The Best Trader Joe’s Ice Creams, Selected & Reviewed by Our Editors

This limited-time flavor is certainly worth a try. (Also, from where I sit as a food editor, horchata seems to be having a moment, considering Starbucks released an Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso as the crowning glory of its summer menu and Selena Gomez launched her horchata-inspired custom Oreos just weeks apart this year.) Brown rice flour delivers a surprisingly authentic flavor to the Trader Joe’s ice cream (and the cookie pieces inside) that brought me back to sipping the real stuff in Puerto Vallarta. Plus, it’s well-spiced and not excessively sweet.

You may be familiar with Trader Joe’s Tangerine Cream Bars, but have you tried this richer alternative? Its mango sorbet exterior (made from both Magdalena and Alphonso mangos) is filled to the brim with creamy, dreamy vanilla ice cream. If you were a lover of the discontinued raspberry Creamsicles back in the day (both my hands are up), you’ll love this sweet-tart spin on the O.G.

Think tender, soft, Oreo-like chocolate wafers, teeming with refreshing, silky mint chip ice cream. They remind me of this grasshopper ice cream my mom used to buy when I was a kid; mint chip wasn’t even close to my favorite flavor back then, but studded with chunks of salty, chewy, chocolatey cookies? Sign me up. These are, indeed, very mini, so good luck stopping after just one.

This gem took me right back to late-night walks in Tuscany, when I’d venture out for a heaping cone of gelato to sneak back to my hotel room. Both flavors have a deeply velvety texture, with a consistency that’s like fluffy, somewhat sturdy soft serve, and as a result, this dessert took the top spot in my ranking of new Trader Joe’s products. The fior di latte tasted like pure sweet cream, while the pistachio was earthy, nutty, roasty and just a touch salty, making for a soulmate-caliber match. Get this limited-time number before it’s gone.

Can I fill you in on some ice cream science? Scoops labeled “super premium” contain minimal overrun (aka air whipped into the ice cream via churning), making them incredibly rich, creamy and thick. This caffeinated stunner, made with brewed Colombian coffee and bites of Colombian coffee beans, is one of those. “I like not coffee with milk but milk with coffee, and this ice cream is basically that!” SEO editor Marissa Wu adds.

If you’re new to the world of mochi ice cream, it’s typically a bonbon of sorts, with an ice cream filling and a gummy, rice dough exterior. This one is bold and sophisticated, yet still casual and sweet enough for a satisfying, impromptu treat. “I love the mochi, specifically the blood orange,” PureWow editor Abby Hepworth confesses. “It’s just so refreshing, the perfect blend of tart and sweet! That said, I’ve yet to try a flavor I didn’t like.” (FYI, black sesame, mango, strawberry and ube options are also on the menu.)

Hear us out: A really good vanilla can trump any OTT ice cream out there—and this custardy essential is proof. “This is boring, but I like the plain vanilla!” PureWow executive editor Alexia Dellner says. “It’s easy to scoop, made with real ingredients and comes in a big size.” Don’t knock it ’til you try it, OK?

This Trader Joe’s ice cream may be hard to find depending on where you live and the time of year, but if you see the vegan masterpiece at a store near you, do yourself a favor and snag it. “It’s not too sweet, and I love how tart it is,” PureWow editorial assistant Courtney Mason says. “Besides devouring the whole pint in one go, I also love to scoop it on top of a sparkling beverage for a refreshing, fruity mocktail.”

OK, OK, it’s not ice cream. But this poppable delicacy has become a Trader Joe’s signature for a reason. And I’d argue that the sticky, creamy texture of the banana center isn’t far off from a scoopable frozen sweet. “They’re simple, perfect little treats, and they’re small,” PureWow executive editor Dara Katz explains, “so you can offer up one to your kids—for bribes—instead of an entire ice cream bar.”