Halo Top Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

 

There's one thing about my taste buds when it comes to ice cream. If I'm given a choice between vanilla and chocolate - I am without a doubt going to go with the vanilla. Don't get me wrong - I love chocolate (cake, candy) but I am not a big fan of chocolate ice cream, shakes, etc. Low and behold when I spotted the Halo Top Vanilla Bean Ice Cream on my grocery store shelf, I picked up a pint without hesitation.

I had read reviews on the ice cream and I recalled reading the ice cream itself was creamy. I knew the consistency of the flavors ranged depending on the flavor/consistency/etc. The strawberry was creamy, the birthday cake wasn't ... so I was quite pleased to find this ice cream is in fact on the creamier side. The ice cream isn't riddled with ice crystals as in the case of most low calorie ice creams.

You may think vanilla ice cream is so boring, but this one isn't. It's a bold, pure vanilla bean flavor. Very vanilla-y and not plain at all. There are little specks of vanilla bean running all throughout the container. It's a healthier alternative on ice cream but it doesn't taste like it's a better-for-you version of ice cream. Tastes like any full fat high quality vanilla bean ice cream.

Overall I quite loved this and it certainly ranks up there with my favorite Halo Top flavors.

A serving, 1/2 cup is 60 calories or 2 smart points. Whereas 1 cup is 4 smart points, 1 1/2 cups is 6 smart points and the whole pint is 8 smart points.

 

Halo Top Birthday Cake Ice Cream

After introducing myself to Halo Top - I knew I wanted to try more flavors. Initially my grocery store only had some of their "basic" flavors - so I was intrigued and surprised to see my local grocery store was carrying the Halo Top Birthday Cake Ice Cream. I had heard rave reviews about it online ... and since birthday cake is one of my favorite grocery store ice cream flavors, I had to give it a try.

I noticed when opening the container, the ice cream wasn't as dark in color as the others I had tried. Flavor wise it was quite good - spot on birthday cake. It had all the vanilla cake flavoring without actually putting chunks of cake into the ice cream. The only additive is little bits of sprinkles which are mixed throughout the ice cream. It adds a nice texture difference between the ice cream and the sprinkles.

The one major difference I found in this particular is cream is it had an airy quality to it. It wasn't anywhere near as creamy as the vanilla bean or the strawberry. It almost has a drier texture to it - which is really odd for ice cream. It's not bad, it's just not the consistency I'm "used to" with ice cream. After I had my serving, a few people suggested I let this one sit out at room temperature about 10 minutes to allow it to warm up a bit which they stated gives it that creamy effect. But I guess I don't have enough patience for that because the next time I had it, I ate it straight out of the freezer.

I'd certainly pick this one up again if I was in the mood for birthday cake ice cream, but it's not one of my favorites so far. I'd stick with the vanilla bean, strawberry and the (spoiler alert:) oatmeal cookie.

A serving is 1/2 cup which is 70 calories or 2 smartpoints. 1 cup is 5 smartpoints, 1 1/2 cups is 7 smart points and the whole pint is 10 smartpoints. 

Halo Top Strawberry Ice Cream

 

I recall seeing Halo Top posted all over social media – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube … but I couldn’t get my hands on it for the longest time because no retailer in my area sold it. I had heard wind that Whole Foods sold it – but my local Whole Foods is 20 minutes in a complete opposite direction of anywhere I normally frequent so it seemed like such a drag to go out of my way for a product I may not even find (since I’ve heard how it’s difficult to find because people scoop it up quickly).

If you’re not familiar, Halo Top is a low-calorie, high protein, low sugar ice cream – which is marketed as tasting just like regular ice cream, just without the guilt. One thing I do want to point out is: unlike other companies marketing schemes, Halo Top prints the calories for the entire pint on the front of their labels along with the flavor of the ice cream. No sneaky marketing tactic which makes you think an entire pint is 100 calories, etc.

Low and behold I was shocked to find my local grocery store had brought the ice cream in – so I opted to spend the $4.99 and give it a whirl. There weren’t many flavors available so I opted to go with the Halo Top Strawberry Ice Cream.  It was a toss up between strawberry, chocolate, chocolate mocha chip and vanilla bean. I love vanilla ice cream, but I opted to go with the strawberry for a different flavor (I’m not a big chocolate ice cream fan so that was a no-go).

