Ben & Jerry's - Cherry Garcia (Non-dairy, almond milk) frozen dessert - Jan. 11, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Ben and Jerry's 
Cherry Garcia (non-dairy, almond milk) frozen dessert
Good - Good +
Weight: 2/3 cup (140 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 230 calories in 2/3 cup serving
Cost: $6.49 (sale) for 1 container
Purchased from: Safeway, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Week

Today's Cherry Garcia Non-dairy frozen dessert was from Ben and Jerry's Homemade, Inc. (Burlington, VT). 

This flavor variation on a dairy ice cream classic --and other recently announced non-dairy frozen dessert flavors--reflect an increased demand for non-dairy (and vegan) offerings. 

Aroma notes for this almond milk based frozen dessert included: cherry, vanilla, almond and subtle dark chocolate.

The melt and mouthfeel was a blend of smooth and creamy with pieces of cherry fruit and both soft, small (thin) fudge flakes and (larger) "crunchy" dark chocolate fudge pieces.

The flavor was similar to the original Cherry Garcia Ice Cream. The fudge flakes that yielded sweet, dark chocolate flavor, and the texture and flavor of the cherries were similar. The touch of vanilla was also there. 

The differences between this non-dairy frozen dessert and the original: it did not have the dairy cream flavor and texture (although it was close), and had a fairly distinct, sweet almond flavor. 

It seemed sweeter (or at least slightly sweeter than expected). (Sugar(s) featured prominently in the ingredients. See below.)

Ingredients: Almond milk (almonds, water), liquid sugar (sugar, water), cherries, sugar, coconut oil, corn syrup, cocoa processed with alkali, pea protein, sunflower lecithin, fruit and vegetable concentrates (color), guar gum, natural flavor (coconut), lemon juice concentrate, carrageenan, soy lecithin, vanilla extract, locust bean gum, citric acid, water. 

Allergen-related information: Contains almond, coconut, and soy.

*Today's non-dairy frozen dessert was a(n almond milk) frozen dessert variation on a classic Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor (Cherry Garcia ice cream). The original Cherry Garcia ice cream was first unveiled in the U.S. on February 15, 1987. And, as I write this in Jan. 2023, it is still described as a long-time, best selling flavor on the company's website.

Ben and Jerry's is a Unilever brand, acquired in 2000.

Dream Pops - Chocolate Lion Pops - Oct. 23, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Dream Pops LLC

Chocolate Lion (frozen pops)

Good ++ 

Weight: 1.42 fl. oz. (42 mL) / 5.68 fl. oz. (168 mL) in total package of 4 pops

Calories: 80 calories in 1 pop

Cost: $ (N/A - bought by a friend; thank you Don!)

Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate, Mushroom and Umami* Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Lion Dream Pops were from Dream Pops LLC (Los Angeles, CA), a company offering a line of frozen, non-dairy, plant-based frozen desserts. These coconut milk-based chocolate frozen pops contained Lion's Mane mushroom powder.

These pops reminded me of the frozen fudge Popsicle (Fudgesicle Fudge Pops) and similar chocolate pops I enjoyed as a child. Both had a smooth, frozen creamy texture, and frozen hot cocoa flavor. 

If I didn't know these dairy-free, gluten-free and soy-free chocolate pops contained mushroom, I might have missed this fact. The mushroom powder had a very faint, mild flavor--barely detectable toward the "finish," as ingredients warmed and melted in the mouth.* The coconut milk also had a very faint flavor. 

Props to Dream Pops for creating these tasty, relatively low sugar (coconut sugar) frozen pops, with a short list of ingredients, and no artificial ingredients, gums or emulsifiers listed.

Ingredients: Coconut milk, organic coconut sugar, cacao powder, lion's mane mushroom powder, chocolate extract, vanilla extract.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Coconut."

*Lion's mane mushrooms have mild sweet earthy flavor, that some liken to seafood (lobster or crab). Most people I know suggest eating it cooked. (In its uncooked form, this almost fluffy-looking ivory-colored fungus looks a little like a lion's mane.)

