Americans are united in their love for ice cream, but divided over their favorite flavors (2024)

Love for the frozen treat cuts across generations and the country, but its most adoring fans are more likely to be young teenagers and Northeasterners, according to the survey, which found 56% of 13- to 17-year-olds say ice cream is their favorite dessert compared to 38% to 39% of millennials and adults older than 35 years. In addition, it found 49% of Northeasterners say ice cream is their favorite dessert, compared to only 37% of people on the West Coast.

While Americans are united in liking ice cream, they are highly divided on what is the best flavor – which creates marketing opportunities for manufacturers.

Chocolate eked out the top spot with 16% of consumers saying it was their favorite flavor ice cream, followed closely by cookies and cream, which won 13% of American’s hearts, according to the survey. Vanilla, which came in at 12%, took third place, followed by cookie dough and mint chocolate chip, which both captured 11%.

The highly fractured flavor preferences of Americans give manufacturers plenty of wiggle room for introducing new flavors as well as riffs on old favorites.

For example, Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Cores, a modern take on cookies and cream, was the “best new ice cream innovation for trial and repeat purchase in 2015,”​ according to the Unilever subsidiary. The three flavors – Boom Chocolatta!; Cookie, Peanut Buttah; and Spectacular Speculoos (a cinnamon spice cookie flavor) – include a “crunchy, swirly inclusion of spoonable cookies right down the center of each pint,”​ the company said.

Other players also are making their mark with sophisticated twists on classic flavors. Steve’s, which makes small batch ice cream with premium ingredients, offers Mexican Chili Chocolate instead of regular chocolate, Bourbon Vanilla and Mint Cacao Chip.

There is plenty room to deviate far from the classics though, as the founders of Coolhaus gourmet ice cream discovered when customers flocked to its food service store for boozy ice cream concoctions, such as a coconut ice cream mixed with Campari, Coolhaus CEO Natasha Case told FoodNavigator-USA earlier this summer​. She added that the co*cktail creations are sponsored by alcohol manufacturers, making them a more profitable venture.

Savory flavors’ potential

Savory ice creams are a less explored flavor profile with substantial potential. The Yahoo Food survey found nearly half of Americans either like or love savory ice cream.

Manufacturers that want to explore this avenue, however, should be aware that 39% of the consumers who eat the most ice cream – 13- to 17-year-olds – have never heard of savory ice cream, and therefore likely would not be the best target demographic. A third of adults older than 18 also said they didn’t know about savory ice cream, which could indicate substantial marketing support might be necessary to sell the idea to the masses.

This could change quickly, however, given thatsavory nutrition bars​, yogurt and even butter are gaining traction in the snack segment.

Popular salty-sweet combinations could be a stepping stone to savory. Mintel noted in a recent blog post that salted caramel and salted vanilla flavor combinations for ice cream are among the latest flavor innovations.

In addition, it notes, “in an attempt to attract the more sophisticated palates of some adults, brands are incorporating everything from bitter fruits and vegetables to cheese and alcohol, creating signature flavors.”

Price check

While the sky may be the limit for flavor innovation in ice cream, it’s not for price.

The Yahoo Food survey found 60% of Americans want to spend less than $5 for a pint, with the “sweet spot”​ at $3 to $5 for 48% of Americans. This could pinch the margins for makers of super high-end ice creams made from expensive or hard-to-find ingredients.

For them, their best bet might be to target adults older than 35 years. This is the group that drove the third of Americans who said they would spend more than $5 on a pint.

Not a seasonal treat

As summer comes to an eventual end, ice cream sales likely will not, the Yahoo Food survey suggests. It found more than half of Americans say it’s always ice cream season and there isn’t just one season in which they indulge.

Americans are united in their love for ice cream, but divided over their favorite flavors (2024)

FAQs

Americans are united in their love for ice cream, but divided over their favorite flavors? ›

YouGov asked 1,000 U.S. adults about their favorite ice cream flavor, and many Americans ranked vanilla and chocolate at the top. Closely following America's most popular flavors were strawberry, cookies and cream, and chocolate chip.

