This Map Shows the Most Popular Ice Cream Flavors Across the Country
We all scream for ice cream, but state-by-state, we’re screaming for some very different flavors. In honor of National Ice Cream Day, grocery delivery service Instacart scooped up some statistics on our favorite ice cream flavors by state.
It’s worth mentioning that vanilla accounts for more than a quarter (26.2%) of all ice cream sales in the U.S., so it was left out of the roundup. The Instacart survey measured which non-vanilla flavor in each state is purchased most often, compared to the national average.
What Are America’s Favorite Ice Cream Flavors By State?
Moose Tracks, a vanilla ice cream dotted with peanut butter cups and fudge, was the top flavor in 12 states, more than any other flavor. That’s kind of an amoose-ing statistic!
After that, there was a four-way tie for the second most popular flavor: rocky road ice cream, green tea ice cream, coffee ice cream and birthday cake ice cream.
Look at the map to see if your state’s favorite flavor lines up with your preferences. If not, hey, who wants to go along with the crowd, anyway? Plus, look on the bright side. There might be more of your fave flavor if it’s not super popular where you live.
The Flavors We Didn’t Expect
Three states were all alone in their choice of fave flavor. Delaware picked cherry, Pennsylvania went for mint chip and New Mexico chose chocolate chocolate chip.
Surprisingly, green tea ice cream topped the list in five western states: Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Alaska and Colorado.
Then, over in Florida and Georgia, residents can’t stop buying rum raisin ice cream. This flavor has an intriguing history. The repeal of Prohibition in 1933 meant cooks could now freely add spirits to desserts, and this flavor is based on a Sicilian recipe mixing rum-soaked Malaga raisins into vanilla gelato.
The tropical taste of mango ice cream is a favorite in Hawaii, which makes sense. But mango ice cream also tops the list in the District of Columbia, a place that isn’t quite so tropical.
Shocked by your state’s Instacart favorite? You can also scoop up this list of the most iconic ice-cream flavor in each state.
Unique Ice Cream Flavors to Make at Home
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Cinnamon-Basil Ice Cream
I started experimenting with herbal ice creams when I was teaching classes at our local college. Not only were the ice creams popular with my students, but my family loved them as well! One of our favorites is made with a variety of basil called cinnamon basil; however, unless you grow the variety yourself, it can be rather difficult to find. I decided to try to re-create the flavor, and this delicious basil ice cream recipe is the result! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Enjoy sweets from coast to coast with the best ice cream flavor in every state.
Triple Chocolate Ricotta Ice Cream
You're going to fall in love with this thick, rich chocolate ricotta ice cream. It has a creamy texture that can't be beat. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
Learn how to make professional ice cream at home with tips from our Test Kitchen.
Cream Cheese Ice Cream
This is hands-down the best homemade ice cream I've ever eaten. It tastes like cheesecake with a refreshing hint of lemon.
Use it in one of our cool, creamy ice cream desserts.
Red Curry-Pandan Ice Cream
The curry and coconut flavors are subtle, allowing the flavor of pandan leaves to shine. Pandan is a tropical plant that grows in Southeast Asia with a naturally sweet, bright flavor. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Best Banana Ice Cream
My son-in-law says this is the best banana ice cream he’s ever had. It’s always requested at family gatherings. —Donna Robbins, Skiatook, Oklahoma
Craving vanilla, strawberry or something more familiar? We love these homemade ice cream recipes, too.
Dark Chocolate Ice Cream with Paprika & Agave
Pair this rich and creamy ice cream with a cup of hot or iced coffee. It's mildly sweet with a hint of paprika. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
London Fog Ice Cream
I took one of my favorite coffee shop beverages and turned it into this elegant London fog ice cream. For a star dessert, serve it with lemon sandwich cookies or in a simple glass rimmed with sugar, lavender and lemon zest. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Learn about the most popular ice cream flavor in every decade, too.
