21 Best Trader Joe's Ice Cream Flavors in 2025
Trader Joe’s ice cream range spans various flavors and recipes, including non-dairy options. But what are the best Trader Joe’s ice cream flavors among the many options?
Whether you’re looking for ice cream to enjoy on its own or to pair with desserts and sundaes (and Mondaes and Tuesdaes too!), our list showcases the best Trader Joe's ice cream with something for all tastes and occasions.
While some of the Trader Joe’s ice cream ranked on our list are limited edition or seasonal, it's still a good idea to have them on your radar, so you can snap them up when they next hit the shelves. If you want to discover your next icy, sweet treat at Trader Joe's, grab your spoon and let’s get the full scoop!
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The 21 Best Ice Creams at Trader Joe’s
1. Salted Maple Ice Cream
We have to confess to being maple lovers, so this Trader Joe's ice cream was sure to make our list. Rich, with an almost floral undertone, this ice cream features a Maple syrup ice cream enhanced with a sprinkle of sea salt and imbued with a thick swirl of salted maple throughout.
This creates a superb balance between sweet and salt and had us coming back for more (and more and more). It’s definitely not one of the healthiest snacks at Trader Joe’s, but if you’re looking for an indulgent treat that highlights the best fall flavors, this is the ice cream for you.
Salted maple is one of the limited edition flavors of Trader Joe's ice cream, so be quick to grab a tub before it’s gone. No worries if you miss it, though, because some of the most popular Trader Joe’s ice cream flavors make regular seasonal returns.
2. French Vanilla Ice Cream
The OG ice cream flavor, vanilla, has been unfairly maligned as bland. But this Trader Joe's ice cream is here to turn vanilla on its head with a smooth and luxurious tub that’s anything but bland. The ‘French’ label here doesn’t refer to the vanilla, but rather to the method of making the ice cream.
To guarantee a smooth texture and consistent flavor in each spoonful, this Trader Joe’s ice cream is made to a traditional French recipe using egg yolks. This creates a sophisticated dessert which can be used to top warm cookies or sprinkled with nuts and maybe a drizzle of caramel. Magnifique!
3. Horchata Ice Cream
One of the top flavors of ice cream at Trader Joe's, this limited edition treat uses the flavors of horchata, the beloved Latin American beverage. The base of the ice cream starts with traditional cream, milk, egg yolks and sugar before cinnamon and brown sugar and a touch of sea salt are added.
To build an extra layer of textural deliciousness, the ice cream is then liberally sprinkled with horchata-flavored cookie pieces. While we loved spooning this Trader Joe’s ice cream directly from the carton, we think it would also be brilliant combined with milk to make a seriously good shake to accompany Mexican party food.
4. Coffee Bean Blast Ice Cream
If you’re looking for a spot-on choice of coffee-infused frozen treat, then this Trader Joe's ice cream, emphasis on the joe, will be your cup of tea.
Some other coffee ice creams are made with artificial flavorings, but Coffee Bean Blast features an intense hit delivered by freshly-brewed Colombian coffee, French roasted to enhance its aroma and taste. For a final kick, the ice cream is mixed with small pieces of finely ground coffee beans.
In common with other ‘Premium’ tubs, this Trader Joe's ice cream has a low overrun, which means that no air is included in the final product. This results in a dense ice cream which is creamy and sweet with just the right amount of coffee zing.
5. Ube Ice Cream
If the taste of this Trader Joe's ice cream isn’t enough to tempt you, then the color sure will be. You’d be forgiven for thinking that this ice cream is grape, or maybe blueberry, but the truth is that it’s flavored with ube, a purple yam popular in the Philippines.
It’s hard to describe the taste of ube exactly, but imagine a mix of vanilla, pistachio and a hint of coconut, plus a drop of nuttiness, and you’re somewhere close. But as a limited edition flavor, you’ll have to be speedy to sample yours before it goes. Don’t worry, though, because like other seasonal Trader Joe’s ice cream, this one looks set to make an annual return.
6. Pumpkin Ice Cream
All treat and no trick, Pumpkin flavored Trader Joe's ice cream is lightly spiced and full of fall notes. Made from a pumpkin purée, the ice cream is blended with spices like nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and a dash of cloves.
Another limited edition Trader Joe’s ice cream flavor, this pumpkin dessert is ‘Super Premium’ and made with a butterfat base. That means you can expect a seriously thick and luxurious texture. It would be perfect for your Halloween and Thanksgiving celebration, but we’re just not sure it’ll hang around that long!