What is America's most favorite ice cream flavor? ›

YouGov asked 1,000 U.S. adults about their favorite ice cream flavor, and many Americans ranked vanilla and chocolate at the top. Closely following America's most popular flavors were strawberry, cookies and cream, and chocolate chip.

What percent of Americans like ice cream? ›

Among the findings: While 99% of people like ice cream, more than half of Americans say they do not eat ice cream or limit their consumption due to "health" concerns.

What percentage of Americans don't like ice cream? ›

Only 3% of Americans say they don't like ice cream.

What percentage of Americans like vanilla ice cream? ›

When asked to choose directly between chocolate and vanilla ice cream, the favorability of vanilla ice cream holds strong. By 49% to 43%, Americans choose vanilla over chocolate.

What is Americans favorite ice cream? ›

1. Vanilla. Above all types of ice cream flavors, vanilla is America's favorite for a reason: it's simple and it goes with everything.

What is America's top 5 ice cream flavors? ›

The 21 most popular ice cream flavors in America
  • #9. Caramel. ...
  • #8. Mint chocolate chip. ...
  • #7. Chocolate chip cookie dough. ...
  • #6. Butter pecan. ...
  • #5. Chocolate chip. ...
  • #4. Strawberry. ...
  • #3. Cookies and cream. Cookies and cream ice cream bowl on wooden background. ...
  • #2. Chocolate. Close up scoop of chocolate ice cream.
3 days ago

What is the #1 ice cream in America? ›

YouGov asked 1,000 U.S. adults about their favorite ice cream flavor, and many Americans ranked vanilla and chocolate at the top. Closely following America's most popular flavors were strawberry, cookies and cream, and chocolate chip.

What country loves ice cream the most? ›

New Zealand consumes the most ice cream per capita.

What is the most popular ice cream flavor in the world? ›

What's the most popular ice cream flavor worldwide? We promise we didn't plan this one… it's vanilla! After looking into the top searched ice cream flavors worldwide, we found this classic to be #1 in almost every country.

Who eats the most ice cream in the world? ›

Ice Cream Consumption In New Zealand

New Zealand leads the world in ice cream consumption with a per capita consumption of 28.4 liters per year. The country is renowned for the high standard of its dairy products.

How many Americans enjoy ice cream? ›

The data has been calculated by Statista based on the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS). According to this statistic, 291.09 million Americans consumed ice cream and sherbet in 2020.

Why do humans like ice cream so much? ›

And it's not just because our bodies, and tastebuds, have evolved to crave sugar on the regular. When you break down the chemistry behind ice cream, it's easy to see why: It's been engineered to the perfect combination of elements — sugar, fat, frozen water, and air — that make up the mouthwatering concoction.

What is America's favorite dessert? ›

The Number 1 Most Popular Desserts in America are Chocolate Chip Cookies! What is this? And finally, that brings us to the number one spot on the list of most popular desserts in America, chocolate chip cookies.

Who eats the most ice cream in the US? ›

California eats the most ice cream

If you're picturing soaking up the sun in California right now, you have the right idea. California is the state that likes ice cream the most, according to research from Gravy Analytics compiled by Zippia. Okay, okay, other states love ice cream plenty, too.

What is the most popular flavor in the world? ›

The World's Favorite Flavor

According to Datassential, 81% of consumers love or like vanilla and 94% have tried it.

What is 1 favorite flavor of ice cream? ›

Vanilla is the most popular ice cream flavor in the world so it only makes sense to start this list with vanilla ice cream.

What is the least popular ice cream flavor? ›

Rocky Road, 4% Only four percent of Americans count Rocky Road Ice Cream as their favourite flavor. It is a chocolate-based ice cream with chopped almonds and marshmallow pieces mixed through. The ice cream flavor is often said to have originated in Australia.

Is ice cream the most popular dessert in the world? ›

The most popular dessert is ice cream (90%), followed by Chocolate Chip Cookie (86%).

