Hello, friends! Over the past few weeks, JtB Editor Abby Mallett and I have been doing the laborious work of eating pint after pint of Jeni’s Ice Cream. Our incredibly tedious work has resulted in our deepest thoughts on some of Jeni’s most popular flavors.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream was founded by Ohio-based Jeni Britton in 2002. You’ll find her innovative flavors in pints in loads of grocery stores across the US, online, and in Jeni’s scoop shops nationwide. Jeni’s Ice Cream is certainly far from the most economical ice cream choice but with grass-fed dairy and loads of mix ins…. well, it’s a luxury item and wow wow wow it’s a delicious one.
Abby and I each tried three famous Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream flavors and our thoughts are below. You can also find three years of Abby’s Jeni’s Ice Cream reviews in highlights on her Instagram page. They are an absolute DElight.
This post is not sponsored. We’re just two ladies who at eat a lot of ice cream on your behalf (well, it was for us too… and for science).
Joy Says:
• Sweet Cream Biscuits with Peach Jam – In order to tell you about this ice cream I first have to tell you about my favorite bite of peach pie. The best bite of peach pie comes after most of the pie has been devoured. It was all wonderful but the very best moment is when I have to tilt my dessert bowl to the side to scrape the last bits of lightly spiced peach pie juice onto a spoon with remnants of melted vanilla ice cream and the last few crumbs of pie crust. A pint of Sweet Cream Biscuits with Peach Jam is an entire pint of that last perfect peach pie bite. The buttermilk ice cream base adds a light tang to the ice cream while the ribbons of peach have me aching to make my first peach pie of the summer.
• Strawberry Pretzel Pie (in collaboration with Dolly Parton) – As a child, my favorite flavor of ice cream was strawberry. Well… strawberry if bright blue bubble gum ice cream (with actual balls of bubble gum) was not an option. Jeni’s Strawberry Pretzel ice cream is a cream cheese base, pretzel streusel, and ribbons of strawberry jam. Do you remember back to the days when you were a kid, navigating how to eat your first ice cream come? Go with me on this. Jeni’s Strawberry Pretzel Pie tastes exactly like having my first strawberry ice cream cone. The cone inevitably melts faster than I can eat it so my mom places the whole messy and mushy strawberry ice cream and cone in a cup and hands me a spoon. This isn’t defeat because there’s still ice cream but the strawberry has seeped through the custard and the cone has become more chewy than crisp. A different sort of perfect. That is this ice cream exactly.
• Everything Bagel – First question, who gave Jeni permission? Second question, are we willing to bend our brains enough to try this ice cream? Absolutely yes. Jeni’s Everything Bagel ice cream is a cream cheese base (duh, right?) with something called Everything Bagel Gravel – a crunchy, streusel-like mix in. Here’s the thing, you know what makes Everything Bagel seasoning so distinct and bagely? Onion and garlic flakes. To answer your inevitable question – yes there are prominent notes of onion and garlic in this ice cream. Yes it’s weird. Yes it works. Am I mad? No. Put me down for one scoop and one scoop only.
Abby Says:
• Brambleberry Crisp – The most welcoming of the flavors. It’s inviting and warm yet bright and brilliant. It beckons you to sit and stay a while. Chat. Would you like some tea? I was just putting on the kettle. It’s as comforting as an oatmeal cookie and easily just as reliable. But the “brambleberry” (a mix of black currants and blackberries) offers a zingy complexity beyond apple or blueberry that makes you dig to find more ribbons. The crisp is still crispy finishing with a lingering brown sugar kiss. The combination is effortless and addicting. Getting this flavor will never disappoint you – just like pie and ice cream will never disappoint you.
• Gooey Butter Cake – We will take this layer by layer. Dig into this and hit the cream cheese ice cream. It’s not as sweet as the base in Brambleberry Crisp – there’s a subtle tang there. And just as you settle in to a new taste a river of caramel floods your mouth. It overtakes your senses. It’s everything a caramel should be rich and incredibly buttery and balanced and your mouth closes and there it is – the pièce de résistance – CAKE. Deeply buttery, caramelized CAKE. The first time I had this flavor I ate the entire thing in one sitting. This is the flavor I recommend most to people outside of Sweet Cream Biscuits & Peach Jam (see above) and Middle West Whiskey & Pecans. This spans occasions – it can start and sustain relationships. Are you happy? Grab it. Crying? Get it. That monthly visitor? OHO. OH LEMME FIND IT. The serving size is a pint. It is not scientifically possible to eat a little and put it back in the freezer. It’s a crime against humanity.
