Peppermint Ice Cream Wars: Ben & Jerry’s vs. Haagen-Dazs vs. Marianne’s

We are huge mint fans. Seriously, we LOVE just about anything chocolate mint. When the holidays roll around, mint — and especially peppermint — skyrockets in popularity, which prompted us to hold what we’ve deemed the Peppermint Ice Cream Wars. We tried each variety available to us locally. Scoop versus scoop, here’s what we thought of the competition…

All three were solid contestants in the Peppermint Ice Cream Wars, but there can only be one winner. This year’s contestants:

• Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Ice Cream (proclaimed as new! on the lid)

vs.

• Marianne’s Peppermint Stick Ice Cream (technically available all year long, but harder to find during the ‘off-season’)

vs.

• Haagen-Dazs Peppermint Bark Ice Cream (limited edition, according to the lid)

Ben & Jerry’s peppermint selection was by far the most “chocolatey” — likely a factor of the chocolate ice cream base in the flavor. The peppermint and fudge swirls enhanced the rich flavor with a strong kick. The mint chocolate cookie balls add the perfect crunchiness. Quirkier than your traditional peppermint ice cream, Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Peppermint Crunch is delightful. The richness of it may have you reconsidering your carton=serving size edict.

Marianne’s Peppermint Stick Ice Cream features the traditional hot pink color along with wonderful crunchy peppermint candies throughout. This is real homemade ice cream, with an iconic shop in Santa Cruz, California for more than 50 years. The creaminess of this delectable treat cannot be undersold, and it blends perfectly with the strong, yet not overpowering, peppermint flavor. Marianne’s Peppermint Stick Ice Cream is further enhanced with hot fudge and your favorite sundae toppings, though this flavor is outstanding enough to stand on its own.

This year’s final competitor in the Peppermint Ice Cream Wars — Haagen-Dasz Peppermint Bark Ice Cream — offered a creamy, naturally colored take on the holiday favorite. Crunchy bits of peppermint bark surprise you in each bite, blending a strong peppermint flavor with a chocolate undertone. Tasty enough that when I finally found it again, I bought a few cartons.

And the winner, declared the best peppermint ice cream of the year… Drumroll, please!

Congratulations to Marianne’s Peppermint Stick Ice Cream!