What are the top 3 ice cream flavors in the world? ›

Most Popular Ice Cream Flavors 2022
  • Chocolate ice cream.
  • Vanilla ice cream.
  • Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream.
  • Cookie Dough ice cream.
  • Buttered Pecan ice cream.
  • Neapolitan ice cream.
  • Banana ice cream.
  • Toffee ice cream.
Jun 8, 2022

What is statistically the best ice cream? ›

Top 5 flavors among ice cream makers and scoop shops:
  • Cookies N' Cream.
  • Vanilla.
  • Chocolate.
  • Mint Chocolate Chip.
  • Strawberry.
Jun 27, 2022

Why is American ice cream different? ›

French ice cream is made with eggs so it's thick and custardy whereas American ice cream (also called Philadelphia-style) is made with sugar, milk and cream.

Can you get a 99 ice cream in America? ›

We finally welcome the 99 to Astoria! Vanilla Soft Serve Ice Cream on a Cone with a Cadbury's Flake.

Why is a 99 ice cream so called? ›

Apparently it is so called because the majority of ice cream merchants in the fifties were Italian. The King of Italy had an elite bodyguard consisting of 99 men. So anything elite was called 99s by Italians. So they called the elite ice cream a 99.

What was the first flavor of ice cream in America? ›

Vanilla. Though he didn't invent ice cream—or even introduce it to America— Jefferson is credited with the first-known ice cream recipe recorded by an American. The flavor? Vanilla.

What country invented ice cream? ›

The earliest evidence of anything approaching ice cream being made was in China in the Tang period (A.D. 618-907). Buffalo, cows' and goats' milk was heated and allowed to ferment. This 'yoghurt' was then mixed with flour for thickening, camphor (yes camphor!) for flavour and 'refrigerated' before being served.

Where is the most ice cream eaten? ›

States That Like Ice Cream The Most Research Summary

The state that likes ice cream the most is California, where there are 4,263 ice cream shops. The state that likes ice cream the least is Minnesota; probably a little chilly there for a cold snack. The average American consumes 20 pounds of ice cream per year.

Which country eats the most ice cream in winter? ›

Which Countries Consume the Most Ice Cream?
  • The top spot: New Zealand! ...
  • Second place: United States! ...
  • Third: Australia The Aussies love ice cream almost as much as their southern neighbors.

Which is the most expensive ice cream in the world? ›

A decadent treat from Japan has just set the world record for most expensive ice cream. Ice cream company Cellato's Byakuya flavor cost a whopping $6,696 for just 4.3 oz.

Who invented ice cream? ›

Antonio Latini (1642–1692), a man working for a Spanish Viceroy in Naples, is credited with being the first person to write down a recipe for sorbetto. He is also responsible for creating a milk-based sorbet, which most culinary historians consider the first “official” ice cream.

Why is Superman ice cream only in Michigan? ›

Superman ice cream is thought to have originated in Michigan during the Prohibition Era (the 1920s). Without a product to make, Detroit's Stroh's Brewery reportedly blended up the first super scoops.

Which gender eats more ice cream? ›

The population of the US is fairly evenly split between Males and Females; however, Females consume approximately 15% more Ice Cream than Males in all categories.

Who dominates the ice cream industry? ›

Asia Pacific dominated the ice cream market share in 2021 and is expected to grow at 5.63% CAGR over the forecast period.

Which country eat the most meat? ›

The most consumed type of meat worldwide is poultry, followed by beef, and lastly pork. The countries with the highest meat consumption per capita are Argentina, Israel, and Iceland, while India has one of the lowest levels of meat consumption per capita.

Is ice cream the most popular dessert in America? ›

The Most Popular Dessert Overall

It was a close race, but ice cream is the most popular dessert in the US, searched the most on Google in five states total.

How often do Americans eat ice cream? ›

When and how often do consumers eat ice cream? 73% of consumers consume ice cream at least once per week and 2 out of 3 consume ice cream in the evening.

What age eats the most ice cream? ›

'' Americans over age 55 eat more ice cream per capita than any other age group, according to a new study on frozen sweets. The average American eats ice cream at home 41 times per year, but the over-55-year-olds eat it an average of 56 times annually.

Can a diabetic eat ice cream? ›

While there are some extra things to consider, ice cream can be included in a healthy meal pattern even if you have diabetes. It's best to eat ice cream in moderation and to choose an option with lower saturated fat, lower carbs and no or low added sugar.