7. Strawberry Non-Dairy Oat Frozen Dessert
Perfect for those avoiding dairy, this Trader Joe's ice cream, technically a frozen dessert, is made from an oat milk base. This is thickened with tapioca syrup and coconut oil and sweetened with agave syrup. Candied strawberries and crunchy almond brittle are then added to make every spoonful unique.
Super creamy and with a fresh fruity flavor, this dairy-free Trader Joe’s ice cream is completely vegan. It’s finger-licking, or should that be spoon-licking, on its own, but we like to add a dollop of dairy-free whipped cream for extra indulgence.
8. Speculoos Cookie Butter Ice Cream
If you’re a fan of Biscoff, then this ice cream should be at the top of your list on your next visit to Trader Joe's. Made using chunky pieces of speculoos, this is one of the most popular Trader Joe's ice cream options.
The base ice cream is produced using fresh cream from the Midwest and a swirl of TJ’s signature Cookie Butter. The combination of cream and cookie butter creates a fantastic contrast against the delicate spice of the Speculoos biscuit, producing a simple dessert or anytime treat. It pairs especially well with Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, one of our favorite Trader Joe's snacks.
9. When Life Gives You Lemons Ice Cream
Be heatwave-ready with this delightfully refreshing yet rich Trader Joe's ice cream. Debuting in spring 2022, When Life Gives You Lemons features a smooth ice cream base flavored with bright lemon juice and zest. Pieces of shortbread cookies are crumbled into the mix and a zesty lemon swirl completes this lemony delight.
10. Fudgy Cookie Dough Ice Cream
If you love the elegant simplicity of vanilla ice cream but you fancy adding some va-va-voom to your favorite scoop, then Fudgy Cookie Dough is some of the best Trader Joe's ice cream.
Things start with a vanilla ice cream foundation, before large pieces (and we mean large) of chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate chips are stirred in. And for the pièce de résistance, this Trader Joe’s ice cream is given a hearty swirl of sea-salted fudge.
11. Chocolate and Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream
Another limited range of Trader Joe's ice cream, this frozen delight is a mix of chocolate ice cream and a swirl of raspberry sorbet. The classic combination of sweet chocolate and tart raspberry is perfectly contrasted by the richness of the ice cream and the sharpness of the sorbet, creating a well-balanced treat that’s perfect for dessert.
This Trader Joe's ice cream was first introduced in 2023 and it’s labelled as limited availability. Check out the freezer aisle of your local store or the Trader Joe’s ice cream portion of the website for the full details.
12. Black Tea and Boba Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
This dairy-free pick of Trader Joe's ice cream is made from coconut plant-based milk with a luxurious brown sugar swirl. Black tea can be a difficult flavor to master, but Trader Joe's has struck exactly the right note here.
The earthiness of the aromatic tea is counteracted by the brown sugar, while the tapioca boba pearls bring a burst of chewy texture. This is a grown-up dessert whose flavor won’t be for everyone, but if you’re a tea or boba fan, we think you’ll love it.
13. Banana Pudding Ice Cream
One of the most ap-peeling of all ice cream at Trader Joe's, this cool dessert has serious classic banana pudding vibes. Made by the same supplier behind other seasonal pints on our list, this Trader Joe’s ice cream features a banana purée to add subtle flavor, as well as a twist of salted caramel to offset some of the banana sweetness. It’s also studded with bite-sized pieces of vanilla wafer to recreate a potluck dessert classic.
14. Calamansi and Mango Sorbet
One of the healthiest ice cream choices, although technically a sorbet, this light and refreshing treat is completely vegan. It’s made using two fruits popular in the Philippines: mango and calamansi, a citrus fruit with a lime-like taste.
These two vibrant flavors are combined to produce a poised dessert that sways smoothly between sharp and sweet. Ideal to use a palate cleanser between entrées and dessert, this dessert is limited edition, but we could easily see it becoming one of the most popular Trader Joe’s ice cream flavors.
15. Southern Peach Crisp Ice Cream
Made by a Georgia-based producer, this dreamy Trader Joe's ice cream is a celebration of the South’s favorite fruit. It’s made from a sweet cream base and combines a swirl of peach purée, made from South Carolina-grown peaches, with buttery oat crisp chunks infused with cinnamon and sugar.
It’s absolutely perfect paired with cobbler on a cool evening, where the crispy, crunchy pieces add an extra indulgent treat. Equally, we love a scoop of this on its own as a post-dinner snack.
16. Organic Vanilla Fudge Chip Ice Cream
One of the best Trader Joe's ice cream flavors, Vanilla Fudge is a fun new twist on the classic original. Made using organic ingredients including certified organic milk, cream and sugar, this ice cream is a ‘Premium’ product. A liberal sprinkling of hunks of fudgy chocolate completes each tub.
