Put That Bubblegum Down
Baskin-Robbins is practically unmatched in its delectable flavors and mouth-watering ice cream cakes. However, not all flavors are made equal (despite what people say), and we’re here to break down some of the best and worst this place has to offer.
1. Cotton Candy
What could be better than cotton candy, right? It turns out the answer is a lot of stuff, and this god-forsaken flavor isn’t among them. Sickly sweet and strangely boring for such a unique flavor, the most exciting thing about this one is the color scheme.
2. Pink Bubblegum
Didn’t your parents tell you not to swallow gum? Well, Baskin-Robbins turned that lesson on its head with another childhood staple that didn’t hit the spot. It, too, is overly sweet, and the rock-hard bubblegum bits throughout make this too much of a lackluster thing.
3. Nutty Coconut
Coconut is good in a lot of things, especially desserts—but ice cream isn’t one of them. Weirdly enough, such a distinctive flavor doesn’t make itself known, and the end result is a muted taste with almonds, pecans, and walnuts.
Mr. Blue MauMau from USA on Wikimedia
4. Mint Chocolate Chip
This pairing’s already polarizing enough, but we’re actually fans of the combo! (After Eight chocolates with their perfect blend of mint and dark chocolate? Forget about it.) What we’re not fans of, however, is this ice cream flavor. Unlike other duos, the ratio is completely off-kilter; there’s way too much mint without enough chocolate to balance it out.
Daniel & Hannah Snipes on Pexels
5. Chocolate Chip
We know what you’re thinking: how can such an innocent staple miss the mark? Unfortunately, this one does. The biggest issue we have is that it’s just a little bland. The vanilla base on its own already lacks any distinct flavor, and those little chocolate pieces don’t do much to salvage it.
6. Chocolate Almond
It’s not that chocolate almond is the worst Baskin-Robbins flavor, it’s more that it doesn’t offer very much. Yes, we have that delicious chocolate base, but the almonds don’t add as much pizzaz as we’d hoped, and the whole thing falls a little short.
7. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup
Reese’s cups and Baskin-Robbins? How could this not be a winning duo? Well, unfortunately, this flavor falls flat. Again, it’s not horrible! But the vanilla base seriously dilutes the signature Reese’s flavor, and the result is just the worst of both worlds.
8. Vanilla
We’ve talked about vanilla a few times already, but we have to mention this plain Jane on her own. She pairs well with some flavors (more on those later), but her bland taste makes this a boring choice or a boring base most days of the week.
9. Old-Fashioned Butter Pecan
People often flock to this flavor, and it’s easy to see why. It's creamy, the buttered nuts add a decent crunch, and the flavor is nice and nostalgic. Though we understand the appeal, we think there are better options out there.
10. Baseball Nut
Baseball season is upon us, and that means more treats in its honor. Enter this odd concoction: vanilla ice cream, raspberries, and cashews. But for us, this flavor combo was a swing and a miss.
Mr. Blue MauMau from USA on Wikimedia
With that out of the way, it’s time we officially dove into the best Baskin-Robbins has to offer.
1. Jamoca Almond Fudge
Jamoca on its own wasn’t that great. But with toasted almonds and gooey ribbons of fudge? There’s nothing better! Every bite is an explosion of balanced flavor, and you can’t ask for anything more from your ice cream.
2. Strawberry Cheesecake
People tend to find strawberry ice cream a little bland, but all bets are off for this flavor. Complete with strawberry sauce ribbons and pieces of actual cheesecake, it’s like Baskin-Robbins somehow stuffed an entire cake into our cup.
3. Gold Medal Ribbon
Gold medal ribbon has been around for years, and we understand the undying appeal. Chocolate, vanilla, and caramel ribbons make this a nostalgic sweet treat we heartily enjoy every summer. It might seem bland, but it’s surprisingly flavorful.
4. Rainbow Sherbet
On the surface, Rainbow Sherbet has a lot going on. So many colors, so many flavors—how do we even focus? Honestly, this is an experience you just have to go for! Sink your spoon into this creamy blend of pineapple, raspberry, and orange for the ultimate summertime snack.
5. Mom’s Makin’ Cookies
It’s a phrase everyone wants to hear, and thanks to Baskin-Robbins, we now have an entire batch. Much like Jamoca Almond Fudge, this option brings a lot to the table: layered crunch, delicious flavors, and even pieces of cookie dough batter. With this one, mom made everything but the kitchen sink.
Food Photographer | Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash
6. Oreo ‘n Cold Brew
We already know how incredible Oreo ice cream is, but Baskin-Robbins took a step further with this creation. Who knew that cold brew-flavored ice cream would pair so well with this iconic cookie? Our favorite part about this is that, unlike other coffee flavors, it’s not bitter.
7. Triple Mango
If you’ve ever indulged in sushi, you’ve undoubtedly tried mango ice cream before. Could we perhaps interest you in kicking it up a notch? The ice cream conglomerate really ramped up the flavor with a choice that somehow captured the wonder of fresh fruit without tasting fake.
8. Chocolate Fudge
Who doesn’t love good chocolate fudge? While the regular stuff is good enough on its own, this flavor is so much richer and thicker. It’s basically your best option for a chocolate explosion.
9. Very Berry Strawberry
Alright, we know strawberry isn’t everyone’s favorite, but we can’t help it! Strawberry is a staple, and the little pieces of real fruit sprinkled throughout give it something extra special. It doesn’t taste fake, it’s not overly sweet, and we reach for it every time.
10. Chocolate
It’s easy to think that all chocolate ice cream is the same, but Baskin-Robbins’ option is a step above. The only reason it’s not higher is that it doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles of other flavors that use it for their base—but that’s no reason to count it out.
