Dannon OIKOS Greek Frozen Yogurt

[By Nick, 2014-2016]
If you thought with all these companies producing gelato that the Greek yogurt fad would be over, you'd be sadly mistaken. Not only will we be seeing a Greek version of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia but Dannon has also decided to produce their own pints under the Oikos line. First, don't ask me why there aren't any commercials of John Stamos promoting these (Update: there are now!). Second, yes there already is an Oikos line of frozen Greek yogurt made by their sister brand Stonyfield. The major difference here is that those are organic and fat free, while these are not. Also, the flavors Dannon offers are more enticing. Since I didn't want to go the basic route (like Strawberry), I grabbed their Key Lime and Black Cherry flavors. Both of these flavors don't get much love in the ice cream isle so I'm happy Dannon is showing them some respect.

Dannon OIKOS Key Lime Flavor Greek Frozen Yogurt. Lime products are hit and miss on the blog. It's one of those flavors that has a fine line between being terrible or amazing.

Edy's / Dreyer's Fruit & Veggies Outshine Bars

[New for 2014] Those new veggie medley flavors out of Haagen-Dazs Japan have been getting a lot of news attention recently, we even did a Nosh or Not about it on this episode of the Nosh Show. I was pretty much a "NOT!" as you might expect, but then I remembered something I have in my freezer.

Edy's / Dryer's Outshine Fruit & Veggie Bars

Strawberry Rhubarb - Tangerine Carrot - Blueberry Medley

Wegmans S'mores Ice Cream

[New for 2014] I keep trying to use up my Perry's coupons these last few months but my Wegmans only dedicates one shelf to them (so 16 containers on the shelf, often basic or repetitive flavors). I keep leaving the store without ice cream (opting to grab something closer to home), but maybe I should give in. See, instead of their usually two tone packaging on their crazier premium creations (like pb&j), Wegman's has these new fancy graphic pints that are calling to me. Ahh, I'm not leaving empty handed again!

Wegmans S'mores Ice Cream

Marshmallow Flavored Ice Cream with Marshmallow Swirls,
Graham Swirls & Milk Chocolate Flavored Bits

Graeter's Hazelnut Truffle Gelato

[By Nick, For 2014 & 2015] ‎As you might have noticed, I haven't been a fan of all of these companies jumping on the gelato bandwagon. However, I was actually excited when I heard Graeter's getting in on the action. If there's anyone who understands the craft and tradition behind their products, it would be them. I mean their normal ice cream is one of the densest you'll find on the market due to their french pot process. The fact that they don't cut corners and use high quality ingredients doesn't hurt either.

The folks over at Graeter's offered to send me samples of their new gelato flavors and I don't know anyone who could say no to free gelato. When they arrived, I was happy to see I got two of the non-standard flavors: Hazelnut Truffle and Caramel Truffle. Seeing as there's been a hazelnut boom as of late, let's start there.

Graeter's Hazelnut Truffle Gelato

Hazelnut Gelato with Hazelnut truffles

2014 New Frozen Treat Guide

Alrighty, I had toyed with making this year's product guide just a facebook photo album, but it's making it hard for me to gauge how far Nick and I have gotten through this season's products. [Then I started the guide and my phone glitched and lost a chunk of my new product photos!]. Anyway, without further ado, I give you the condensed 2014 New Frozen Treat Guide. Enjoy, keep score, and scoop on! (Just like every year, this is a work in progress. If you see something new, let us know in the comments, by email, through facebook, or via twitter. Thanks! Oh, and all links lead to our reviews unless stated otherwise)

Ben & Jerry's

That's My Jam core      Salted Caramel core

Hazed & Confused core     Peanut Butter Fudge core

Cherry Garcia Greek Froyo (limited batch)Candy Bar Pie (pints later this year)

3 SNL scoop shop batch flavors

Blue Bunny Sweet Freedom Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches

[By Nick, New for 2014] Last year, Blue Bunny sent me a couple packages of their reformulated ice cream sandwiches, one of which was their Simply Vanilla variety. Well this year they’ve received a no sugar added sibling in the form of their Sweet Freedom Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches.

Blue Bunny Sweet Freedom Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches

Vanilla Low Fat No Sugar Added Ice Cream between

Two No Sugar Added Chocolaty Wafers

Magnum Infinity Chocolate & Raspberry Ice Cream Bar

[New for 2014] Of all the Magnum flavors floating around the planet (and there are quite a few of them), the U.S. got three new Infinity bars. The dry Chocolate bar, the target exclusive Chocolate & Caramel bar, and this guy I picked up from Walmart.