Yasso - Coffee Chocolate Chip Frozen Greek Yogurt (bars) - July 14, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Yasso, Inc. 
Coffee Chocolate Chip - Frozen Greek Yogurt (bars)
Good ++
Weight: 3.5 fl. oz. (103 mL) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL) in total package of 4 bars
Calories: 100 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $5.50 (2 for $11.00) for 1 package/box of 4 bars
Purchased from: Safeway, Mountain View, CA

Yasso, Inc.
Coffee Poppables - Naturally Flavored Frozen Greek Yogurt
Good ++
Weight: .68 fl. oz. (20 mL) / 4.08 fl. oz. (120 mL) in total package of 6
Calories: 50 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $5.50 (2 for $11.00) for 1 package of 6 pieces
Purchased from: Safeway, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week, and Happy Bastille Day* to all who celebrate this holiday. Summer weather has prompted a series of items this week from the frozen/ice cream sections of local stores.

Today's Coffee Chocolate Chip Naturally Flavored Frozen Greek Yogurt (bars) and Coffee Poppables were manufactured for Yasso, Inc. (Boulder, CO). The company produces a line of frozen snacks including bars (plain and chocolate covered), ice cream-style sandwiches and poppables.

Coffee Chocolate Chip bar

The frozen coffee bar had a light coffee/mocha scent, an easy melt and creamy texture. An authentic coffee flavor lingered into the finish. The generous smattering of small chocolate chips had just the right melt and accessible chocolate flavor. (The chips were neither too hard or waxy, nor too soft). 

Coffee Poppable

The second yogurt treat--a dome-shaped, frozen Coffee "Poppable"--had more textural contrast than the Coffee bar. It had a thin, softly crunchy outer dark chocolate shell (with just the right texture), a creamy coffee frozen yogurt interior, and some crispy quinoa bits. 

At 50 calories a pop, these were a relative caloric bargain.

Both these Yasso coffee + chocolate greek yogurt treats ("ice cream upgraded") were creamy, appealing and sweet, without being too sugary. 

Coffee Chocolate Chip (bar) Ingredients: Nonfat milk, greek yogurt (nonfat milk, ultrafiltered nonfat milk, cultures), sugar, chocolate flavored chip (powdered sugar (sugar, cornstarch), coconut oil, cocoa processed with alkali, cocoa, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), milk protein concentrate, maltodextrin, cream, coffee extract, locust bean gum, guar gum, natural flavor.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk and soy." "Processed in a facility that uses tree nuts, eggs, peanuts and wheat."

Coffee Poppables Ingredients: Nonfat milk, dark chocolate flavored coating (coconut oil, sugar, cocoa powder processed with alkali, chocolate liquor, soybean oil, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), sugar, greek yogurt (nonfat milk, ultrafiltered nonfat milk, cultures), cream, milk protein concentrate, crisp quinoa, maltodextrin, coffee extract, locust bean gum, guar gum, natural flavor.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk and soy." "Processed in a facility that uses tree nuts, eggs, peanuts, and wheat."

*Bastille Day, also known as French National Day (La Fete Nacional), is a holiday celebrated in France and many of its territories, to commemorate the storming of the Bastille (prison) on July 14, 1789. This event is often cited as a turning point in the French Revolution. Similar to the 4th of July (Independence Day) in the U.S., this public holiday is often celebrated with fireworks in the evening.

Square Organics Inc. - Chocolate Coated Coconut Organic Protein Bar + 4th of July Sundae - July 4, 2020

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Square Organics Inc.
Chocolate Coated Coconut Organic Protein Bar
Good
Weight: 1.69 oz. (48 g.) / 20.3 oz. (576 g.) in total box of 12 bars
Calories: 230 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $7.99 for 1 box of 12 bars
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

So Delicious
Chocolate (Coconut) Frozen Dessert (No Sugar Added)
(with blueberries, red plum sauce, white coconut topping)
Good
Weight: 1/2 cup (85 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week. Today we celebrate the 4th of July Independence Day holiday in the U.S. I enjoyed two coconut and chocolate items. One was a red, white and blue sundae in honor of today's holiday.

