6 Underrated Ice Cream Brands Worth Scooping Immediately
Most people stick to the same old ice cream brands they’ve known since childhood, missing out on incredible flavors hiding in plain sight. Small-batch creameries and artisan makers are creating frozen masterpieces that deserve way more attention than they get.
You won’t find all of them in every grocery store, but once you taste what makes them special, you’ll go out of your way to track them down.
1. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Columbus, Ohio might not be the first place you think of when craving world-class frozen treats, but that’s exactly where magic happens. Jeni Britton Bauer built an empire by ditching artificial ingredients and embracing wild flavor combinations nobody else dared to try.
Salty Caramel and Brown Butter Almond Brittle became instant classics, proving that creativity beats boring vanilla any day. Every scoop tastes dense and luxurious because real ingredients make all the difference.
2. Tillamook
Oregon’s dairy farmers know a thing or two about making ridiculously creamy ice cream that doesn’t cost a fortune. What started as a small cooperative over a century ago has grown into a beloved brand that refuses to cut corners.
Extra cream gets packed into every container, giving you that thick, satisfying texture without weird stabilizers or fillers. Mountain Huckleberry and Marionberry Pie flavors celebrate Pacific Northwest pride in the most delicious way possible.
3. Van Leeuwen
Brooklyn hipsters might have discovered it first, but everyone deserves to experience ice cream made with actual ingredients you can pronounce. Starting from a yellow truck in 2008, Van Leeuwen proved that simple recipes create extraordinary results.
Honeycomb and Earl Grey flavors sound fancy, yet they taste comforting and familiar somehow. Even better, the vegan line uses cashew milk and coconut cream so skillfully that you might forget it’s dairy-free.
4. Graeter’s
Cincinnati has been keeping a delicious secret since 1870, and it’s time the rest of the world caught on. Hand-packed in small batches using a French Pot method, each pint contains enormous chocolate chunks that put regular chips to shame.
Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip became legendary because the fruit flavor tastes bright and real, not like cough syrup. Oprah once called it the best ice cream she’d ever tasted, and honestly, she wasn’t exaggerating one bit.
5. McConnell’s
California sunshine gets bottled into every container of this Santa Barbara treasure that’s been around since 1949. Family recipes passed down through generations use grass-fed dairy and organic ingredients whenever humanly possible.
Turkish Coffee and Eureka Lemon & Marionberries sound like vacation flavors because they capture that coastal California vibe perfectly. When you want ice cream that feels both nostalgic and innovative at the same time, grab a pint and prepare for happiness.
6. Salt & Straw
Portland’s quirkiest ice cream shop turned national sensation by asking one simple question: what if we got really weird with flavors? Monthly rotations feature collaborations with local chefs, chocolatiers, and even breweries to create combinations nobody else imagines.
Pear and Blue Cheese might sound scary, but somehow it works beautifully when experts balance sweet and savory. Adventure eaters rejoice because boring will never describe anything coming out of Salt & Straw’s kitchen.
