Top Ten Frozen Reviews of 2015

Time to wrap up 2015 and get ready for 2016, though technically there is a slight hiccup. In prior years, I would make one giant "freezer guide" for the year and while useful, it's didn't get a ton of traffic. For 2015, I did individual guides which caught an enormous amount of traffic (and thankfully redirected some of it to the individual reviews).

So, in the interest of full disclosure, let me tell you this. Our #1 overall post was for the new Talenti flavors with a huge margin over anything else. Our #3 post was for the new Haagen-Dazs flavors. If you are curious, the new Edy's frozen custard guide clocked in at #9. Now with all that said, guess who's going to have a firm grip of the top of the review countdown? (and still easily leads the blog with overall page views) Guesses ready? Alrighty, let's go!

Cold Stone Creamery Cake Batter Batter Batter

Let's do a little more housecleaning of the basement freezer....

Cold Stone Creamery Cake Batter Batter Batter Ice Cream

cake batter ice cream with cookie dough and brownie pieces

Year End Cleanup aka State of the Freezer

Did everyone have a good Christmas? Hope so. I usually throw out some holiday wishes Christmas Eve night or Christmas day, but things are crazy here (stupid cold), and I'm sure they are crazy there, so I decided just to hang back and let the day roll by. As much as it's great to see everyone, I kind of like the day after Christmas because it's a "home day" as my son would say. Sleep in, cinnamon rolls for breakfast, turn on that one radio station that's still playing Christmas songs and just play with toys all day. Ok, ok, technically I'm not that good at "relaxing" and that's probably why I started wandering through the freezers in preparation for the 2016 holiday season.

Farmrich Chocolate Cream Brownie Bites
with a cookie crumb crust

Stewart's Eggnog Ice Cream

[By Nick] It's that time of the year again, when eggnog ice cream becomes a staple in a lot of companies offerings. Surprisingly, Stewart's doesn't have an eggnog ice cream. Well, they didn't until this year anyway. I say surprisingly because they offer their eggnog year round and are very proud of it. Their eggnog was the first actual eggnog I ever tried and it was pretty awesome. I'm hoping this excellence translates to their new ice cream offering.

Stewart's Eggnog Ice Cream

Eggnog Ice Cream made with Stewart's Eggnog

Target Triple Berry Cobbler Ice Cream

[New for 2015] Alrighty, there is one more new Target / Market Pantry flavor for 2015 and it's time we review it aka the mood finally struck for.....

Market Pantry Triple Berry Cobbler Ice Cream @Target

naturally flavored blueberry ice cream
with raspberry & strawberry swirls and pie crust pieces

Kroger Deluxe Jammed Peanut Butter Candy Crunch

[By Nick] Let's have a throwback Thursday review from back when I was down in Georgia. ‎Kroger has a line of frozen dairy desserts (fdd) called "Jammed". It's funny how each company has some ridiculous name for their fdds. Anyway, their peanut butter candy crunch flavor caught my eye. I mean, there's butterfingers involved for crying out loud. There's no way I could not try that even if it was a fdd. 

Kroger Deluxe Jammed Peanut Butter Candy Crunch

Peanut Flavored Dairy Dessert with Butterfinger Pieces and a Peanut Butter Swirl

Open Nature Cherry Greek Frozen Yogurt

So who wants to read a half baked review from June? No one? Well, blame the ice cream companies and all their early season nonsense. I am bored out of my ice cream mind right now with how little is going on. Sure I could have grabbed a smashburger peppermint shake today but I already know it will be awesome (and why are BK and Arby's still serving up pumpkin shakes?). Just about every seasonal flavor out right now is a repeat from last year. BORED I tell you, BORED. I think I've spent half of the last three months eating nothing but all natural Turkey Hill (I know it sounds like they pay me to say that, but it's true, I really have been eating a ton of it, I just bought another one tonight.... maybe if I keep bringing it up then they'll treat us all to an expanded line up next year!). Anyway, here's the review (with a "surprise" ending).

Open Nature Cherry Greek Frozen Yogurt

Blue Bunny Spiced Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

When my local Walmart finally got the new Holi-doodle flavor, they FINALLY got tonight's flavor as well (unfortunately it looks like I won't get to try Cinnamon Apple Pie this year). Now I know the pumpkin season is past both literally (farm wise) and figuratively (grocery store wise), but I rarely say no to a description that includes the word graham. Ok, time to put on my #VotePumpkin shirt and dig in to....

Blue Bunny Spiced Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

Spiced pumpkin ice cream with swirls of marshmallow and graham crust

Blue Bunny Holi-doodle Christmas Cookie Ice Cream

[New for Late 2015] I will freely admit that I am jealous of everyone who has already found this flavor. I mean, it's holiday inspired, cinnamon is involved, and I need it in my belly, like, right now.

Blue Bunny Holi-doodle Christmas Cookie Ice Cream

sugar cookie flavored ice cream  with swirls of green buttercream frosting
and cinnamon graham revel with red sprinkles and snickerdoodle cookie dough

Graeter's Chip Wheelie Ice Cream Sandwiches

[By Nick, New for 2015] It's been awhile since I've been excited by an ice cream sandwich. ‎When I got news of Graeter's new Chip Wheelies, I was quite curious. Thankfully the nice folks at Graeter's sent over a couple of free samples of each sandwich to me.

The Wheelies come in three flavors: Vanilla Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chocolate Chip and Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip. The similarities is that they the same sandwich cookies and are all rolled in chocolate jimmies or as normal people call them, sprinkles. (Dubba's Note: they also have limited edition Peppermint Chip Wheelies right now, available online)

Market32 and The Nosh Show Episode 68

Nowadays, I spend way too much time in grocery stores which is a bit ironic because as a kid growing up in the suburbs, I always went to the same store. In town, we had two choices, the chain store and the one-off store. People tended to be fairly loyal to their choice for whatever reason and that's just how things were. Nowadays, well, I've been to dozens of grocery stores ranging in all sizes (and prices). If you are interested, after the break we are going to cover Market32 which is Price Chopper's attempt to snag some business from Wegman's style of doing things. But first, it's time for....

Hood Peppermint Stick Ice Cream

Ok, today we have a seasonal flavor that's been out for a few weeks now. It's nothing new, it's been out for a long time apparently, but I cant find any record of me ever trying it (or if maybe it took a hiatus?). Anyway, here goes nothing!

Hood Peppermint Stick Ice Cream

peppermint ice cream with marshmallow swirl and peppermint candies

Target Frosted Sugar Cookie Ice Cream

[New for 2015] Season Greetings budget ice cream lovers! Holiday offerings are back at Target. This year, Hot Cocoa (reviewed) and Peppermint Neapolitan (reviewed) have ditched apple and pumpkin pie (not reviewed) and brought two new friends, Triple Berry Chunk and....

Market Pantry Frosted Sugar Cookie Ice Cream @Target

artificially flavored vanilla ice cream with sugar cookie pieces
and red sprinkles swirled with red frosting

Steve's Manhattan Cherry Chip Ice Cream

[By Nick] Oh how I love Manhattan. The city was my second home earlier this year and I miss it very much. Let's see if this new flavor from Steve's can bring back some of those fond memories.

Steve's Manhattan Cherry Chip Ice Cream

Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Chips and Black Cherry Chunks