Chocolate Covered Coconut Organic Protein Bar
The first of today's chocolate items was the Chocolate Coated Coconut Organic Protein Bar from Square Organics Inc. (Oakland, CA).

This individually-wrapped, chocolate covered protein bar was semi-sweet with oat-y and coconut palm sugar (think slightly caramelized, brown sugar) flavors. (It also contained other forms of coconut.) The slim, filled bar had a soft chew and was a relatively satisfying snack.

"So Delicious" Chocolate Coconutmilk Sundae - Happy 4th
Today's holiday sundae was made with So Delicious* Chocolate Coconutmilk Frozen Dessert (No Sugar Added). I topped this dairy free dessert with organic blueberries, homemade red plum sauce and (white) coconut cream.

The underlying non-dairy (also certified gluten-free and vegan, and Non-GMO Project Verified) chocolate frozen dessert was fairly creamy due to its coconut milk base.

This no sugar added dessert was sweetened with monk fruit and erythritol, and it wasn't too sweet. Nor did it taste like it was artificially sweetened (Thank you on both counts.)

Alkalized cocoa made the chocolate flavor less exciting (less acidic/strong); but this is not unusual with ice cream/frozen dessert and hot cocoa market offerings. Some prefer smoother, more predictable cocoa flavor.

*So Delicious Dairy Free (founded in Oregon in the 1980s) was acquired by The WhiteWave Foods Company (Denver, CO) in 2014. And in 2017, Danone S.A. (Paris, France) became the parent company of WhiteWave Foods.

**The company also offers versions of this dessert with sugar, which I have featured on Chocolate Banquet in past years.

Ben and Jerry's - Chunky Monkey Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert - Sept. 24, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ben and Jerry's
Chunky Monkey Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
Good +
Weight: 1/2 cup (102 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 270 calories in 1 (1/2 cup) serving
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Banana Theme Week.

Happy first day of autumn chocolate-loving friends! The shorter days are not enough to keep us away from chilly, frozen chocolate desserts. Today temperatures were in the mid-90s (F) in Northern California.

Today's Chunky Monkey Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert was from Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream (South Burlington, Vermont).*

This non-dairy (almond milk) version of the company's original Chunky Monkey, a long-time Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor, was better than expected. Mid-afternoon heat sizzled, and we found ourselves enjoying a second helping to cool down. This smooth, cold, rich and relatively creamy frozen dessert had authentic banana, fudge chunk and fresh banana flavors.

*Ben and Jerry's, now known as Ben and Jerry's Homemade Holdings Inc., began selling ice creams in 1978 in Burlington, VT. In 2000, the company was sold to British-Dutch conglomerate Unilever, and presently operates as a fully owned subsidiary of Unilever.

Enlightened - Cold Brew Coffee Chip ice cream bars - May 24, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Beyond Better Foods, LLC
Enlightened Cold Brew Coffee Chip bars
Good
Weight: 3.75 fl. oz. (110 mL) (70 g.) in 1 bar / 15 fl. oz. (440 mL) in box of 4 bars
Calories: 90 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.79 for 1 box of 4 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate, Coffee and Vanilla Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

Today's Enlightened Cold Brew Coffee Chip frozen bars were manufactured for Beyond Better Foods LLC (Bronx, NY). Small espresso chips with a hint of chocolate were embedded in a smooth coffee ice cream base.

This cool, frozen bar had a mild coffee-mocha flavor without a lot of chocolate to it. (In fact, the second entry for today was a 70% cacao chocolate bar with rose and vanilla (see post that follows this one). And this second bean-to-bar chocolate entry supplies the chocolate and vanilla flavors that are less present with this ice cream bar while providing a segue into a chocolate and flowers theme week.)

The Quest for a Lighter, Better Ice Cream
The Enlightened Cold Brew Coffee ice cream bar exemplified the perennial quest of suppliers to come up with good tasting, yet somehow healthier//better ice cream. In fact the tagline for today's bars read: "The Good-For-You Ice Cream."

Recent iterations of light ice cream often have more protein, fiber and less sugar. A step in the right direction (or back to basics) one might conclude—even if the ingredients* list is quite long.