Magnum Infinity Chocolate & Raspberry Ice Cream Bar

Dark Chocolate Ice Cream with a Raspberry Swirl

Dipped in Dark Chocolate and Cocoa Bean Nibs

Blue Bunny Caramello Ice Cream Candy Bar

["official" for 2014, short lived] Now technically Nick found this product last May, but it wasn't on the 2013 press release and I didn't see it until early 2014. Well, it's on the new products press release for 2014 and Wells was nice enough to send over a free package for testing.

Blue Bunny Caramello Ice Cream Candy Bar

Creamy Blue Bunny reduced fat vanilla flavored ice cream
topped with caramel, dipped in thick, rich Cadbury chocolaty coating

Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Bars

[By Nick, New for 2014, Discontinued] With brands like TCBY invading the freezer aisle, it was only a matter of time before others such as Baskin-Robbins followed suit. “But wait Nick, you could already buy pre-packaged Baskin-Robbins products.” Why yes, you’re correct. You can buy their products from one of their stores but what if you’re someone like me who doesn’t have a Baskin-Robbins within a 50 mile radius? (That’s the furthest their website would let me search. I’m pretty sure I don’t have one within 100 miles of me.) Well thanks to the folks at Boardwalk Frozen Treats, you can now purchase Baskin-Robbins bars and faux-pints from your local grocery store! While not in stores around me just yet, they were kind enough to send me a sample pack of both lines. Since I got the complete catalog of bars, let’s take a look at those first!

There are three bars in total: Jamoca, Mint and World Class Chocolate. While the base flavors are obviously different, the first two use a dark chocolate flavored shell while the world class chocolate uses a milk chocolate shell. Let's start this review with the dark ones.

Taco Bell Mtn Dew Kickstart Black Cherry Freeze

[New for 2014] While my Nosh Show cohorts are busy choking down the new breakfast menu at Taco Bell, I decided to take the frozen route and chug their latest freeze flavor with my lunch the other day.... and boy did it give me a laugh.

Taco Bell Mtn Dew Kickstart Black Cherry Freeze

(looks kind of gritty, doesn't it?)

Friendly's Celebration Ice Cream Cake Ice Cream

[New for 2014] I was down at Walmart trying to restock the freezer for my family when I spied one very brightly colored Friendly's container. Oh yeah, my daughter needs this one ASAP.

Friendly's Celebration Ice Cream Cake Ice Cream

Chocolate ice cream with chocolate covered crunchies,
blue whipped icing flavored ice cream
and vanilla ice cream with chocolate covered crunchies.

Blue Bunny Cuatro Leches Ice Cream

[2014-2015] I know I usually put a non-ice cream review with my Nosh Show announcements, but since this was my nosh of the week (and since I'm all out of sync), let's mix the two. (reminder: this was a free sample from Blue Bunny (Wells)).

Blue Bunny Cuatro Leches Ice Cream

Vanilla Flavored Ice Cream with Tres Leche Cake Pieces and Dulce de Leche Swirl

Graeters Strawberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

[By Nick] Along with The Fresh Market's Sweet and Spiced Gingerbread Gelato, I also picked up another limited edition flavor. This time it is in the form of Graeter's Strawberry Chocolate Chip. It's been awhile since we've reviewed a Graeter's product and I honestly can't remember the last time I've had any of their ice cream. I blame that on stores around me removing Graeter's from their inventory over a year ago. All that said, I'm excited to try this flavor especially with the nice weather we're finally experiencing here in Upstate, NY.

Graeters Strawberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Gelato Fiasco Caramel Sea Salt Gelato x2

Alright, time to try the last two free samples from Gelato Fiasco. Both are sea salt caramel, but one adds cocoa to the mix. Should be interesting as this young company doesn't mess around.

Gelato Fiasco Dark Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt Gelato and Caramel Sea Salt Gelato

Talenti Coffee Chocolate Chip Gelato #7 from Niskayuna Co-op

[By Nick] I recently was invited on a tour of the Niskayuna Co-op. Of course there was no way I could say no seeing as I'd drive by it whenever I was in the area but never stopped in.

photo courtesy of the Niskayuna Co-op facebook page

What I found was not only a knowledgeable staff but a place that didn't feel like a co-op in the traditional sense. It felt more like a neighborhood market where you could get specialty good as well as national brands like Kellogg's. While you don't have to be a member to shop there, their lifetime membership is only $5. You'd be making that back in saving on your first trip alone.

