27 Best Ice Cream Flavors

✔ Updated October 19, 2026 · full list of 120 flavors + ice cream types

Ice cream flavors range from the classics everyone knows, like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, to global favorites such as matcha, ube and hokey pokey, and adventurous scoops like olive oil or maple bacon.

Below are the 27 best ice cream flavors, grouped by style, followed by a complete list of 120 ice cream flavors, the flavors that top popularity surveys and a guide to the different types of ice cream, from gelato to frozen custard. Use it to plan a sundae bar, pick something new at the scoop shop or choose your next homemade batch.

The 27 Best Ice Cream Flavors

These are the flavors worth knowing, from everyday classics to scoops you might have to seek out. Most are easy to find at a good scoop shop or to make at home in an ice cream maker. Mint chocolate chip is my forever scoop.

Classic Ice Cream Flavors

Chunky, Swirled and Candy Flavors

Fruit Ice Cream Flavors

Ice Cream Flavors From Around the World

Adventurous Ice Cream Flavors

Complete List of 120 Ice Cream Flavors

Here is a full list of 120 ice cream flavors, from everyday classics to regional and seasonal scoops. Many are easy to make at home by flavoring a basic vanilla or custard base, which is how I make most of mine.

#	Flavor	Style	What it is
1	Vanilla	Classic	Sweet cream flavored with vanilla extract or vanilla bean
2	French Vanilla	Classic	An egg-yolk custard base with vanilla, richer and more golden
3	Vanilla Bean	Classic	Vanilla ice cream speckled with seeds scraped from the pod
4	Chocolate	Chocolate	A cocoa or melted-chocolate base
5	Dark Chocolate	Chocolate	Bittersweet chocolate with less sugar and a deeper flavor
6	Triple Chocolate	Chocolate	Chocolate ice cream with chocolate chunks and a fudge swirl
7	Chocolate Chip	Chocolate	Vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips or thin shavings
8	Mint Chocolate Chip	Mint	Peppermint ice cream, often pale green, with chocolate chips
9	Strawberry	Fruit	Strawberry puree or pieces in a sweet cream base
10	Neapolitan	Classic	Vanilla, chocolate and strawberry side by side in one block
11	Cookies and Cream	Mix-in	Vanilla with chunks of chocolate sandwich cookies
12	Cookie Dough	Mix-in	Vanilla with nuggets of egg-free, heat-treated cookie dough
13	Rocky Road	Mix-in	Chocolate with mini marshmallows and almonds or walnuts
14	Butter Pecan	Nut	A buttery, brown-sugar base with toasted salted pecans
15	Coffee	Coffee	Sweet cream steeped with coffee or espresso
16	Mocha	Coffee	Coffee and chocolate together, sometimes with chocolate chips
17	Salted Caramel	Caramel	Caramel ice cream with a pinch of sea salt
18	Dulce de Leche	Caramel	Slow-cooked caramelized milk, often swirled through
19	Caramel Swirl	Caramel	Vanilla with a ribbon of soft caramel sauce
20	Butterscotch	Caramel	Brown sugar and butter, sometimes with a butterscotch ripple
21	Butter Brickle	Mix-in	Vanilla with crunchy bits of buttery toffee
22	Pistachio	Nut	Ground pistachio paste, pale green, often with whole nuts
23	Peanut Butter	Nut	A creamy peanut butter base, sometimes with chopped peanuts
24	Peanut Butter Cup	Mix-in	Peanut butter or vanilla ice cream with chocolate peanut butter cups
25	Fudge Ripple	Chocolate	Vanilla with thick ribbons of chocolate fudge
26	Moose Tracks	Mix-in	Vanilla with a fudge swirl and mini peanut butter cups
27	Toasted Almond	Nut	Almond-flavored ice cream with toasted almond pieces
