? We asked three chefs to share expert tips for finding high-quality ice cream, along with the brand they love most.
Emily Laurae Carter, pastry chef and recipe developer at Emily Laurae Home Recipes
David Davidov, artisanal ice cream developer and creator of The Cooking Foodie
Nathan Lyon, chef, cookbook author, and television personality
What to Look for When Buying Ice Cream
According to all three chefs, your best move is to check the ingredient lists first when buying ice cream.
“A truly high-quality ice cream uses real cream, real sugar, and real flavorings,” explains pastry chef and recipe developer Emily Laurae Carter. “Think vanilla bean instead of ‘vanilla flavor’ [and] fresh dairy instead of fillers,” she notes. Also, look for brands that use egg yolks or a true custard base, which gives ice cream a rich and velvety texture, Carter notes.
David Davidov, an artisanal ice cream developer, shares a similar sentiment. “Good ice cream should be made with simple, real ingredients like milk, cream, sugar, and eggs, not long chemical names,” Davidov says. Meanwhile, Nathan Lyon, a chef and cookbook author, looks for brands with minimal ingredients. He also avoids those that use artificial ingredients and too many stabilizers or gums.
You can also consider the brand’s range of flavors. “High-quality brands usually have clear, focused flavors instead of dozens of random artificial ones,” Davidov explains. If you can, try a basic vanilla ice cream to get a feel of the brand, Lyon points out.
The Best Brand of Ice Cream, According to Chefs
If you don’t want to browse ingredient lists in stores or online, we’re here to help: We asked all three chefs to share their favorite ice cream brands, and each one mentioned Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.
“Jeni’s has a wonderful, rich texture and uses minimal ingredients,” says Lyon. They also use natural food coloring (i.e., derived from plants) and keep the ingredients down to the essentials, Lyon points out. Carter appreciates the texture of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams too. “Their ice creams have this luscious, almost custardy body that makes each flavor feel rich and luxurious without being heavy,” Carter says.
Credit:
Jeni’s Ice Creams
Another aspect worth mentioning? The brand’s diverse roster of flavors. “They aren’t afraid to play with aromatics, spices, or nostalgic flavor cues, yet everything still tastes beautifully balanced,” Carter adds. “The flavors are layered, surprising, and thoughtful, which makes the experience feel more like a dessert you’d order from a restaurant, rather than something from the freezer aisle,” she continues.
For Davidov, the quality and accuracy of the brand’s flavors is a winning factor. “What I love about Jeni’s is that the flavors taste real. If it says strawberry, it truly tastes like fresh strawberries,” Davidov explains.
Ways to Use Ice Cream
Of course, the simplest way to enjoy ice cream is to dig in with a spoon! But if you’d like to get creative with ice cream (from Jeni’s or otherwise), consider these ideas from chefs:
With Warm Desserts: Davidov enjoys serving ice cream with warm desserts, like brownies, lava cakes, or apple pie, for a hot-and-cold contrast.
Sandwiches: Layer ice cream with cookies to make sandwiches, per Lyon. Alternatively, swap the cookies for blondies, as recommended by Carter.
With Espresso: “Some flavors, like salted caramel or vanilla, are amazing with espresso poured over them,” Davidov says.
Milkshakes: Blend ice cream into milkshakes for a sweet treat you can sip.
Dining and Cooking