• Texas Sheet Cake (dairy-free) – I tasted this flavor and immediately shouted, “Damn!” The chocolate is so rich and deep you have to marvel at it. The balance of milky/coconut creme based chocolate and the dark stripe of fudge is perfection. If you’re a die-hard Jeni’s fan, she makes her fudge on the stovetop from cocoa, sugar and water. I’d imagine this is what it tastes like – so purely chocolatey it borders on bitter. While this is reminiscent of a Texas staple, this immediately reminds me of a midwest one – Portillo’s Cake Shake. A chocolate shake mixed with an entire slice of their iconic chocolate cake (bless). You take a sip of your shake and are hit by creamy, chocolate ice cream, chocolate ganache frosting, and fudgey cake. It’s not for everyone but it has held its ground here in Chicago at least. The coconut creme base of Texas Sheet Cake holds it’s ground but it’s not overpowering – it lends a familiar fudge bar consistency. This is a perfect dairy-free dessert.
You can find your own bundle of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream here! Do you have your own favorite? Dish in the comments below. Have fun, friends!
Anne Fischer
Wasaaay too sugary. Hagen Daz can’t be beat. If I want junk in it I’ll buy Ben &jerrys!
Erika
This is a new brand to me, but after reading this post and perusing their website, I must now find a pint of Savannah Buttermint!!
MJ
I actually bought myself a Jeni’s ice cream bundle as a Valentine’s gift (yay for indulging). The first ice cream I ate was the Gooey Butter Cake and I’m obsessed with it. Excited to try Texas Sheet Cake next.
Amanda
Thank you for putting a search bar at the top of the page!! So much easier than before to find all the delicious JTB recipes I want to make ??
Gayle
A two dipper – strawberry buttermilk and peach with biscuits, is mind-blowing! Makes you think about it for weeks after!
Laura Abel
What is a two dipper exactly? Sounds yummy whatever it is!
sarah
one scoop of each flavor
Catherine Short
You had me at Portillo’s Cake Shake!!
Kate
They have a goat cheese and cherries situation that is my favorite thing on the planet.
MJ
The first time I tried Jeni’s was a mind-blowing, life-changing experience. My favorite is the Atlantic Beach Pie (lemon pudding, crunchy saltines), but it’s a seasonal flavor. The churro flavor is also bomb.
Barbara
My favorite was Claire’s Cabinet, the Outlander-inspired ice cream with wild berries, chamomile and cloves. I drove to my June’s and got about the last scoop of the limited run. I say “was” since I live in the UK now so no Jeni’s for me.
Holly
That Sweet Cream Biscuits with Peach Jam is the bomb! So lucky to have Jeni in Ohio :)
Patricia Harris
Jeni’s Browned Butter Almond Brittle is my absolute favorite! I had to get to LA from the Bay Area to get it until I discovered it in the grocery stores near me (hallelujah!)!
lee
“The serving size is a pint.” – Abby, I love the way your brain thinks. This statement right here? Is perfection.
Abby
I LOVE Jeni’s. They opened up a shop in my hometown while I was living in Rhode Island, and every time I went home I had to go to Jeni’s as much as possible. I won’t say I moved back to Ohio just for Jeni’s…but it had an impact for sure.
Current favorites are Salted Peanut Butter and Blackout Chocolate Cake. Love Brambleberry Crisp and Brown Butter Almond Brittle, too!
ALSO, have either of you tried making the ice creams from her first cookbook? The Sweet Corn one is my absolute favorite, and they’re so easy to make!
Abby Mallett
Hello fellow Abby! I have her cookbook too and it’s the reason why I bought an ice cream maker! There’s a lot of prep set up but you’re right it’s crazy easy. Also Brown Butter Almond Brittle was my first love and never lets me down! :’) – xo
Kelsey
So fun to finally see/meet Abby! Hello ice cream loving ladies!!
