It's far from dull.
As a child, I used to think, When I become an adult, I plan to have ice cream for dinner every night, with nobody to tell me otherwise. I envisioned swirls of bubblegum-scented ice cream topped with rainbow sprinkles, drizzled with chocolate sauce, dotted with miniature M&M's, and crowned with fluffy whipped cream. It's okay to dream big.
I achieved my dream! Now as an adult, having a carton of ice cream in my freezer is routine for me. I indulge directly from the container anytime I desire. Additionally, I cannot imagine a dessert that wouldn’t be enhanced with a scoop of ice cream. grilled peaches , strawberry spoon cake , mention all the cobblers, you know what I mean.
Certainly, I can admit that my preferences have evolved, but when it comes down to it, my favorite remains vanilla ice cream. Feel free to label me as "vanilla"; I would wear that description as an accolade! To me, vanilla ice cream exudes luxury, subtlety, and flavor. No other cold dessert consistently delivers such delightful taste.
Because I purchase ice cream frequently, I usually opt for whatever flavor is discounted. However, perhaps this isn’t ideal. So, to get some insight, I consulted several professional pastry chefs and food editors to learn about their preferred vanilla ice cream brands. Surprisingly, they unanimously recommended one particular brand.
The Professional Bakers I Consulted
- Megan Ginsberg Senior Editor at EatingWell and ex-pastry chef at Flour Bakery + Cafe
- Genevieve Yam Culinary Editor for Serious Eats, previously a chef at Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Per Se, and contributed to the latest version of The Vital New York Times Cookbook
- Courtney Kassel Editor for Allrecipes and previously a professional cake decorator Little Daisy Bake Shop
- Laurel Randolph : Senior Recipe Editor For SimplyRecipes and the acclaimed pastry chef
Top Vanilla Ice Cream Picks as Chosen by Expert Chefs and Culinary Professionals
Laurel characterizes excellent vanilla ice cream as "smooth with genuine vanilla taste." This might seem straightforward, yet unexpectedly, every vanilla ice cream differs significantly. There’s an overwhelming agreement about which one stands out as the superior choice for vanilla ice cream. Ben & Jerry's (According to Alexa Harrison, the Public Relations Manager at Ben & Jerry's, this flavor is so popular that it stands out as the sole smooth variant without mix-ins sold in a pint container.)
Laurel remarks, "The vanilla from Ben & Jerry’s is rich and creamy with just the right vanilla taste—I enjoy it paired with desserts, as part of a sundae, or even eaten alone." (Give their vanilla ice cream a try when you're near Laurel) Peach and Raspberry Pandowdy !)
Genevieve, who sampled more than 10 different types of vanilla ice cream for Serious Eats says, “Many vanilla ice creams come with an artificial aftertaste, yet Ben & Jerry’s has a flavor profile that truly captures the essence of genuine dairy blended with authentic vanilla. Amongst all the varieties I sampled, this brand stood out as both the silkiest and most luxurious. Additionally, unlike certain ice creams known for their off-putting elastic consistency due to additives such as stabilizers and gums used by producers to control texture, Ben & Jerry’s manages to avoid that issue.”
"Usually, I am not fond of vanilla ice cream; I greatly favor strawberry or anything with some crunch, such as cookie dough. However, Ben & Jerry's is an exception, and it’s one I could easily enjoy every single evening," she remarks.
Megan states, "When it comes to ice cream, I always reach for Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla. The texture is incredibly smooth, and the vanilla taste is authentic without being overly artificial."
Courtney, who is lactose intolerant, promotes Ben & Jerry's revamped vegan vanilla base as an option for people seeking a dairy-free choice. She says she was quite pleased with it: “It’s made from oats yet doesn’t have much of a distinct taste, which can be challenging to achieve in plant-based ice creams, and offers surprisingly smooth texture without being overly thick.” Ben & Jerry's hasn't released a standalone vanilla-flavored vegan frozen dessert; instead, they incorporate this base into multiple flavors. flavors with mix-ins .
I recently discovered that Ben & Jerry's staff members are allowed to take home three pints of ice cream each day. It’s hard for me to imagine being productive under those conditions. If this were my workplace, my daily task list would surely involve lounging in the sunshine, feeling the grass beneath my feet, and enjoying a pint of their delicious ice cream. One can always hope though.