One of today's bars contained 7 grams of protein and only 5 grams of sugar (plus erythritol and monkfruit extract). And, if one is counting calories, this bar contained only 90 calories in 1 bar.

*Ingredients: Skim milk, milk protein isolate, erythritol (natural sweetener), non-GMO soluble corn fiber, coffee, cream, cane sugar. Contained 2 percent or less of vegetable glycerin, dutched cocoa, coconut oil, carob gum, guar gum, mono and diglycerides, monk fruit extract, natural flavor, ghee, corn starch, soy lecithin

Scandal-less Mocha Chip - May 20, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lucerne Foods, Inc.
Open Nature Scandal-less Chocolate Mocha Chip Light Ice Cream
Good
Weight: 1/4 container (65.25 g.) (118.25 mL) / 1 Pint (473 mL) total container
Calories: 85 calories in 1/4 container
Cost: $3.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate, Coffee and Vanilla Theme Week.

Today's Open Nature Scandal-less Chocolate Mocha Chip Light Ice Cream was distributed by Lucerne Foods, Inc. (Pleasanton, CA).

A lot of people have created light ice creams, hoping to deliver the rich, creamy essence of ice cream, without all the fat and sugar. And the resulting products have mostly improved over time.

Today's "Scandal-less" ice cream had relatively creamy texture and light chocolate mocha flavor with a touch of authentic coffee taste, and tasted naturally sweet (erythritol) without an artificial sweetness.

The "only 340 calories in 1 pint" claim might encourage someone to have more than one serving, which may defeat the purpose. We still prefer a smaller portion of ice cream with the shortest ingredient list possible; but, people do enjoy having options like this.

Sorbabes - Coffee Almond Frozen Dessert - Sept. 30, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sorbabes Gourmet Sorbet
Coffee Almond Frozen Dessert with Espresso Bark
Good
Weight: 5 fl. oz. (147 mL) total container
Calories: 160 calories in 1 container
Cost: $0.50 for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Ice Cream Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week.

Sorbet is not ice cream; but this offering was a frozen dessert, and it served as a transitional item into Today's Coffee Almond Sorbet with Espresso Bark and other natural flavors was from Sorbabes Gourmet Sorbet (Le Mars, IA).

This frozen dessert was rich, sweet and refreshing, and was made with no soy or gluten; and it was labeled Non-GMO.

So Delicious - Cashew "Milk" Double Chocolate Delight non-dairy frozen dessert (bars) - Sept. 29, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

So Delicious Dairy Free
Cashew "Milk" Double Chocolate Delight non-dairy frozen dessert
Good
Weight: 2.3 fl. oz. (68 mL) / 9.2 fl. oz. (272 mL) in total box/package of 4 bars
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.99 for 1 box/package of 4 bars
Purchased from: Sprout's Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Ice Cream Theme Week.

While not "ice cream," today's Cashew "Milk" Non-Dairy Double Chocolate Delight frozen dessert (bars) from So Delicious Dairy Free (Eugene, OR) had much of the same creamy texture of a conventional ice cream bar.

These frozen bars had a rich, chocolate coating and had a slight processed nut flavor.

*The company has been dedicated to making dairy-free offerings for 30 years. They also offer coconut, almond and soy "milk" products.

Enlightened - Frozen Hot Cocoa Ice Cream - Sept. 23, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Produced for Beyond Better Foods, Inc.
Enlightened - Frozen Hot Cocoa Ice cream
Weight: 1/2 cup (73 g.) / 1 Pint (473 g.) in total container
Calories: 90 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $2.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Ice Cream Theme Week.

Today's Enlightened Frozen Hot Cocoa ice cream was produced for Beyond Better Foods, Inc. (Bronx, NY).

What made it different? It was lower in calories and carbs (lower sugar) and higher in protein than most other popular frozen dessert treats.

In keeping with the hot cocoa concept, this relatively light and naturally sweet-tasting, chocolate ice cream was larded (sugared?) with a bit of white marshmallow ripple.

