Today, Kevin and I are trying some Vana ice creams, including Cookies and Cream, Ice Cream Cake, and Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake. We purchased these from Whole Foods. The Ice Cream Cake was $7.99, while the other two were $6.79 each. It’s unclear why the Ice Cream Cake was more expensive.
Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
First, we’re trying the Cookies and Cream ice cream. This 14 oz container costs a premium, so it’s important to note you’re not getting a full pint. The ice cream consists of dark chocolate chip cookies, rich cream filling, and cold-ground vanilla bean ice cream. It contains 300 calories per 2/3 cup serving, or 790 calories for the entire container.
Upon opening, you’ll see cookie pieces throughout the ice cream. The taste is very traditional, reminiscent of classic cookies and cream flavors with a nice vanilla ice cream base and Oreo-like cookies. The cookie pieces are soft, not crunchy, which some might prefer. Overall, it’s a solid, traditional cookies and cream ice cream with a good balance of sweetness.
Ice Cream Cake
Next, we’re tasting the Ice Cream Cake, which features birthday cake ice cream with swirls of blue frosting and dark chocolate cream-filled cookies. It has 330 calories per 2/3 cup serving, or 860 calories for the whole container.
The blue frosting adds a vibrant color, but the taste is somewhat controversial. Some might find it tastes like cotton candy, while others may detect a strong, bitter chemical flavor from the food dye. The birthday cake ice cream itself is similar to the Cookies and Cream flavor, and the addition of blue frosting doesn’t significantly alter the taste profile.
Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake Ice Cream
Finally, we’re trying the Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake ice cream. This flavor features chocolate cream cheese ice cream, swirls of caramel, and chunks of graham cracker crust. It has 310 calories per 2/3 cup serving, or 820 calories for the whole container.
The ice cream has a chocolatey aroma, but the graham cracker chunks taste more like gingerbread or cinnamon cookies. The dominant flavor is cinnamon, which overpowers the caramel and cheesecake notes. This flavor profile is unexpected and may not appeal to everyone. The graham cracker pieces are soft and mushy, lacking the traditional graham cracker crunch.
Conclusion
Overall, the Cookies and Cream and Ice Cream Cake are safe bets for traditional ice cream lovers. The Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake flavor, however, misses the mark with its unexpected gingerbread-like taste. For those sensitive to food dyes, the Ice Cream Cake’s blue frosting may be off-putting.
If you’re looking for value, consider purchasing these flavors from a different store, such as Walmart, where you might find them at a lower price.
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