To guarantee its quality, this Trader Joe’s ice cream is made by one supplier, who oversees the whole process, from pasteurising the milk to packaging and distributing the final ice cream.
17. Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream
Combining a classic green tea matcha flavor with smooth ice cream, this is one of the best Trader Joe's ice cream options for those who don’t like their desserts too sweet. The base starts with the traditional ingredients of cream, milk, cane sugar and egg yolks before finely ground matcha powder is combined.
This creates a vibrant green treat which counteracts the sweetness of ice cream with the deep zing of matcha tea. If you’re looking for inspiration for pool party food and drink, ice cream floats made with a scoop of this are a surefire hit for summer.
18. Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s Ice Cream
Is it too early to get in the Christmas spirit? Not with this Trader Joe’s ice cream. A frozen dessert may not be your first pick in December, but we reckon this festive favorite is fantastic all year long.
Each pint of this Trader Joe's ice cream packs more treats than a stocking hung by the chimney with care. Swirls of both peppermint and vanilla ice cream are first into the tub before a thick ribbon of chocolate fudge is layered over. Then, Trader Joe's adds to the festivities with large nuggets of Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s Cookies.
This seasonal treat is only seasonally available, and definitely isn’t a low-calorie ice cream, but find a tub in the Trader Joe’s frozen food aisle and you might just feel that Christmas has come early.
19. Mint Chip Ice Cream
Cool and refreshing, this pick of Trader Joe's ice cream combines a blast of peppermint extract and smooth chocolate chunks to create an invigorating taste that’s nicely weighted with sweetness. This flavor is one of Trader Joe's ‘Super Premium’ designated ice creams.
This refers to the way in which the ice cream is made. To be labelled as ‘Super Premium’, an ice cream must contain less than 50% overrun, which is the amount of air mixed into the final product, as mentioned earlier.
Using this measurement, a gallon of raw mix would create a finished product of no more than a gallon and a half of ice cream. The Mint Chip edition features an overrun of just 26%, meaning you get a super thick ice cream that’s loaded with chocolate.
20. Wildberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
First introduced in 2022, and a recurring favorite since then, Wildberry Cheesecake is one of the very best Trader Joe's ice cream flavors. This ice cream and cheesecake combo is the best of both worlds between creamy and crispy cheesecake and smooth, decadent ice cream; what could be better than a dessert made from dessert?
Like many other Trader Joe's ice cream flavors, this one features a simple vanilla base with pieces of cheesecake and a berry swirl made from a blend of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries.
21. Dulce de Leche Ice Cream
Despite being another limited edition pick, this Trader Joe's ice cream has become a firm favorite. It’s made with a base of caramel ice cream, which is enhanced with a swirl of dulce de leche caramel.
We found that this ice cream works very well on its own, simply served in a cone. It’s also an excellent addition to sundaes and hot fudge cake, where the mix of sauce and ice cream creates deliciously contrasting textures and temperatures.
Adding it to a cookie ice cream sandwich is also a great idea. Some reviewers even use this Trader Joe's ice cream as a dip for salted pretzels. We haven’t managed to try this one yet but we might just make a stop on the way home.
Who Makes Trader Joe’s Ice Cream?
From classics such as vanilla and chocolate to imaginative flavors and creations like Matcha Green Tea, the Trader Joe’s ice creams ranked here showcase a dazzling display with something for every ice cream fan.
In common with other products in store, Trader Joe's ice cream is produced by a variety of manufacturers and undergoes rigorous testing before it’s allowed on the shelves. These manufacturers use local ingredients wherever possible and implement ethical supply chains for more exotic components to uphold Trader Joe’s focus on high-quality ingredients.
Not only does this deliver a fantastic array of Trader Joe’s ice cream, but it also means that its health benefits are put front and center. According to an article published by the University of Michigan, ice cream not only contains calcium, it’s also a good source of vitamins A, D and B12 which support the immune system and overall health.
Whether you’re a spoon-it-straight-from-the-tub kind of ice cream fan or a top with whipped cream and a cherry, there are Trader Joe's ice cream flavors to suit you. Fruit fans will love the bold citrus of When Life Gives You Lemons and the distinctive ube, while chocoholics will adore the packed-with-cookies Fudgy Cookie Dough. There are also several mouth-watering vegan and dairy-free options to suit all palates.
Beware that a lot of the delectable Trader Joe’s ice cream we’ve highlighted here is limited edition, so won’t be around for long. Head to your local store to check out our choices and make your own favorite pick.
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