Coconut Ice Cream
This coconut ice cream recipe is a refreshing dessert that can cap off a warm summer evening. It has a nice coconut flavor without being too strong. —Tamra Kriedeman, Enderlin, North Dakota
No-Churn Blueberry Graham Cracker Ice Cream
This sweet and creamy no-churn ice cream features a fresh blueberry jam swirl and graham cracker pieces. You can use raspberries instead of the blueberries for a different berry flavor. —Heather King, Frostburg, Maryland
Kulfi
I grew up near Little India in California, and I loved the desserts from Indian sweets shops. One of them sold kulfi, a spiced and nutty frozen custard in cone molds. Here I use a shortcut method to make kulfi quickly and without any special equipment. The whole milk can be replaced with mango pulp for mango kulfi. —Justine Kmiecik, Crestview, Florida
Lavender Peach Gelato
This sophisticated herbal gelato can be served as an appetizer, a palate-pleaser between courses or a dessert that tastes like heaven on a spoon. —Christine Wendland, Browns Mills, New Jersey
Ice Cream Balls
These ice cream balls are a fun and easy dessert to fix—even the kids can help. The cereal adds a crunchy texture to the ice cream and makes an everyday treat something special. —Anne Marie Woodhull, Cedar Springs, Michigan
Grand Marnier Frozen Souffles
This delicious frozen souffle is perfect for summer and will impress just about anyone. It's a great make-ahead dessert! —Andrea Potischman, Menlo Park, California
Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream
What could be better than peanut butter and jelly ice cream? You'll love the sweet-salty combination. Use your favorite flavor of jelly and switch to crunchy peanut butter if you like extra texture. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Blackberry Frozen Yogurt
You could also use boysenberries, raspberries or strawberries for this delicious dessert. — Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah
Vegan Almond Butter Swirl Ice Cream
Warm weather days require ice cream! However, dealing with dairy intolerances can be tricky. This dairy-free recipe is a favorite at our house, especially with kids! —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Pink Peppercorn and Sake Ice Cream
There's plenty of sake flavor in this rich ice cream studded with peppercorns. You'll get an interesting pop of heat with every bite. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Rosemary Citrus Sorbet
This pretty pastel dessert bursts with the fresh flavors of grapefruit, lime and rosemary. —Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah
Blue Cheese Ice Cream with Pomegranate Ripple
Try this sweet-savory ice cream with a glass of Prosecco or other sweet sparkling white wine. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
After sampling this flavor at an ice cream stand, I kept trying to duplicate it until it was just right. This blueberry cheesecake ice cream is a hit! —Melissa Symington, Neche, North Dakota
Refreshing Rhubarb Ice Cream
No matter where my military family is stationed, this ice cream always makes me think of my parents’ backyard rhubarb patch in Rochester, New York. —Rachel Garcia, Honolulu, Hawaii
Pumpkin Ice Cream
This recipe really captures the flavor of fall. It's good with or without the gingersnaps. —Linda Young, Longmont, Colorado
Watermelon Sorbet
Summertime and watermelon go hand in hand. My melon sorbet is fresh, fruity and without the gluten and eggs you get in many other frozen desserts. —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia
Blueberry Ice Cream
The wild blueberries on our property spark recipe ideas. When my daughter and I made this ice cream at a Girl Guide meeting, it was well received. Even today, our 10 children, 19 grandkids and 4 great-grandchildren think it tastes great. —Alma Mosher, Mohannes, New Brunswick
Toasted Hazelnut and Chocolate Ice Cream
The flavors in this ice cream take me back to European vacations I've enjoyed in the past. I am a big hazelnut fan, and who doesn't like chocolate? I've been caught red-handed eating Nutella out of the jar with a spoon! —Laura Majchrzak, Hunt Valley, Maryland
No-Churn Gingerbread Ice Cream
Thanksgiving or Christmas is gingerbread time! And this ice cream says it all. I've found that dark brown sugar works better than light. —Jacqueline, McComas, Paoli, Pennsylvania
Rhubarb Crumble Ice Cream
This rhubarb crumble ice cream combines two of my favorite desserts into one fantastic creation! If you close your eyes, it actually tastes like you're taking a bite of fresh rhubarb crumble with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Throw this into a waffle cone and enjoy a classic summertime treat! —Shannon Dobos, Calgary, Alberta
Chunky Banana Cream Freeze
Everyone loves ice cream, but we all know it doesn't make a great after-school snack. Until this! With its sweet banana-almond flavor and chunky texture, this appealing banana peanut butter "ice cream" is a crowd-pleaser. People who ask me for the recipe can't believe how easy it is to make. —Kristen Bloom, Okinawa, Japan
Buttermilk Peach Ice Cream
My mother's family owned peach orchards in Missouri. I live in Tennessee, a top consumer of buttermilk. This summery ice cream combines my past and present. —Kim Higginbotham, Knoxville, Tennessee
Spiced Persimmon Ice Cream
Developing new flavors of ice cream is a passion of mine and there are very few ingredients that I won't experiment with. This creation was inspired by a great persimmon cookie recipe that I have. —Cleo Gonske, Redding, California
The post This Map Shows the Most Popular Ice Cream Flavors Across the Country appeared first on Taste of Home.