Upon the first scoop I was completely blown away. The flavor, the creaminess and the amazingly delicious taste. I’ve tried other healthier alternatives to ice cream and this one blew all of them out of the water. The strawberry was a true strawberry flavor, not chemically altered.  The ice cream was amazingly creamy which was surprising considering other brands I’ve tried; they’ve all had an icy quality to them. No iciness to this beauty, just creamy, high quality ice cream flavoring.  Some say to let the ice cream sit out at room temperature to soften up a bit – but I found this to be perfection straight out of the freezer. I don’t quite know how they do it, and I won’t question it much – but I’ve been sold, hook line and sinker since.

A serving, ½ cup is 70 calories or 2 smart points. 1 cup is 5 smart points, 1 ½ cups is 7 smart points and the entire pint is 10 smartpoints.

Fruit Dips - Just Ripe Banana

I have seen the Fruit Dips - Just Ripe Banana over and over again at my local grocery store but had yet to pick them up until I was in the mood for something along the lines of ice cream. I'm a banana dessert junkie so I decided I just had to give these a shot. Particularly after my coworker turned me onto frozen banana slices topped with nutella (sorry for that tidbit).

The box describes the frozen dessert as a "premium frozen fruit bars dipped in rich chocolate coating." They're smaller in size, but big enough to be satisfying and satisfy that sweet tooth. The bar itself is made of mashed up frozen bananas which are frozen to a stick. It's then coated in a thin layer of chocolate which help bring fourth the banana flavor and natural sweetness of the fruit. It's the right amount of sweetness to be a suitable dessert and satisfying enough when you want something cold to cool you down. I found it to be quite enjoyable - more so than the chocolate covered frozen bananas they sell in the grocery store and at local fairs.

These are sold in a number of different flavors. Just to name a few: strawberry, coconut, and they're also sold with a Greek yogurt topping instead of the chocolate.

A serving, 1 pop, is 92 calories or 2 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Mango & Cream Bars

I've seen the Trader Joe's Mango & Cream Bars time and time again but had yet to pick them up for a variety of reasons (not going home right away, deciding to get them 'next time', etc.) That is until recently ... the weathers been getting nicer and that only means I want a nice sweet treat as a reward for putting up with the change in weather.

I admit I saw on the box there were 8 bars in a pack. I admit I sized up the box trying to figure out how big these bars may be. Upon opening the box I learned they are actually smaller than I imagined (there's also a little more breathing room in the box than I assumed there would be). Case in point the bars are small but not teeny tiny. There's also no stick to hold onto - the bars are packaged in sort of a "push up pop" fashion (minus any plastic or tools). You merely unwrap it and use the wrapping as your stick to keep your fingers from freezing off.

Taste wise it's very much mango. It's along the lines of a very smooth tasting mango Popsicle. The outside edge is a slightly thick cream which really brings the two flavors together and smooths them out. It mellows out some of the natural sweetness of the mango flavoring and makes it refreshing. It brings fourth a bit of an ice cream vibe while also maintaining that Popsicle flare.


Overall, it's rally unique and tasty. The bars are undoubtedly refreshing, spring/summer approved and a new favorite of mine.

A serving, 1 bar, is 60 calories or 2 points plus OR you can have 2 bars for 120 calories or 3 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Mini Hold the Cone! Chocolate Ice Cream Cones

Since I was such a fan of the vanilla version I of course had to give the Trader Joe's Mini Hold the Cone! Chocolate Ice Cream Cones a shot. Admittedly chocolate ice cream isn't my favorite, but sometimes I want a different flavor of something as a treat.

Hold the Cones are miniature ice cream cones which are great for when you want something small, sweet and refreshing but you don’t want whole lot of something. They’re perfect because they not only taste delicious but they’re also adorable and miniature. I find they give you the right amount of everything. A few bites of ice cream, a few bites of chocolate coating, and a few bites of a delicious crunchy yet chewy ice cream cone.