Chloe's - Chocolate Soft Serve Fruit Pops - April 8, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Chloe's Soft Serve Fruit Co.
Chocolate Soft Serve Fruit Pops
Good
Weight: 2.5 fl. oz. (74 mL) / 10 fl. oz. (296 mL) in total box of 4 pops
Calories: 60 calories in 1 pop
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 box of 4 pops
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Milpitas, CA

Surprise. This is a second, bonus chocolate entry for today (April 8, 2018).

Occasionally, there are too many chocolate items to fit in one day; or a planned chocolate may not have turn out exactly as planned. Either way, sampling and featuring another chocolate is the solution.

This evening's Chloe's Soft Fruit Pops (New York, NY) were made with just a few ingredients: fruit (bananas), cocoa and organic cane sugar. The Chocolate pop had an authentic cocoa flavor, and was smoother than one would expect given the lack (hurray) of vegetable gums or dairy.

These Chloe's pops were a great way to enjoy chocolate on a warm day—at only 60 calories per pop.

And, joining the Chocolate flavor, were two more Chloe's flavors: Strawberry and Tangerine (with orange). The fruit flavors were light, authentically flavored and delicious.

These Soft Serve Fruit Pops also served as a bridge between Day #7 of Chocolate and Strawberry Theme Week and Day #1 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week. And they provided a refreshing end-of-day snack after a hike in the hills.

Casper's Ice Cream - Jolly Llama Mint Chocolate Chip Coconut Cream Pops - July 5, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Casper's Ice Cream
Jolly Llama
Mint Chocolate Chip - Coconut Cream Pops
Good - Good +
Weight: 3 fl. oz. (68 g.) / 12 fl. oz. (350 mL) in total box of 4
Calories: 160 calories in 1 pop
Cost: $missing price information for 1 box of 4 squeeze-up pops
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week.

The refreshing taste of mint never fails to disappoint on a hot summer day. Today's (cleverly named) Jolly Llama Mint Chocolate Chip Coconut Cream Pop from Casper's Ice Cream (Richmond, UT) was a satisfying, gluten and dairy free, Non GMO alternative to a traditional ice cream dessert.

Each creamy mint chocolate chip pop came in its own "push-up" tube wrapper that worked well and prevented drips and/or spills.

New Barn - Banana Chocolate Chip AlmondCreme - April 29, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

New Barn
Banana Chocolate Chip AlmondCreme
Good +
Weight: 1/4 cup (59 g.) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL) in total container
Calories: 80 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $missing information for 1 container
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Banana Theme Week.

A few years ago, New Barn (Healdsburg, CA) introduced organic "Almondmilk," a non-dairy almond-based beverage, without all the flavorings, preservatives and carrageenan found in most other almond "milks."

Sounds good. Most people where I live enjoy food items with a shorter, healthier ingredients list. But, did they have offerings with chocolate?

The company followed that up by introducing a line of AlmondCreme frozen desserts. This non-dairy alternative to ice cream takes their Almondmilk story one step further.

They took their Almondmilk and added organic sugar and egg. And, to today's Banana Chocolate Chip flavor, they also added organic banana and chocolate chips. (They also have a chocolate flavor made with TCHO chocolate.)

Today's frozen dessert had subtle natural banana flavor with tiny hints of chocolate. Garnish with a few nuts, and bon appetit.

Or, use this AlmondCreme as a basis for cold smoothie drinks or shakes. One can amp up the creaminess and fruit flavor by throwing a scoop of this AlmondCreme in the blender with a real banana or two and a few nuts and cocoa nibs.

Julie's Organic Ice Cream - More Chocolate - Dec. 6, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Julie's Organic Ice Cream
More Chocolate (Limited Batch)
Good
Weight: 1/2 cup serving (96 g.) / 1.5 quarts total container
Calories: 230 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $3.99 (estimate) for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Julie's Organic Ice Cream has produced both gluten-free and non-dairy frozen dessert offerings. (I enjoyed her gluten-free ice cream sandwiches in previous posts.)

Today's (limited batch) non-dairy "More Chocolate" Coconut Milk frozen dessert was made for those who eat dairy-free; and it had the creaminess of coconut milk and the slightly tart, bittersweetness flavor of chocolate.

Julie's Organic Ice Cream products are made by Oregon Ice Cream (Eugene, OR).