Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Haagen-Dazs - Coffee Almond Toffee Crunch Ice Cream bar + Double Belgian Chocolate Chip and Coffee Ice Creams - July 19, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Haagen-Dazs


1.) Coffee Almond Toffee Crunch ice cream bar 
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 3 fl. oz. (78 g.) / 9 fl. oz. (266 mL) in 1 box of 3 bars
Calories: 270 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.75 (estimate) for 1 box of 3 bars 
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

2.) Double Belgian Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2/3 cup (133 g.) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL.) in total container
Calories: 420 calories in 1 serving 
Cost: $2.50 (sale) for 1 container (2 for $5.00 USD)
Purchased from: Safeway, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #18 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week(s) -- a series that has included a lot of coffee + coffee/mocha ice cream-related items, just in time for summer weather. 

Today's three Haagen-Dazs frozen offerings: 1.) Coffee Almond Toffee Crunch ice cream bar and 2.) Double Belgian Chocolate Chip and 3.) Coffee ice creams were distributed by Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc. (Oakland, CA).

Coffee Almond Toffee Crunch (ice cream bar)

As with many frozen items, today's Haagen-Dazs Coffee Almond Toffee ice cream bar had a subtle aroma (compared to room temperature bars and confections), but with identifiable notes of chocolate, nuts and caramel/toffee.

The texture was a blend of a smooth ice cream interior and a crunchy chocolate outer shell and a thin shards of toffee candy and tiny bits of almond. The ice cream center had a creamy texture with vanilla and faint coffee flavor.

Ingredients: Coffee ice cream: cream, skim milk, sugar, egg yolks, coffee; milk chocolate and vegetable oil coating with almonds and toffee: milk chocolate (sugar, whole milk powder, chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), coconut oil, almonds roasted in vegetable oil (almonds, safflower oil), toffee (corn syrup, sugar, butter (cream, salt), brown sugar, almonds, baking soda, soy lecithin, salt). 

Allergen-related information: Contains: milk, almond, egg and soy ingredients. 

Double Belgian Chocolate Chip + Coffee ice creams

The Haagen-Dazs Belgian chocolate (and Coffee) ice cream flavors were relatively smooth and mild; however, I was pleasantly surprised that the Double Belgian Chocolate ice cream had maintained very faint, diffuse fruit, nut, floral and light earth (authentic cacao) notes. 

Most chocolate ice creams are made using cocoa processed with alkali (a process that neutralizes acidic and/or bitter flavors in cacao. Today's Double Belgian Chocolate ice cream did contain some alkalized cocoa, but also a healthy dose of Belgian dark chocolate.

The chocolate ice cream paired nicely with Haagen-Dazs Coffee ice cream. Both the Double Belgian Chocolate Chip and Coffee flavors had a satisfying and filling, authentic creamy texture, mouthfeel and taste.

Ingredients: Chocolate ice cream: Cream, skim milk, dark chocolate (Belgian chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), sugar, egg yolks, cocoa processed with alkali, vanilla extract. Chocolate chunks with vegetable oil: Belgian chocolate (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, natural flavor), cottonseed oil, coconut oil.

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, egg and soy ingredients. 

Haagen-Dazs - Coffee Chip Ice Cream - July 18, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Haagen-Dazs
Coffee Chip Ice Cream
Good ++
Weight: 14 fl. oz. (414 mL) in 1 container 
Calories: 890 calories in 1 container
Cost: $2.50 (sale) for 1 container (2 for $5.00)

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week(s).

Today's Haagen-Dazs Coffee Chip Ice Cream was distributed by Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc. (Oakland, CA).

This ice cream offered subtle, smooth and creamy coffee flavor and smooth dark chocolate chunks (chips) with true chocolatey (rich cocoa) flavor.

Years ago (and hundreds of chocolates ago), I tasted the "light" version of this ice cream. I have to admit, I really liked the full fat version (i.e. number one ingredients was cream, and this also contained egg yolks and butter oil). 

Ingredients: Cream, milk, sugar, powdered sugar (sugar, corn starch), egg yolks, coconut oil, coffee, cocoa processed with alkali, butter oil, soy lecithin, natural flavor, milk.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, egg, and soy ingredients."

Revolution Gelato - Mocha Madness Plant-based Mini Gelato Pie - July 17, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Revolution Gelato
Mocha Madness
Good +
Weight: 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in 1 mini pie
Calories: 260 calories in 1 mini pie
Cost: $2.59 for 1 pie
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

Today's Mocha Madness Plant-based Mini Gelato Pie was made for Revolution Gelato (Atlanta, GA). 

This frozen mocha pie had a subtle aroma, and an initial flavor that had a slightly coconutty, wheat-y/starchy, with plant-based taste and texture.* 

This Mocha pie also tasted lower in sugar--normally something I like. Although it made me realize that sugar (and cream/milk) are what I'm expecting when I eat gelato or ice cream desserts (even though I'm always trying to find one with less sugar). This was a helpful reality check.

The thick chocolate cookie-like pie "pastry" crust, was filled with non-dairy coffee gelato, and topped with a crispy frozen dark chocolate layer on top. 

I liked the concept (very nice to have options like this) and the complexity from the layered flavors; however, these flavors tasted plant-based and natural but didn't always feel totally integrated.

*Warning: This was not gluten free. One of the reasons why this pie might have had an odd taste: the pie crust contained wheat (and barley and corn) flours and subtle nut (cashews). Occasionally I fail to read labels correctly, and buy something with wheat/gluten. Even less frequently, I eat something before I realize it's not gluten-free. This was one of those times.

Ingredients: Gelato*: water, organic tapioca syrup, organic cold brew coffee (water, organic coffee), organic cane sugar, organic coconut oil, organic cashews, organic gum arabic, organic coffee, organic guar gum, sea salt, crust: flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), palm oil, sugar, corn flour, cocoa (processed with alkali), water, salt, xanthan gum, topping: organic chocolate (organic cocoa mass, organic sugar, organic cocoa butter), organic coconut oil.

Allergen-related information: Contains: wheat, cashew, coconut. "Made in a facility that also processes dairy, eggs, peanuts, and soy" (Keep frozen)


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