The ice cream itself is good quality chocolate ice cream. It's creamy, it's chocolaty but it's not overwhelming. The chocolate coating on the top of the ice cream balances well with the chocolate ice cream. The coating being a dark chocolate so the two pair perfectly without being overly sweet. They're a great treat which is guiltless.

A serving, 1 cone, is 70 calories or 2 points plus OR you can have 2 ice cream cones for 140 calories or 3 points plus.

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Mochi Ice Cream

Admittedly, when I first saw the Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Mochi Ice Cream it was intriguing (because I'm a sucker for pumpkin anything) but also slightly daunting. I've tried mochi before and with texture issues I didn't enjoy the strawberry flavor. Figuring I'd give it a shot after hearing how good they were, I popped a box in my shopping cart and went home with them.

 

The dessert is shaped like a round ball, which has a smooth, dry -- almost play-doh feel to it. It's dusted with what looks like flour. The mochi shell is chewy in texture, slightly gummy and doesn't have much of a flavor to it. It's rather on the plain side and seems to be odd or foreign even. The ice cream inside the mochi is where it's at. It's a smooth, creamy, pumpkin pie ice cream which tastes exactly like pumpkin pie. It really packs a punch and left the pumpkin lover within satisfied. Together it's a unique and pretty delicious treat.

 

1 mochi is a serving, which is 100 calories or 3 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookie Butter Ice Cream

Trader Joe's Cookie Butter is one of those magnificent little jars of wonder. So when I saw that they had transformed their cookie butter into ice cream, I was all for it. I was especially all for it after trying a sample at the store one afternoon. That's when the container of Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookie Butter Ice Cream jumped into my grocery cart and made a temporary home in my freezer.

The dessert is your classic vanilla ice cream that has swirls, chunks and bits of cookie butter running throughout it. Cookie butter on its own is rather sweet ... so when mixed with sweet vanilla ice cream it becomes a rich and decadent dessert. It's certainly something you can enjoy in small doses without feeling sick from the sugar overload. The ice cream itself is smooth and creamy and the cookie butter adds a little bit of gritty texture to it.

 

It's the real deal when it comes to ice cream and I find it's something one can enjoy from time to time. I find the serving is more than enough because it can be very rich.

 

A 1/2 cup serving is 220 calories or 6 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Mini Ginger Pumpkin Ice Cream Mouthfuls

On my last trip through Trader Joe's it was very much pumpkin season. A lot of old favorites and a lot of new items on the shelves. One of those new items that I opted to pick up was the Trader Joe's Mini Ginger Pumpkin Ice Cream Mouthfuls.  I figured it was a double bingo because it would kill my want for an ice cream sandwich while it would also give me a taste of delicious pumpkin ice cream.

I had these tucked away in the freezer and my sweet tooth got the best of me so I pulled out the box last night. Size wise, I'd say the sandwiches are slightly bigger than the size of an Oreo cookie. The cookies have a little bit of a sugar 'crust' on the outside of them. Truthfully when I purchased them I didn't notice it was a ginger cookie - I thought it might be spiced pumpkin ice cream. But upon first bite, I learned they are very much ginger cookies .... and a spicy ginger cookie at that. They do pack quite a bit of heat in them, so if you're not a fan of spice or ginger, you're probably not going to be a fan of these. I wouldn't say the ginger is all around overwhelming but it is noticeable and at the forefront. The sandwich filling is a delicious pumpkin ice cream. The ice cream is smooth, creamy, deliciously fragrant with pumpkin flavor and very reminiscent of pumpkin pie. It's a very rich pumpkin ice cream which is what brings the whole dessert together. When eaten together it does give the flavor effect of a spiced pumpkin pie but it's not as overwhelming on the palette as I find spiced pumpkin pie to be.

Overall, they're pretty good and are quite refreshing ... but I found that by the second sandwich my taste buds were getting zinged here and there from the ginger flavor. Admittedly, that effect does help in stopping at a serving size possible.

A serving is 2 sandwiches, which are 120 calories or 3 points plus values.