28	Maple Walnut	Nut	Maple syrup ice cream with chopped walnuts
29	Hazelnut	Nut	Roasted hazelnut paste, sometimes with chocolate (gianduja)
30	Pralines and Cream	Nut	Vanilla with caramel ribbons and candied pecan praline pieces
31	Black Walnut	Nut	Earthy, bold black walnuts in a sweet cream base
32	Macadamia Nut	Nut	Buttery macadamias, often with white chocolate chunks
33	Nut Brittle	Mix-in	Vanilla or caramel with shards of peanut or almond brittle
34	Black Cherry	Fruit	Dark sweet cherries in a vanilla or cherry base
35	Cherry Vanilla	Fruit	Vanilla with chopped cherries and a cherry ripple
36	Raspberry Ripple	Fruit	Vanilla with a tart raspberry swirl
37	Blueberry	Fruit	Blueberry puree, purple-tinted and lightly tangy
38	Peach	Fruit	Ripe peach puree and pieces, a summer favorite
39	Banana	Fruit	Mashed ripe banana, smooth and naturally sweet
40	Mango	Fruit	Rich mango puree, bright orange and tropical
41	Coconut	Fruit	Coconut milk or cream with toasted coconut flakes
42	Pineapple	Fruit	Crushed pineapple in a light, creamy base
43	Lemon Custard	Fruit	A sweet egg custard with lemon zest and juice
44	Key Lime Pie	Dessert	Lime custard ice cream with graham cracker crumbs
45	Orange Cream	Fruit	Orange and vanilla together, like a creamsicle
46	Passion Fruit	Fruit	Tart, fragrant passion fruit pulp
47	Blackberry	Fruit	Blackberry puree with a deep purple color
48	Rum Raisin	Boozy	Raisins soaked in rum, folded into a custard base
49	Matcha Green Tea	Global	Japanese powdered green tea, grassy and lightly bitter
50	Ube	Global	Filipino purple yam, sweet, nutty and vivid purple
51	Black Sesame	Global	Toasted black sesame paste, nutty and gray-black
52	Red Bean	Global	Sweet azuki bean paste, popular in East Asia
53	Taro	Global	Starchy taro root, lilac-colored and vanilla-nutty
54	Hokey Pokey	Global	New Zealand vanilla with crunchy honeycomb toffee
55	Saffron Rosewater	Global	Persian-style bastani with saffron, rosewater and pistachios
56	Kulfi-Style Cardamom	Global	Cardamom and pistachio, inspired by Indian kulfi
57	Lavender Honey	Floral	Lavender-infused cream sweetened with honey
58	Honey	Floral	Sweet cream sweetened with honey instead of sugar
59	Earl Grey	Tea	Black tea with bergamot steeped into the cream
60	Chai	Tea	Black tea with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and clove
61	Cinnamon	Spiced	Warm cinnamon, great on apple pie
62	Gingerbread	Spiced	Molasses, ginger and cinnamon, a holiday favorite
63	Pumpkin	Spiced	Pumpkin puree with pumpkin pie spices
64	Eggnog	Spiced	Nutmeg-spiced custard, a seasonal flavor
65	Peppermint Stick	Mint	Peppermint ice cream with crushed peppermint candy
66	Spumoni	Classic	Italian layers of cherry, pistachio and chocolate
67	Tutti Frutti	Classic	Vanilla with mixed candied fruit
68	Superman	Novelty	Red, blue and yellow ice cream from the Midwest
69	Blue Moon	Novelty	Bright blue Midwest flavor often compared to fruity cereal milk
70	Birthday Cake	Novelty	Cake batter flavor with sprinkles and cake pieces
71	Strawberry Cheesecake	Dessert	Cheesecake ice cream with a strawberry swirl and crust pieces
72	Brownie Batter	Dessert	Chocolate ice cream with fudgy brownie chunks
73	S'mores	Dessert	Chocolate, marshmallow swirl and graham crackers
74	Cookie Butter	Dessert	Spiced speculoos cookie spread swirled through
75	Tiramisu	Dessert	Mascarpone, coffee and cocoa, like the Italian dessert
76	Banana Split	Dessert	Banana ice cream with strawberry, pineapple and fudge swirls