Abby Mallett
Hello Kelsey!! :) it’s lovely to meet you as well!
Nikki Wallar
Should you ever find yourself in a Jeni’s (at least in OH) order the Cherry Lambic. I’m certain I went through several gallons of it and also the strawberry cheesecake when I lived there.
Abby Mallett
Hello Nikki! I’ve had the cherry lambic exactly once when she opened her second shop in Chicago, and it was DIVINE, and then I never saw it again. I know it’s in her cookbook too, I have it bookmarked under “someday!”
JessicaD
Oh my goodness, so much to lovelovelove here! Abby, I have been vegetarian for 30 years and have lived away from Chicago for even more, but you brought me back to Portillo’s!!! (I can smell the hot dogs in the air!) I have shied away from ordering the Jeni’s b/c shipping and dry ice and…., but I am so tempted now (but scared that I would have to order one of each and every available flavor?!). Also: could you pretty please share with us where to find the gorgeous small gold spoons? They are perfect.
Abby Mallett
Bless Chicago’s food forever! I can tell you from ordering one too many boxes of Jeni’s their shipping process is perfection. You actually have to put it in the freezer after you receive so it can THAW. Isn’t that wild? Also the spoons… it’s a long story but they are by Bon Chef, which is a restaurant/hotel grade brand of flatware. I would tell you how much I paid for them but I am… ashamed. I love them like a child.
JessicaD
I just googled the spoons… yikes, but they are going on my wish list! They are beautiful! BUT, I also just google-discovered that I can purchase Jeni’s locally and I am wondering what I have been doing with my life up til now?! Jumping into the car to buy ice cream — bye for now!!! (thank you!!!)
Lynn hyatt
Jeni’s is the best….been eating since daughter went to school in 2004 it was so fun to go down to local Jeni’s and seeing what new favor was available?.
Graters is also a great ice cream from Ohio…..French pot style with the biggest chocolate chunks to be found in an ice cream.
Alison
We have a Jeni’s in St. Louis. It’s delicious. Salted Peanut Butter is my favorite. I also have one of her books, might have to make some this weekend.
Elizabeth Thompson
The only things better than your wonderful descriptions of the flavors are the photos of you two gorgeous happy ladies. I feel like I had the privilege of hanging out with you during your ice cream extravaganza. Looks like there are a couple of stores near me that carry Jeni’s so I’ll be heading out today to try it for the first time.
Abby Mallett
Aw, you’re very sweet. Joy and I had a ton of fun making this one! I hope whatever flavor you try just rocks your whole world!
Danielle Delomas
Aw, so many memories of living in Columbus and visiting Jeni’s in Easton Town Square. Absolutely delicious!
Julia
I love this. But, like, I CAN NOT believe that we didn’t get to SEE the ice cream. That’s the best part of food-reviews. SHOW ME THE ICE CREAM.
Ess
Oh my goodness I got to visit Columbus OH awhile back and went to Jeni’s EVERY DAY. Some favorites were secret breakfast (whiskey and cornflakes), butter mint (like the little candies your grandma had in a glass dish), crackerjack (?!), blueberry wine (for grownups), and ricotta toast with red berry geranium jam (because how could you not). I still dream of it. I got some friends a mailing of 6 flavors for Christmas last year and was probably more excited about it than they were. So I should probably do that for myself since you only love once.
Abby Mallett
Let me affirm you here, YES. Absolutely buy yourself 6 (or more) flavors because YOU. DESERVE THAT. Also pour one out for ricotta toast with red berry geranium jam. It was truly the most beautiful flavor :’)
JenS
I have made Jeni’s ice creams from her cookbook “Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home.” A family favorite is Roasted Strawberry and Buttermilk. My girls love Buckeye State and Milkiest Chocolate the best though. All of her recipes are sooo good!!
Abby Mallett
Hi Jen! I have page tags on almost all her cookbook recipes! I’ve made Buckeye State too and… my god. Just superb. The Ugandan Vanilla Bean was a staple at every holiday.