Edy's Limited Edition Fun 'n the Sun Banana Split Ice Cream

I'm a self proclaimed banana junkie -- meaning I really enjoy banana flavored foods. Back in the day, Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey was one of my favorite ice creams because it's a banana flavored treat.  One of my local ice cream shops makes homemade banana ice cream and it's amazingly delicious. I've been on the hunt for a decent lighter banana ice cream ... and I just so happened to find Edy's Limited Edition Fun 'n the Sun Banana Split Ice Cream at the grocery store one day.

What sold me off the bat was of course the banana ice cream part. According to the label this is: "Banana light ice cream with cherry-on-top and fudge swirls." This ice cream is all that and more. It's delicious ... a nice smooth banana ice cream which doesn't have that artificial aftertaste to it. In every other bite there's a hint of chocolate fudge swirled in and the cherry swirls are heavenly. The cherry I found to be reminiscent of jam and has a slightly chewy texture to it. It's delicious and probably one of my favorite Edy's flavors so far

Sadly, this is a limited edition flavor ... but it should undoubtedly be part of the Edy's line.

A 1/2 cup serving is 100 calories or 3 points plus values.

Friendly's Celebration Ice Cream Cupcakes

I had been on the hunt for these ice cream cupcakes. I had seen them at the store a few weeks back, but since I wasn't going home right away, I had to pass them up. Then when I went back to pick up a package... they were all sold out. It just happened that while I was grocery shopping (at a different store - Shaw's if your in the New England area) I spotted them and was able to pick up the Friendly's Celebration Ice Cream Cupcakes.

Initially I assumed these would be identical to the Carvel ice cream cakes ... but these are different and a bit special. Why? Well, the bottom layer of the cupcake is really a chocolate cupcake! Yes, you can have your cake AND eat it too! The cake is then covered with a layer of smooth vanilla ice cream. The ice cream is covered in a layer of creamy whipped icing (more like a lightly sweetened whipped cream 'frosting') which is topped with colorful sprinkles.

These are delicious and a perfect combination of whipped icing, ice cream and cake. What I like best about them is they're perfectly portioned. There is no guestimating how to cut up a whole cake or trying to figure out exactly what a serving is. These are satisfying, delicious and all around a crowd pleaser.

A cupcake is a serving, which is 160 calories or 4 points plus values.

Trader Joe’s Soy Creamy Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert Mini Chocolate Sandwiches

As I mentioned in the past, the past few months I’ve been finding myself scanning the selection in the ice cream section at Trader Joe’s. Admittedly, due to the positioning (tucked away toward the back of the freezer) and the packing on this product I would have never noticed it. If it wasn’t for a fellow shopper picking up 4-boxes…. it peaked my interest and that’s when I decided to pick up a box of Trader Joe’s Soy Creamy Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert Mini Chocolate Sandwiches.

The ice cream sandwiches are sold in both chocolate and vanilla. Typically, I’m a vanilla ice cream girl in frozen treats … but since my fellow shopper got the chocolate I figured those were probably the tastiest. They’re low fat, non-dairy and give a perfect hit of chocolate flavoring with a chocolate cake like sandwich.

These do cure the want for an ice cream sandwich … although as expected, you can tell this isn’t ice cream. It’s not as creamy as traditional ice cream sandwiches; they have a mild soy flavor, which isn’t that noticeable due to it being chocolate. They’re the perfect individual size (they’re half the size of a traditional ice cream sandwich).

Each sandwich is 90 calories or 2 points plus values.

Trader Joe’s Mini Hold The Cone! Vanilla Ice Cream Cones

I’ve always looked at the ice creams at Trader Joe’s but I hadn’t purchased many of them … until recently. I guess with the warmer weather coming, it just feels more appropriate to cool down with a nice cold treat. And a nice cold treat these are.

Hold the Cones are miniature ice cream cones which are great for when you want something small, sweet and refreshing but you don’t want whole lot of something. They’re perfect because they not only taste delicious but they’re also adorable and miniature. I find they give you the right amount of everything. A few bites of ice cream, a few bites of chocolate coating, and a few bites of a delicious crunchy yet chewy ice cream cone. The icing on the cake comes at the end … the cone is filled with chocolate. YUM!