77	Bubblegum	Novelty	Pink, bubblegum-flavored, often with gum pieces
78	Cotton Candy	Novelty	Pastel pink or blue with a spun-sugar flavor
79	Malted Milk	Classic	Vanilla with malted milk powder, like an old-fashioned malt
80	Horchata	Global	Rice milk, cinnamon and vanilla, inspired by the Mexican drink
81	Mexican Chocolate	Chocolate	Chocolate with cinnamon and a hint of chili
82	Irish Cream	Boozy	Cream liqueur flavor with coffee and chocolate notes
83	Stout	Boozy	Dark beer ice cream with coffee and chocolate notes
84	Maple Bacon	Savory	Maple ice cream with crisp candied bacon
85	Olive Oil	Savory	Fruity olive oil in a silky custard, served with sea salt
86	Sweet Corn	Savory	Fresh corn steeped in cream, popular in Latin America and Asia
87	Avocado	Savory	Creamy avocado, popular in the Philippines and Brazil
88	Brown Butter	Caramel	Nutty browned butter, sometimes with pecans
89	Creme Brulee	Dessert	Vanilla custard with burnt caramelized sugar
90	Caramel Apple	Dessert	Apple pieces with a caramel ripple
91	Apple Pie	Dessert	Cinnamon apple filling and pastry pieces
92	Carrot Cake	Dessert	Spiced carrot cake pieces and a cream cheese swirl
93	Pecan Pie	Dessert	Brown sugar ice cream with pecan pie filling
94	Pandan	Global	Southeast Asian pandan leaf, green and vanilla-like
95	Thai Tea	Global	Spiced, sweetened black tea, orange-tinted and creamy
96	Lychee	Global	Floral, delicate lychee fruit
97	Guava	Fruit	Pink guava, sweet and tropical
98	Licorice	Novelty	Black licorice or anise, jet black in color
99	Green Apple	Fruit	Tart green apple, often bright green
100	Watermelon	Fruit	Light, juicy watermelon, sometimes with chocolate-chip seeds
101	Stracciatella	Global	Italian sweet-cream gelato with fine shards of chocolate drizzled in while it churns
102	Fior di Latte	Global	Italian "flower of milk" gelato: just milk, cream and sugar, with no vanilla
103	Sweet Cream	Classic	Plain sweetened cream with no added flavoring, the base for many mix-ins
104	Chocolate Peanut Butter	Chocolate	Chocolate ice cream with thick ribbons of peanut butter
105	Chocolate Marshmallow	Chocolate	Chocolate ice cream with a soft marshmallow swirl
106	Mocha Almond Fudge	Coffee	Coffee ice cream with fudge ribbons and roasted almonds
107	Waffle Cone	Dessert	Brown-sugar ice cream with crunchy pieces of waffle cone
108	Black Raspberry	Fruit	Deep purple black raspberry puree, a favorite in the Northeast
109	Cherry Chocolate Chunk	Fruit	Sweet cherry ice cream with chunks of dark chocolate
110	Grape	Fruit	Concord grape juice or puree, purple and candy-like
111	Mamey	Global	Latin American mamey sapote, salmon-pink with a pumpkin-almond flavor
112	Durian	Global	Southeast Asian durian fruit, custardy, sweet and strongly aromatic
113	Jackfruit	Global	Tropical jackfruit with a banana-pineapple flavor, popular in Southeast Asia
114	Cheese (Queso)	Savory	Filipino-style ice cream with grated cheddar-type cheese, sweet and salty
115	Brown Bread	Global	Irish vanilla ice cream with toasted, caramelized brown breadcrumbs
116	Teaberry	Novelty	Pink wintergreen-like flavor from the teaberry plant, a Pennsylvania classic
117	Moon Mist	Novelty	Atlantic Canada swirl of banana, grape and bubblegum ice creams
118	Tiger Tail	Novelty	Canadian orange ice cream with ribbons of black licorice
119	Hojicha	Tea	Japanese roasted green tea, toasty and caramel-like with little bitterness
120	Ginger	Spiced	Fresh or crystallized ginger in a sweet cream or custard base

