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Sara Haas / Allrecipes
I didn’t start appreciating mint chip ice cream until I had my daughter. When she was little, we’d take her to our local ice cream shop and let her choose a scoop from a variety of flavors. Her go-to was always chocolate, so the first time she ordered mint chocolate chip, I was surprised. So much so that I asked her if she was sure, explaining (for some reason) that the mint would be the dominant flavor and that, instead of the familiar brown hue of her beloved chocolate, this scoop would be a very bright green. Undeterred, she confirmed that was her order, and it’s been a long, beautiful friendship ever since—one that’s grown on me, too.
We’ve been enjoying mint chocolate chip ice cream for years, so it only seemed right for us to sample a variety of brands to find the best. We grabbed eight cartons of the frozen stuff, along with a bunch of spoons, and got to work.
How We Chose the Best Mint Chip Ice Cream
To make the cut, each ice cream had to indicate on the label that it was “mint chip,” “mint cookie,” or used other wording that clearly placed it in the mint-plus-chocolate category. I committed to dairy-based ice creams only, choosing to leave out yogurt-based or diet-focused varieties (like low-fat, low-carb, or keto). Finally, all the ice creams had to be available nationwide at major grocery store chains.
How We Compared the Mint Chip Ice Cream
I rallied a group of taste testers of varying ages—including my mint chocolate chip–obsessed daughter—and asked them to get their spoons (and stomachs) ready. Everyone sampled a small scoop of each ice cream served in an unlabeled bowl. They were then asked to rank the ice creams from least favorite to most favorite, noting their reasoning to back up their decisions.
Of course, you could always make your own Easy Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream to create your personal version of perfection, but the convenience is key here.
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The Best Mint Chip Ice Cream
Taste is subjective, but after much discussion, we were able to determine a winner. It hit all the right notes for a truly delicious ice cream, but several others on the list were close contenders and still worth scooping. Here are our rankings.
8th Place: Dean’s
Sara Haas / Allrecipes
Testers were open to this green-colored version of mint chip at first glance, but after sampling, they unanimously agreed it wasn’t a favorite. While most said the texture was creamy and “fine,” there wasn’t much else to praise. One tester noted it wasn’t satisfying, saying it didn’t taste distinctly like mint or chocolate. Another wished it had more flavor overall. It ended up being our least favorite of the bunch.
7th Place: Turkey Hill
Sara Haas / Allrecipes
The texture of this ice cream was weirdly smooth and heavy. Testers thought it tasted like mint candy—but the strong kind, not the pleasant sweet stuff. The chocolate was visible, but no one could really taste it. We agreed that nothing about this ice cream felt special or authentic.
6th Place: Kemps
Sara Haas / Allrecipes
It’s fun to look at, but the artificial taste of both the mint and chocolate kept testers from enjoying it. One tester said they could feel the crunchiness of the chocolate but couldn’t actually taste it. Another liked the texture of the ice cream but said it tasted "like the basic stuff you get at birthday parties.” It wasn’t the worst on the list, but no one ranked it higher than sixth place.
5th Place: Baskin-Robbins
Sara Haas / Allrecipes
Testers liked the appearance of Baskin-Robbins’ ice cream, with its green coloring and flecks of chocolate, but the flavor just wasn’t there. It was indeed minty—but overly sweet. No one could really taste the chocolate, and overall, it just wasn’t impressive.
4th Place: Ben & Jerry’s
Sara Haas / Allrecipes
Ben & Jerry’s version is more cookie than chip, but still a solid contender in this category. One tester noted that the mint was “very sweet” rather than sharp, which made it taste a bit more artificial compared to our top three. The ice cream itself was smooth and creamy, and the big cookie chunks added a nice contrasting texture. That said, the mint flavor was so strong that many of us couldn’t taste the chocolate cookie—which only made us momentarily sad.
3rd Place: Graeter's
Sara Haas / Allrecipes
If you’re after big mint flavor in your mint chip ice cream, then you’ll want to grab a pint of Graeter’s. Everyone agreed this ice cream had the strongest mint taste. It also had a desirable amount of chocolate, which was a nice match for the big mint flavor. It was creamy, smooth, and absolutely a delicious option.
2nd Place: Tillamook
Sara Haas / Allrecipes
Everyone appreciated the ultra-rich and creamy texture of Tillamook’s ice cream. The mint flavor was subtle but tasted like real mint rather than artificial. The chocolate pieces were a bit on the large side, but nothing our molars couldn’t handle. Testers loved the balance between the mint and the chocolate, which was lacking in some other ice creams on the list.
1st Place Winner: Häagan-Dazs
Sara Haas / Allrecipes
The winner of our mint chip ice cream taste test was unanimous. Everyone loved the “real” mint flavor of the Häagan-Dazs base as well as the chocolate—which was not only delicious but “just the right amount and size.” It was luxurious, creamy, and perfectly sweet without being overpowering. All-in-all, the perfect mint chip pint.
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