The ice cream cones are packaged in a box, which are housed in a sleeve that is encased in plastic wrap/packaging. It’s available in vanilla or chocolate … but I’m more of a vanilla ice cream girl so I can’t vouch on the chocolate, but I assume it’d be good too. But I can vouch that these are kid tested … adult approved.

Each cone is 70 calories or 2 points plus OR you can have 2 ice cream cones for 3 points plus.

Trader Joe's S'Mores Frozen Sandwiches

I'm a frequent shopper of Trader Joe's ... and there are many products I see from time to time but have passed up for one reason or another. Evidently I had a very soft spot in my heart this past weekend because I finally picked up a box of the Trader Joe's S'Mores Frozen Sandwiches.

What sold me on these ice cream sandwiches was not only the picture on the box, but the description: "Graham crackers with marshmallow-chocolate swirl gelato & milk chocolate flakes." Heaven! S'mores are one the most genius desserts known to man (and so simple!) … plus ice cream always finds a way into my heart from time to time.  Ideally a combination of the two, I felt would be a match to write books about.

I took a sandwich out of the freezer for dessert one day and passed a sandwich around to everyone who wanted one. Unfortunately ... these just didn't do anything for me.  The marshmallow flavor wasn't really there for me. The chocolate was, in every bite, and the graham cracker was slightly there ... but this just didn't scream "s'mores" to me.  It was evident it was gelato as it wasn’t isn’t as hard as traditional ice cream … but it was just a bit of a miss and not worth the calories/points associated with them.  The general consensus around these throughout the house was that they're alright ... but nothing to brag about. Personally, I find Skinny Cow's are tastier than these.  I wasn't a fan ... and I certainly won't be repurchasing these.

Each ice cream sandwich is 250 calories or 7 points plus values.

Skinny Cow Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Sandwiches

I’m a huge fan of Skinny Cow ice cream. I had seen the Skinny Cow Snickerdoodle ice cream sandwiches for a long time now but had yet to pick it up until recently. And part of me is wondering what exactly I was waiting for…

I was truly wowed by the flavor of this ice cream sandwich because it tastes exactly like a snickerdoodle cookie when eaten together. It cures not only the itch for ice cream, but also the want for something sweet and snacky.  According to the box, the ice cream is listed as a “cinnamon low fat ice cream swirled between oatmeal cookie wafers”. The two flavor combinations together undoubtedly add up to Snickerdoodle. There is a nice warm cinnamon sugar flavor to the dessert which makes it all around delicious.  It’s perfect for a mid-afternoon snack, while it’s also great for a late evening after dinner dessert. Either way, I’m a big fan.

Each sandwich is 140 calories or 4 points plus values.

Edy’s Slow Churned Coffee & Cookies Delight

tends to be my “go to” brand of choice when it comes to ice cream in half gallon containers. I noticed a new limited edition bakery treats flavor so I picked up the Edy’s Slow Churned Coffee & Cookies Delight.

I’m a big coffee fan … that is coffee the beverage, but I am known to enjoy an occasional coffee flavored ice cream. The flavor just struck my fancy, particularly with the description “coffee light ice cream with chocolaty covered cookie pieces”. Admittedly I had a “coffee and cookies?!” moment and I found it to be a match made in dessert heaven. Taste wise, it’s very much a coffee flavored ice cream … so if you’re not a fan of coffee or coffee ice cream, then this won’t be satisfying. The chocolaty covered cookie pieces aren’t as prominent in the ice cream as I’ve seen pretzels/cookies in other flavors. My final verdict? It is a good ice cream, you certainly get the bang for your calorie buck  and it satisfies the sweet tooth… but it’s not the best ice cream I’ve ever had. It’s decent, but not mind blowing fabulous.

A ½ cup serving is 110 calories or 3 points plus values.

Skinny Cow Cookies ‘n Crème Truffle Ice Cream

Skinny Cow is one of my “preferred” ice cream brands at the market when I’m looking for single serving ice creams. While at the store I spotted Skinny Cow Cookies ‘n Crème Truffle Ice Cream and I decided to pick it up since cookies & cream is one of my favorite flavors. Admittedly another reason I love Skinny Cow ice cream is the fact the Weight Watchers Points Plus values are printed on the boxes … which makes choosing easier.

