The Best Store-Bought Chocolate Ice Creams

Chocolate is consistently one of the most popular ice cream flavors of all time, only rivaled by its mortal enemy, vanilla.

Because of its popularity, there are dozens of chocolate ice creams sold at the supermarket, but the flavor can vary greatly depending on the brand and ingredients used.

If you don’t know what ice cream flavor to get, chocolate is always a safe bet. But which pint will fulfill all your chocolate cravings and then some?

I’ve gone through my mind’s archives and chosen the 15 best chocolate ice creams I’ve bought at grocery stores.

Some are newer brands to hit the market, and others I’ve been eating since I was a kid.

So I hope you saved room for dessert today – Let’s get started!

15. Blue Bunny Soft Chocolate Ice Cream

It’s next to impossible to find packaged soft serve at the grocery store, which is what makes Blue Bunny’s Soft Chocolate Ice Cream flavor so special.

This ice cream has a solid chocolatey flavor, but the texture is where it really shines. It isn’t identical to soft serve, but it’s pretty darn close.

Blue Bunny’s soft chocolate ice cream is velvety, smooth, and insanely fluffy.

It melts in your mouth as soon as it enters, and since it has lots of air whipped into it, this ice cream isn’t heavy at all.

The reason Blue Bunny couldn’t beat out the other ice creams on the list is the ingredients – there are many artificial ingredients and gums here.

Granted, these are probably what makes the ice cream so fluffy, but it’s something to keep in mind.

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: 2/3 cup

Servings per container: 9

Calories: 180

14. Talenti Double Dark Chocolate Gelato

Talenti’s Double Dark Chocolate Gelato is rich, dark, and decadent. It’s less sweet than most other chocolate ice creams on our list, making it unique.

This gelato features semi-sweet chocolate morsels and a dash of vermouth.

Vermouth is a fortified wine that features a variety of herbs and spices, and its flavor depends on how it’s made.

In this case, the vermouth adds just the right amount of sweet fruitiness and bitterness, which pairs perfectly with the natural bitterness of chocolate.

This is one of the best store-bought chocolate ice creams because it has some complexity that you won’t find in most chocolates.

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ½ cup

Servings per container: 4

Calories: 240

13. Favorite Day Chocolate Ice Cream

Favorite Day is Target’s private label store brand. Their ice cream is pretty good, and the chocolate flavor, in particular, is an all-around great pick.

This chocolate ice cream contains sweet cream buttermilk, which adds a tiny whisper of tang to balance out the richness of the chocolate flavor.

There’s a fair amount of chocolate flavor here, and it’s definitely one of the sweeter ice creams on our list.

Texture-wise, Favorite Day Chocolate Ice Cream is smooth, soft, and creamy.

This one will not blow your mind or anything, but it’s a solid option that’s also easy on the wallet.

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ⅔ cup

Servings per container: 9

Calories: 180

12. Trader Joe’s Ultra Chocolate Ice Cream

This pick is rich and intensely chocolatey, making it perfect for true chocoholics.

Some chocolate ice creams can be superficial, focusing more on the sugar aspect than chocolate’s rich, bitter notes.

Trader Joe’s flips the script by churning out fudgy, dark chocolate that has just the right dash of sweetness.

I’ve heard some people complain that it lacks the smoothness and creaminess that ice creams should have, but I’ve never found it too icy or thin.

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ⅔ cup

Servings per container: 6

Calories: 330

11. Private Selection Chocolate Ganache Ice Cream

Private Selection is Kroger’s in-store brand, but this ice cream easily competes with big-name brands like Ben & Jerry’s.

Their chocolate ganache flavor can best be described in one word – decadent!

It’s smooth and creamy, and the milk chocolate flavor is front and center.

It’s one of the denser ice creams I’ve tried, which is probably why it’s called “chocolate ganache” instead of just “chocolate.”

If you love an intense, creamy, rich chocolate ice cream flavor, this one’s worth checking out.

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ⅔ cup

Servings per container: 9

Calories: 300

10. Tillamook Udderly Chocolate Ice Cream

Tillamook’s Udderly Chocolate Ice Cream takes a classic flavor and gives it a remix.

It’s a mix of milk chocolate and white chocolate ice cream, studded with bits of creamy chocolate throughout.

White chocolate has more of a buttery, sweet flavor than regular chocolate and has a velvety, rich mouthfeel.

That means this pint will taste like your typical chocolate but with a bit of an elevated taste.

Plus, the bits of chocolate add a little surprise crunch to an otherwise perfectly creamy bite.

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ⅔ cup

Servings per container: 9

Calories: 230

9. Breyers Chocolate Ice Cream

Breyers makes some of the best chocolate ice creams sold at supermarkets, and a big reason for that is their use of real cocoa.

You’ll not get any artificial or overly sweet-tasting chocolate here.

My family would always pick up this brand when we were in the mood for chocolate ice cream, so it has that nostalgia factor for me.

The chocolate flavor here is delicious and strong, and the ingredient list is fairly short, with milk, cream, sugar, Dutch cocoa, whey, and vegetable gum.

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ⅔ cup

Servings per container: 9

Calories: 180

8. Turkey Hill Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream

Turkey Hill’s take on chocolate ice cream uses Dutch cocoa.

The difference between Dutch cocoa and regular cocoa powder is that Dutch cocoa is processed to reduce the acidity of the cocoa.

So, if you love chocolate but don’t want any of the bitter notes that sometimes come with it, Turkey Hill is a great place to start.

Despite its natural taste, this ice cream has a few not-so-natural ingredients, like corn syrup and binders, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from taste alone.

