Ice cream may seem like a distant dream if you’re on keto. Between all the added sugar and milk, you’d eat up your daily carbs in just a few spoons. But what if we told you there’s a way to savor all your favorite flavors, from butter pecan to birthday cake, without breaking your diet? Say hej (or hello) to Nick’s Ice Cream, a purveyor of Swedish-style scoops that are creamy and delicious—minus the added sugar and calories.
Nick’s Swedish-Style Light Ice Cream Has a Flavor for Vegans, Keto Dieters and Everyone In Between
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Published Apr 13, 2021
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Nick's Ice Cream
- Value: 15/20
- Functionality: 20/20
- Quality: 19/20
- Aesthetics: 19/20
- Taste*: 19/20
TOTAL: 92/100
It all started in 2014 when Niclas “Nick” Luthman was diagnosed pre-diabetic. As he adjusted to a low-carb, anti-inflammatory diet, he realized something was missing: his favorite snack. A mechanical engineer, Nick started experimenting with ingredients and flavors to nail a no-compromise, better-for-you ice cream that hit the market in 2016.
Each pint is sweetened with a mix of plant-based sweeteners like stevia, corn fiber, birch sugar, allulose and erythritol. These alternatives keep the net carbs to a minimum (4 to 7 per serving, to be exact), so keto dessert lovers can enjoy. One serving, depending on the flavor, is about 120 calories give or take, but if you’re a whole-pint-in-one-sitting kind of person, that’s cool too: Most contain about 220 calories each depending on the flavor, which is about as much as one single scoop of full-fat ice cream.
Nick’s ice creams are also made with skim milk, so how the heck does he get them so creamy, you ask? A plant-based fat called EPG, which gives you the luxurious mouthfeel you crave without leaning on calorie-dense dairy fats. Most of Nick’s flavors are also free of wheat, and there’s a line of drool-worthy vegan ice creams to explore too, which are made with Perfect Day’s animal-free dairy protein. It’s replicated from whey and casein (aka the protein in cow’s milk) through fermentation instead of sourced from the animal itself. Most importantly, Nick’s comes in 16 flavors both classic and unique: think options like Swedish Vanilj, Mint Chokladchip, Cherry Choka-Fläka and Swedish Cookie Dough.
Nick’s is available at major grocers like ACME, Market Basket, Shoprite, Stop & Shop and Safeway, as well as online. You can track down a pint at a store near you, but if we were you, we’d subscribe to a get a monthly six-pint shipment delivered on dry ice straight to your door. You’ll save a pretty penny on shipping (without a subscription, the price comes out to about $12 a pint). Not ready for the commitment? Place a one-time order for a variety pack of Nick’s most popular flavors.
Speaking of which, read on to learn about our three favorites.
Nick’s Ice Cream/Background: Katsumi Murouchi/Getty Images
1. Strawbär Swirl
We seriously would have no clue that it wasn’t full-fat ice cream. This mix of smooth vanilla ice cream and ribbons of strawberry tastes just like the O.G. we know and love. It’s fruity, sweet and has a seriously decadent texture. Our one bone to pick: The image on the website makes it look like there’s a much thicker strawberry swirl than there is…but it tastes so damn good that we’ll let it slide. (P.S., if you love fruity ice cream, the Swedish Lemon Bar is not to be missed either.)
Taste: 20/20
Nick’s Ice Cream/Background: Katsumi Murouchi/Getty Images
2. Birthdäg Cake
Sprinkles make everything better, and this cake batter ice cream is no exception. We were thoroughly impressed by how true to full-fat, full-sugar birthday cake ice cream this healthier alternative is. It’s beyond silky, has a nice textural element—thanks to the crunchy sprinkles—and smells just like a mixing bowl of batter begging to be baked.
Taste: 19/20
Nick’s Ice Cream/Background: Katsumi Murouchi/Getty Images
3. Peanöt Butter Cup
Brace yourself for the most decadent of the bunch. It’s the highest in calories of all Nick’s flavors, but boy is it worth it. At 360 calories per pint (for context, Ben and Jerry’s Peanut Butter Cup ice cream, while obviously delicious, packs a whopping 1,400 calories per pint), this peanut butter ice cream dotted with tiny PB cups tastes—shockingly—just like you’d hope. The peanut butter cups are especially tasty, since they offer a punch of chocolatey goodness with just the right amount of salt.
Taste: 19/20