The box describes the ice cream as “chocolatey ribbons drizzled on cookies ‘n cream low fat ice cream”.  I was excited to have my first ice cream for dessert because I’m a huge fan of the Skinny Cow cookies & cream sandwiches. Although, I have to say I was left mildly unsatisfied.  The ice cream does have chocolatey ribbons surrounding it, which give it a nice mild sweetness, but my ice cream tasted more of “cream” than “cookies.” There are cookie bits running throughout it but some of them are so tiny that my taste buds didn’t even pick up the flavor, let alone the texture of cookie bits. They’re not bad, but they just didn’t live up to my expectations.

Each bar is 110 calories or 3 points plus values.

McDonald’s Vanilla Cone

Every once in a while I’m in the mood for soft serve ice cream. I’ve found over time that McDonald’s has one of the best vanilla cones! During the summer time, I bypass the ridiculously long lines at Dairy Queen and go straight to Mickey D’s!

Unlike other ice cream stands, the cones at McDonald’s are one standard size. There’s no temptation in getting a small/medium/large cone for a few cents more.  The cones are filled with McDonald’s classic reduced fat vanilla ice cream, which is your standard state of the art soft serve ice cream. I find the frozen treat to be filling, delightful and when others are having ice cream I’m not the one standing to the side saying “no thanks.”

One of the greatest parts is the ice cream cones are $1 and sometimes during the summer (at least in my area) they’re 2 for $1.  The only downside is they’re only available in vanilla … no swirl or chocolate available (except during the summer McDonald’s is known to offer a chocolate dip cone).

Each cone is 170 calories or 5 points plus values.

Skinny Cow Chocolate Mint Ganache

Skinny Cow is one of my favorite ice cream brands on the market. Why? Well, they make decadent desserts which are healthier for you, taste great and don’t leave you feeling like you’ve been ripped off.  Needless to say when I spotted the Skinny Cow Chocolate Mint Ganache at my local Target, I had to pick up a box.

The fact these ice creams have a chocolate ice cream cone were a winning factor for me. Admittedly mint ice cream isn’t one of my absolute favorites but it was a twist.  The vanilla portion of the cone I find to be on the border of too minty, whereas the chocolate portion is a perfect blend of mint and chocolate. Not overwhelming, perfectly delicious on the palette. The only downside is the description lists “ganache” but there’s only a little dollop of ganache at the very top of the ice cream cone. Once that’s eaten … there is no more magically delicious ganache. There is no ganache in the bottom of the cone … which I have to admit is a bit disheartening because the ganache is the flavor you’d like to be left with when all is said and done.

Overall they’re a pretty decent ice cream cone … but if you’re not a fan of mint (even the slightest), you won’t be a fan of these.

Each cone is 160 calories or 4 points plus values.

Skinny Cow Chocolate Mousse Ganache

When I had saw that Skinny Cow had come out with a new ice cream cone, I was put on the hunt. Unfortunately I came up empty handed for nearly 2 months until just recently I spotted the Skinny Cow Chocolate Mousse Ganache ice creams at my local Target. Since I was so excited to find them I purchased a box and unfortunately enough they weren’t on sale when I purchased.

Typically I am a fan of Skinny Cow ice cream because I find the brand simply gets it right. Deliciously “healthier for you” ice cream which is lower in fat, calories or points plus values in comparison to some of the other ice creams on the market.  The ice cream itself is a blend of vanilla and chocolate ice creams and chocolate ganache. The whole shebang is pretty good … but I have to say the best part is the little glob of ganache at the center of the top of the cone. Sadly, the ganache wasn’t as plentiful as I would have hoped for (I was hoping for a chocolate ganache core). The ganache was the flavor that I savored the most … whereas the rest of the ice cream is the classic smooth creamy ice cream Skinny Taste is known to provide.

Would I repurchase them again? Probably if I were in the mood for an ice cream cone … although I may give the mint a shot to see if it’s any better than the chocolate mousse.

Each cone is 160 calories or 4 points plus values.