Now you all know I was mainly interested in their ice cream section and man was I impressed.

Quick Review: Starburst Strawberry Sorbet Bar

[New for 2014] Now hopefully at some point these will be available in all four standard starburst flavors because I always reach for cherry starburst first, but the strawberry was just peering down at me from the Wal-mart shelf so I had to give these a try.

Starburst Strawberry Sorbet Bar

Steve's Brooklyn Blackout Cake Ice Cream #32

[By Nick] With only two flavors left from my free shipment of Steve's ice cream, I decided to go with something we’ve yet to see: Chocolate. And boy does it sound like they brought it in...

(Formerly) Steve's Bklyn Blackout Ice Cream

(2015) Steve's Brooklyn Blackout Cake Ice Cream

milk chocolate ice cream swirled with 

chocolate stout cake pieces and dark chocolate pudding

To be honest, this sounds like a more sophisticated version of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Therapy. Just exchange the pudding ice cream for swirls of dark chocolate pudding and the chocolate cookies for chocolate stout cake pieces from the NYC bakery ovenly.

Breyers BLASTS! Raspberry Creamsicle FDD

[New for 2014] Last year, Breyers BLASTS debuted a new orange creamsicle flavor that a small part of me was tempted to try... a very small part. I don't think very highly of frozen dairy desserts, but the other day at Walmart, I walked past this:

Breyers BLASTS! Raspberry Creamsicle

Vanilla Frozen Dairy Dessert with other natural flavors and raspberry sherbet

2nd St Creamery Cannoli Di Nonni Ice Cream

[By Nick, debuted in 2012, 2nd St closed up shop before 2015]
To say I was envious of those with access to 2nd Street Creamy would be an understatement. Ever since Dubba’s first review, I’ve been on a feverous search to no avail. That is until I stumbled upon a random gas station that had recently started stocking the brand. Sadly, I knew I wouldn’t have access to a freezer for a few hours so I decided that I’d come back in a few days. Upon my return, I found out that the store’s freezer that contained 2nd Street had broken and that they weren’t sure when they’d order more if at all. All I could think was that the ice cream gods were playing some cruel sick joke on me. Fast forward a month and I found myself at that same gas station. This time however, there was a brand new freezer that was stocked with even more flavors of 2nd Street! Now I wanted to pick up flavors I’ve heard great things about like Kopper Street Caramel and Tons of Brownies but instead I opted to go with two flavors Dubba has yet to cover. So let’s start with the first of those two: Cannoli Di Nonni.

2nd St. Creamery Cannoli Di Nonni Ice Cream

Mascarpone Ice Cream with Pistachios, Fudge and Caramel Swirls and Cannoli Pieces

Weight Watchers Greek Frozen Yogurt

[2014-2015] Weight watchers has a few new 3 PointsPlus frozen treat cups for us this year including 2 greek frozen yogurts. Now greek yogurt really isn't my thing, but hey, if Wells wants me to try them for free, who am I to say no?

Weight Watchers Greek Frozen Yogurt

Strawberry Swirl and Black Cherry Swirl

low fat greek frozen yogurt with a (strawberry/black cherry) swirl

Fresh Market Sweet & Spiced Gingerbread Gelato

[By Nick] I've been meaning to check out The Fresh Market that opened up a little under an hour away from for a while now. I've just haven't been out that way or had a real reason to take the trip. Well last week not only was I in the area, but they were also having a 2 for $7 deal on Talenti so you know I had to stop in.

Let's just say that I wasn't prepared for what I saw when I made it to the freezer section. While I expected to see brands like Jeni's and Steve's, I wasn't expecting to find pints of Three Twins or quarts of Gifford's. However, it was their house brand of gelato that really caught my eye. With flavors such as Biscotti with Italian Figs, I knew I had to grab one of them to try out.

Fresh Market Sweet & Spiced Gingerbread Gelato

A custom blend of bits of gingerbread cookies and spices

April Fools! New Ben & Jerry's Gelato!

With the introduction of the new core lineup and a few flavors to be released later this year, do you still feel like Ben & Jerry's is holding back a bit? Shouldn't there be something else? Where's that silly, mix-in fueled fire that seems to be hiding these last few years. Sure, they have their moments, and this year includes Cherry Garcia becoming a greek froyo and we should finally see candy bar pie in the pint form, but I want old school Ben & Jerry's with out-of-the-box thinking awesomeness. I want crazy! And I want it now!

So what new line up is this being teased on social media?