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ⅔ cup

Servings per container: 9

Calories: 190

7. 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Chocolate Ice Cream

Even though it’s the only ice cream on the list advertised as organic, Whole Foods 365’s Chocolate Ice Cream has a bit of an artificial flavor.

But don’t let that keep you from trying it – the flavor is artificial in a way that reminds me of those pudding cups you’d get as a kid, which I loved.

This ice cream has plenty of vanilla flavor, too – not so much that it overpowers the chocolate, but it contributes to the super sweet, slightly artificial flavor.

I know it sounds like I’m roasting this pint, but it’s actually one of my favorite store-bought chocolate ice creams.

But if you love darker, more bitter chocolate, it’s probably best to skip this one.

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ⅔ cup

Servings per container: 3

Calories: 210

6. Edy’s Classic Chocolate Ice Cream

As a rule of thumb, you can always count on Edy’s to deliver super creamy, flavorful ice cream. Their chocolate ice cream is no exception.

The recipe doesn’t use any artificial colors or flavors; it uses fresh milk and cream, which is evident when you take your first lick.

This is one of the best store-bought chocolate ice creams because of its flavor balance.

It’s made with Dutch cocoa, so it’s definitely on the sweeter side but still has a hint of bitterness to balance the sugar.

I also love the texture here – it’s fluffy and rich and melts in your mouth right away.

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ⅔ cup

Servings per container: 9

Calories: 180

5. Tillamook Chocolate Ice Cream

I usually think the more chunks and flavors in ice cream, the better, so I was surprised when I tried Tillamook’s regular chocolate ice cream.

I liked it even more than the white and milk chocolate mix in their “Udderly” chocolate flavor mentioned above!

This stuff is decadent and incredibly creamy. Tillamook always delivers in the texture department, and I love how thick and rich their chocolate ice cream is.

It’s the type of ice cream you might struggle to eat more than a bowl of – that’s how rich we’re talking!

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ⅔ cup

Servings per container: 9

Calories: 220

4.  Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Ice Cream

In my list of the 15 best vanilla ice creams, Häagen-Dazs took the top spot.

In today’s ranking of the best chocolate ice creams, the brand does pretty well, too.

Häagen-Dazs has always had an elevated fancy taste to me, and their chocolate is no exception.

It’s rich, creamy, and just tastes high quality.

Ingredient-wise, they keep it simple with cream, sugar, cocoa, and egg yolks.

I’m a sucker for fun mix-ins and additions when it comes to ice cream, but Häagen-Dazs proves that you don’t need all the bells and whistles to make a seriously impressive pint. 

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ⅔ cup

Servings per container: 2.5

Calories: 330

3. Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Therapy Ice Cream

Remember how I was just singing the praises of Häagen-Dazs for the beautiful simplicity of their chocolate ice cream? Well, I’m about to contradict everything I just said.

Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Therapy Ice Cream has a lot going on, and that’s part of what makes it one of the best chocolate ice creams out there.

If you’re a chunk lover like me, you’ll understand my devotion to Ben & Jerry’s.

This pint is made with chocolate ice cream and features swirls of chocolate pudding ice cream and chunks of chocolate cookies.

It’s sort of like cookies and cream but with a chocolate base instead of vanilla.

The cookie chunks bring the most satisfying textural element to the ice cream, and I especially love the ripples of super creamy, fudgy pudding.

Creamy, decadent, and therapeutic? Check, check, and check!

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ⅔ cup

Servings per container: 3

Calories: 330

2. Jeni’s Darkest Chocolate Ice Cream

If you think all options on the list so far might be a little too sweet for you (or not quite chocolatey enough), then now is the time to listen up.

Jeni’s Darkest Chocolate Ice Cream was not given its name for nothing. This stuff is super dark, not too sweet, and is the most beautiful homage to an often-overlooked type of chocolate.

On their website, Jeni’s calls this “the chocolate ice cream to ruin all other chocolate ice creams”, and I think that’s a great way to put it.

Once you taste this pint, no other chocolate ice cream will truly taste that chocolatey in comparison.

This ice cream is packed with the most real chocolate possible, still allowing the company to legally call the mixture ice cream.

So, get ready for a rich, bittersweet experience with a dense, truffle-like texture. This one’s for true chocolate lovers only!

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ⅔ cup

Servings per container: 3

Calories: 300

1. Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream

For me, the number one best chocolate ice cream of all time is Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream!

This pint encompasses everything chocolate ice cream should have – some bitter notes with an overall sweet, decadent base, a creamy, thick texture, and chunks of chocolate brownie floating throughout.

This ice cream would be great on its own, but the brownie brings everything to the next level.

They bring that extra blast of chocolate flavor and are delightfully chewy, making for a much more interesting texture.

I love how thick and creamy Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie flavor is, and they truly nail the mix of bitter and sweet in this pint.

Pick up this flavor at the grocery store, and there’s a high chance it’ll be gone within 24 hours because I’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t love it!

Nutrition Info:

Serving Size: ⅔ cup

Servings per container: 3

Calories: 350

Conclusion

Whether you prefer something soft-serve-esque like Blue Bunny or jam-packed with chocolatey flavor like Ben & Jerry’s, there are many chocolate ice creams you can buy at grocery stores.

Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream will always be my first recommendation, but give Jeni’s a try if you’re into more bitter, sophisticated flavors.

At the end of the day, these are all mixes of chocolate, milk, and sugar, so you’ll leave happy no matter what.

Do you agree with my picks of the best chocolate ice creams?