Red velvet ice cream has become a popular frozen dessert option over the past few years. With its rich red color and sweet cream cheese flavor, it appeals to ice cream lovers who want to try something new and different. But what company actually produces this unique ice cream flavor?
The Origins of Red Velvet Ice Cream
Red velvet cake was originally a Southern dessert that gained widespread popularity in the US during the mid-20th century. The distinctive bright red color and cocoa flavor of the cake make it stand out. In recent years, food companies have tried to capture the essence of red velvet cake in new forms, including ice cream.
Ice cream makers realized red velvet would make an eye-catching and tasty flavor. The creamy texture of ice cream pairs perfectly with the light, fluffy crumb of red velvet cake. Swirling ribbons of red velvet ice cream with white cream cheese ice cream replicates the tangy cream cheese frosting that is a hallmark of red velvet cake.
Major Brands Producing Red Velvet Ice Cream
Several major ice cream companies now produce their own takes on red velvet ice cream:
- Breyers – This mass market brand uses natural flavorings to achieve the red velvet flavor in their ice cream.
- Ben & Jerry’s – The Ben & Jerry’s red velvet ice cream contains cake pieces and a cream cheese swirl for an authentic red velvet cake taste.
- Häagen-Dazs – Known for premium ice cream, Häagen-Dazs makes a red velvet flavor with a triple cream cheese swirl.
- Talenti – Talenti’s gelato take on red velvet ice cream includes chocolate chips and a cream cheese swirl.
Breyers Red Velvet Ice Cream
Breyers released their take on red velvet ice cream to grocery stores nationwide in 2019. Their version combines rich, sweet cream with red velvet flavoring. It does not contain chunks of cake or swirls of cream cheese frosting. The bright red color comes from natural coloring derived from radish juice and strawberries.
Breyers red velvet ice cream has a milder, lighter taste focused on the red velvet flavor rather than replicating every component of red velvet cake. The ice cream has a lower fat and calorie content than premium brands. It’s marketed as a fun, colorful dessert you can enjoy guilt-free.
Ben & Jerry’s Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream
Ben & Jerry’s introduced their Red Velvet Cake ice cream in 2019. Staying true to the Vermont brand’s reputation for chunks and swirls, this flavor includes both cake pieces and a cream cheese frosting swirl.
The white ice cream base has a creamy vanilla cake taste. It’s studded with red velvet cake chunks that provide little bursts of chocolatey red velvet flavor throughout each spoonful. The gooey cream cheese frosting swirl adds the tangy, creamy component of traditional red velvet cake frosting.
Reviews praised Ben & Jerry’s Red Velvet Cake for mimicking the multiple textures and flavors of actual red velvet cake in ice cream form.
Häagen-Dazs Triple Cream Cheese Red Velvet
Häagen-Dazs relies on the richness of cream cheese to provide red velvet flavor. Their Triple Cream Cheese Red Velvet ice cream contains just two components – a cream cheese ice cream swirled with a red velvet truffle cream ice cream.
The white cream cheese ice cream has the distinctive tanginess of cream cheese frosting. The red velvet truffle cream provides color and a deep cocoa flavor. There are no cake pieces in Häagen-Dazs’ version. The focus is on the ice cream itself replicating red velvet cake’s components.
Reviewers felt the intense cream cheese flavor was spot-on for recreating red velvet cake in ice cream form. Some noted the red velvet truffle cream could overpower the cream cheese taste if you didn’t get enough swirl in each bite.
Talenti Red Velvet Cake Gelato
Talenti puts a unique spin on red velvet by turning it into gelato. Their Red Velvet Cake gelato layers creamy red velvet-flavored gelato with chocolate chips and a cream cheese swirl.
The red velvet gelato mimics the soft, dense texture of red velvet cake. The cream cheese swirl delivers the tangy, moist component every good piece of red velvet cake needs. The chocolate chips offer some texture and extra chocolate flavor.
Reviewers said Talenti’s red velvet gelato successfully captured the various elements of red velvet cake. The lighter gelato allows the red velvet and cream cheese flavors to shine through.
Availability of Red Velvet Ice Cream
Red velvet ice cream flavors are often limited or seasonal editions. Availability depends on location and timing.
Breyers red velvet ice cream can be found at most major grocery store chains when in stock. Ben & Jerry’s and Talenti red velvet flavors are also widely available at grocery stores during release periods.
Häagen-Dazs red velvet ice cream tends to have less widespread distribution. It’s more likely to be spotted at upscale grocery stores like Whole Foods or in the ice cream freezer sections of high-end restaurants and hotels.
Red velvet ice cream is a popular seasonal selection around Valentine’s Day. Keep an eye out for it in winter and early spring.
Conclusion
Red velvet ice cream brings the beloved flavors of red velvet cake into frozen dessert form. Major ice cream brands like Breyers, Ben & Jerry’s, Häagen-Dazs, and Talenti have all put their own spin on recreating the taste of red velvet cake in ice cream. The best red velvet ice cream incorporates rich creaminess, cocoa undertones, natural red color, and tangy cream cheese accents to mimic the real thing.
Craving red velvet in a chilled, spoonable form? Check the freezer case of your favorite grocery store or ice cream shop to see if any red velvet ice cream options are available. Indulge in a bowl to experience the novel flavor combination of creaminess and cake!