Jeni’s ice cream is beloved for its unconventional flavors and vibrant packaging alike. When our staff got an opportunity to taste the Jeni’s Splendid Holiday Collection, they jumped at the chance. The set includes five pints of cookie- and nostalgia-inspired varieties, meaning there’s an option for everyone on your list whether they’re into gingerbread, citrus or eggnog. Read on for a breakdown of every flavor (including a bonus winter blend), plus honest feedback from three PureWow editors.
Jeni’s New Splendid Holiday Ice Cream Collection, Reviewed by 3 PureWow Editors
A cookie swap—in ice cream form
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Published Dec 3, 2024
Jeni’s Ice Creams/Abby Hepworth
This clean, nutty pick boasts pure, roasted pistachio cream and hints of almond and honey. Its nougat-, meringue-like texture drives its namesake inspiration home. “I don’t like pistachio but was pleasantly surprised by how delicious this was,” PureWow beauty and cultures editor Chelsea Candelario admits. “I took a pint home to try it again (and again). I love macarons, and it tasted just like a bite of my favorite French dessert.”
Chocolate doesn’t have dibs on the crinkle cookie, and this citrusy star proves it. Lemon and cream cheese unite for an over-the-top, buttery play on the iconic dessert. It’s aromatic, refreshing and easy on the eyes. “The Lemon Crinkle was by far my favorite flavor,” PureWow executive managing editor Catrina Yohay says. “It had the bite and vibrancy of a citrus sorbet but with the texture and creaminess of a rich, decadent ice cream. I also loved the sweet cream swirl, which added a layer of buttery goodness to the already silky-smooth feel. If you’re a lemon cookie fan, it’s an absolute slam dunk.”
Brown sugar, allspice, ginger—the gang’s all here, and this one might taste the most Christmas-y of them all. The molasses base is fragrant and deeply rich, while white icing curbs the intensity of the spices with a much-welcome dose of sweetness. “My favorite was the Iced Molasses Gingerbread,” Candelario says. “The nice blend of spiced molasses and gingerbread was so sweet and creamy. Add the white icing swirl, and I couldn’t stop eating it.”
4. Boozy Eggnog
There’s no limit to what spirit you can add to a glass of nog, but I’m partial to whiskey. Luckily, this salted custard ice cream is spiked with Uncle Nearest’s small-batch whiskey and infused with Madagascar bourbon vanilla extract for good measure. “The Boozy Eggnog was definitely boozy, but that whiskey kick balanced the deliciously smooth egg custard,” PureWow editor Abby Hepworth says.
How cute is this swirly, pink-and-white pick, dappled with flecks of white chocolate? Its flavor conjures memories of peppermint candies, sugar cookies and sweet icing, and it shines even brighter, thanks to a touch of sea salt. “I was obsessed with the White Chocolate Peppermint!” raves Hepworth. “The flavor was so, so good, and I loved the subtle crunch of the white chocolate specks. I’ve always been a mint chip fan, and this was definitely one of the best I’ve ever tried.”
Our team also got to taste a new winter flavor that’s modeled after seven-layer bars, an iconic treat loaded with chocolate, coconut and caramel. It starts with salted brown sugar cream, which is amped up with bittersweet fudge, coconut purée and oatmeal cookie crumble. “Seven-layer bars are some of my favorite cookies, and this ice cream gave me a nearly identical culinary experience,” Hepworth claims. “The coconut ice cream was a dream, and I loved that the chocolate bits melted in my mouth.”
“With its fudgy chocolate sauce, gooey caramel and nutty coconut, it reminded me of a smooth, creamy Samoa Girl Scout Cookie, only better,” Yohay adds.