What Are the Most Popular Ice Cream Flavors?

Vanilla has topped US popularity surveys for decades, partly because it goes with everything, from pie and cobbler to root beer floats. Chocolate is a reliable second, and cookies and cream, mint chocolate chip, chocolate chip, strawberry, butter pecan and cookie dough regularly fill out the top ten.

Tastes keep shifting, though. Salted caramel, pistachio and global flavors like matcha and ube have become scoop-shop staples, and seasonal flavors such as pumpkin, eggnog and peppermint stick come back every year. For more flavor ideas, see our guides to Ben & Jerry's flavors and McFlurry flavors.

Types of Ice Cream

Flavor is only half the story, and I learned that the first time my homemade batch froze rock hard. The base, the fat level and the amount of air whipped in change the texture completely. Here are the main types of ice cream and frozen desserts:

Type	Base	Texture	Good to know
Ice cream (Philadelphia-style)	Cream, milk and sugar, no eggs	Light and clean-tasting	In the US, ice cream must contain at least 10% milkfat
French-style (custard) ice cream	Cream, milk, sugar and egg yolks	Rich, dense and smooth	Cook the custard base to 160°F before chilling and churning
Frozen custard	Ice cream with at least 1.4% egg yolk solids	Very dense and creamy	Usually served fresh from the machine
Gelato	More milk, less cream, little or no egg	Dense and silky, with less air	Served slightly warmer, so flavors taste stronger
Soft serve	Lower-fat ice cream mix	Soft, airy and smooth	Served straight from the machine at a warmer temperature
Sherbet	Fruit and sugar with 1 to 2% milkfat	Light, icy and creamy	Rainbow sherbet is the best known
Sorbet	Fruit and sugar, no dairy	Icy-smooth and refreshing	Naturally dairy-free
Frozen yogurt	Cultured milk or yogurt	Tangy and soft	Often served soft-serve style
Kulfi	Slow-cooked, reduced milk	Dense, not churned	Indian frozen dessert, often with cardamom and pistachio
Mochi ice cream	Ice cream wrapped in sweet rice dough	Chewy outside, creamy inside	Popular in Japan and the US
Non-dairy ice cream	Oat, almond, coconut, cashew or soy milk	Varies by base	Coconut and cashew bases are the creamiest

How to Serve Your Favorite Flavors

• Shakes: blend 3 scoops with a splash of milk. Start with a chocolate milkshake or browse our milkshake recipes.
• Floats: vanilla is the classic float scoop, as in a Dr Pepper float.
• Copycat treats: try a homemade Frosty or an Oreo McFlurry.
• Sundae bar: set out 3 or 4 flavors with hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream, nuts, sprinkles and cherries.
• Scoop like a pro: let a hard-frozen tub sit for 5 to 10 minutes and dip the scoop in warm water between scoops.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular ice cream flavor?

Vanilla is the most popular ice cream flavor in the US and has topped industry surveys for years. It's versatile enough for cones, sundaes, shakes, floats and pie. Chocolate usually ranks second, followed by flavors like cookies and cream, mint chocolate chip and chocolate chip.

How many ice cream flavors are there?

There is no fixed number, because shops and home cooks invent new flavors all the time. This page lists 120 well-known ice cream flavors, but some specialty shops rotate through hundreds of flavors a year, including seasonal and savory ones.

What are the top 10 ice cream flavors?

Common top 10 lists include vanilla, chocolate, cookies and cream, mint chocolate chip, chocolate chip, strawberry, butter pecan, cookie dough, salted caramel and rocky road. Rankings vary by survey and region, but vanilla and chocolate almost always lead.

What is the difference between ice cream and gelato?

Gelato uses more milk and less cream, so it has less fat, and it's churned more slowly, so it holds less air. That makes it denser and silkier. It's also served a little warmer than ice cream, which makes the flavors taste more intense.

What are some unusual ice cream flavors?

Adventurous flavors include maple bacon, olive oil, sweet corn, black sesame, avocado, lavender honey, stout and licorice. Many are made in artisan shops, but most are easy to make at home by steeping the flavoring in a basic custard base.

Is it ice cream flavors or flavours?

Both are correct. Flavors is the American spelling, and flavours is the British spelling used in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The ice cream flavours are the same either way.