Depending on the base (traditional ice cream is made with cream and milk, but there are many brands that use nondairy alternatives, like oat, coconut or almond milks, as well as more unexpected ingredients, like beans or avocado oil), low-sugar ice creams can be a gamble. Some are frosty and crystallized in texture, others smooth and silky like the real thing. Another thing to consider is that some use less real sugar than other brands, while some substitute sugar alcohols or sugar-free sweeteners to keep the sugar content low while maintaining an authentic flavor. Whatever is used, low-sugar ice cream should ideally be as creamy, smooth and tasty as possible.
To uncover the best low-sugar ice creams, we scoured the internet (and surveyed our sundae-loving staff) for their favorite brands and varieties. Then, we nabbed a few flavors from more than 15 brands and tasted them. After choosing our favorites from each, we ranked them on five factors:
- Value: Is the low-sugar ice cream worth what it costs given the ingredients and taste?
- Quality: Is the low-sugar ice cream made with authentic ingredients? Is it full of fillers or preservatives?
- Flavor: Is the low-sugar ice cream tasty? Does it taste like the label says it should?
- Texture: Is the low-sugar ice cream creamy, smooth and silky? Are there ice crystals in it?
- Scoopability: Is it easy to scoop? How long do you need to wait for it to soften before you can run an ice cream scoop through it? Does it melt at a rapid pace? For non-scoopable ice creams, like bars and sandwiches, are they soft enough to bite into right away? Do you need to wait for them to thaw before eating?