Is eating ice cream a happiness or pleasure? ›

Ice cream contains protein and fat, both of which our bodies need to help level our moods. On top of that, the amino acids you take in when eating ice cream, such as tryptophan, are known to increase serotonin production. That leaves us feeling calm, satisfied, and well, happy!

Why should we eat less ice cream? ›

Experts suggest eating any foods that contain added sugar and saturated fat, like ice cream, in a moderate and mindful way. In excess, these foods might displace nutritious choices in your diet and increase the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes over time.

What is the most eaten dessert in the world? ›

1) Cream Brulee (FRANCE) -

Back in the 17th century, this dessert was introduced by Francois Massialot, a chef of a kitchen of a Duke of Orlean, who wrote about its recipe in a book. A creamy pastry a thin, crisp caramel layer is what is referred to as cream brulee and which has stolen everyone's heart.

What is America's national dessert? ›

It's gotta be apple pie!

Do Alaskans eat ice cream? ›

It's been claimed that Alaska consumes more ice cream per capita than any other state in the country. This is surprising information to many people, considering it's the northernmost state and famous for snow and winter.

What does French style ice cream use instead of cream? ›

French-style ice cream is custard based. Demonstrated above, this is any ice cream that is made with an egg custard that's cooked and then completely chilled before churning.

Where does 90% of the flavor taste come from? ›

Approximately 80–90% of what we perceive as "taste" is in fact due to our sense of smell (think about how dull food tastes when you have a head cold or a stuffy nose). At the beginning of this experiment you may not be able to tell the specific flavor of the candy beyond a general sensation of sweetness or sourness.

What is the king of flavour? ›

Uncle Roger - MSG - King of Flavor T-Shirt.

What is the number 1 ice cream flavors? ›

Vanilla is the most popular ice cream flavor in the world so it only makes sense to start this list with vanilla ice cream.

What is the 1 ice cream in America? ›

1. Chocolate ice cream. It's not much of a surprise that chocolate ranks as America's number one ice cream flavor.

What is the most Favourite ice cream Flavour in the world? ›

Vanilla is arguably the world's most popular flavour and is derived from mature pods of the orchid Vanilla planifolia.

What is the least popular flavor of ice cream in the US? ›

Rocky Road, 4% Only four percent of Americans count Rocky Road Ice Cream as their favourite flavor. It is a chocolate-based ice cream with chopped almonds and marshmallow pieces mixed through. The ice cream flavor is often said to have originated in Australia.

What is the #1 ice cream in the world? ›

What's the most popular ice cream flavor worldwide? We promise we didn't plan this one… it's vanilla! After looking into the top searched ice cream flavors worldwide, we found this classic to be #1 in almost every country.

What is the rarest ice cream flavor? ›

1. Goat cheese beet swirl ice cream.

What is the most popular ice cream in North America? ›

Stacker analyzed YouGov data and found the most popular ice cream flavors in the U.S. Read on to find America's favorite flavors.
  • #8. Mint chocolate chip. ...
  • #7. Chocolate chip cookie dough. ...
  • #6. Butter pecan. ...
  • #5. Chocolate chip. ...
  • #4. Strawberry. ...
  • #3. Cookies and cream. ...
  • #2. Chocolate. ...
  • #1. Vanilla. Updated 11 hrs ago.
4 days ago

Is vanilla ice cream the most popular? ›

In comparison to other ice cream flavors, vanilla is more popular. The reasons behind this are undoubtedly many, but some common things that make vanilla more popular than other ice cream flavors are listed below. When it comes to recipes and cooking, vanilla is considered the most.

Who likes ice cream the most? ›

New Zealand consumes the most ice cream per capita

Other countries of ice cream lovers include the US, where an impressive 20.8 liters are eaten per capita; and Australia, where each person puts away 18 liters.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Cheryll Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 6315

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Cheryll Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1997-12-23

Address: 4653 O'Kon Hill, Lake Juanstad, AR 65469

Phone: +494124489301

Job: Marketing Representative

Hobby: Reading, Ice skating, Foraging, BASE jumping, Hiking, Skateboarding, Kayaking

Introduction: My name is Cheryll Lueilwitz, I am a sparkling, clean, super, lucky, joyous, outstanding, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.