Van Leeuwen famously offers totally bonkers ice cream flavors, like pizza, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, and Hidden Valley Ranch.
Now it’s giving us dill pickle. It’s part of its 2023 Walmart fall/winter flavors. I guess because you have pickles at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner? Or because there’s that weird tradition about hanging a pickle on the Christmas tree? Whatever the reason, it’s here, and it’s real.
So…how does it taste?
It tastes like ice cream. And it tastes like pickles. It tastes like pickle ice cream. And it’s not gross!
I mean, I really don’t know how else to describe it other than it tastes like pickles. It’s sweet, like ice cream. It’s not as tart as actual pickles, but the flavor is there. The carton explains, “This tangy yet sweet pickle ice cream is more pickle-ized with a dill pickle swirl.” That swirl tastes more like bread-and-butter pickles to me, but it all melds together in a dill flavor.
I know the concept sounds weird, but as a fan of both pickles and unusual food combinations, I really enjoyed this ice cream. My mom was less keen on the idea, but even she admitted it tasted good.
And strangely, the ice cream gave me a craving for actual pickles. I had to go to the fridge and pull out the jar of pickles before I finished my ice cream. I really wanted the crunchiness and saltiness of the real deal. I mean, the rill dill. (I think my body needed the electrolytes.)
Do you remember that I Love Lucy episode where pregnant Lucy dipped a pickle in her papaya milkshake? I had to do that here. It was OK; the actual pickle just overwhelmed the ice cream. It wasn’t bad, but I don’t feel a need to do it again.
I think Van Leeuwen is the Lady Gaga of ice cream. Early in her career, a meat dress and prosthetic shoulders screamed, “Notice me!” Now that she’s proved herself, that stuff is less important. (One of the best concerts I’ve been to, BTW.)
Similarly, when you strip away the weirdness, Van Leeuwen really is a wonderful ice cream company; I’ve loved their other flavors. And I certainly never paid attention to them until I heard about the mac & cheese flavor.
And speaking of meat, can we next expect hamburger, fried chicken, or turkey ice creams from Van Leeuwen?
Purchased Price: $4.98
Size: 14 fl oz (414 ml)
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup/108 grams) 250 calories, 14 grams of fat, 9 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 70 milligrams of cholesterol, 240 milligrams of sodium, 26 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 24 grams of sugar (including 20 grams of added sugar), and 4 grams of protein.
A fun review. The Gaga comparison is interesting; glad there’s substance to the ice cream instead of just the shock/wacky factor.
VL has been generally disappointing for me. There are 2 flavors I love (honeycomb, peanut butter brownie chip) and the others I’ve tried are meh. I’ll keep trying; maybe I’ll find another winner. But it’s overpriced, only 14oz, and I have access to Ample Hills.
Next? French Dip…French ice cream.
Tried this the same time as the Mac ‘n’ cheese and Kettle corn flavors. The kettle corn was genuinely good, I willingly had seconds. I’m not much of a Mac ‘n’ cheese fan, but the ice cream was not terrible; it was like a mild mascarpone ice cream, only salty instead of sweet. Not one I would buy again, but I will probably finish the pint (slowly).
The Pickle, however? Nothing short of vile.
I like dills, and at first this tasted like a bite of a pickle–which while strange was at least accurate–but quickly flipped to tasting like drinking straight vinegar brine from the pickle jar. I couldn’t even finish the small spoonful I took.
Among my family, the Kettle corn was the only one anyone said anything nice about, but even that, no one (but me) professed to liking.
I would like to buy some of the dill pickle ice cream. There was an ice cream shop in Loveland, Co where I live when I was growing up. They had dill pickle ice cream and i tried it. I just saw it at my local Walmart, but both Walmarts are out and are not going to carry it anymore. Can you tell me where else I can try to find it in my area.