Ice cream came to the U.S. in the 17th century by Quakers who brought the recipes with them, and since, the frozen treat has seemed quintessentially American. Supermarkets burst at the seams with freezers chock full of options.
For all its limited freezer space, Aldi carries an exciting selection of different ice creams, with something for every budget and diet. Let’s take a look at Aldi’s ice cream choices.
Aldi Ice Cream
Aldi carries dozens of ice cream options under their store labels Belmont, Sundae Shoppe, Specially Selected, Earth Grown, and Fit & Active. These products range from cartons and pints to bars and sandwiches, starting at $1.85 and going no higher than $4.50 in price.
Let’s delve into deeper details about flavors, quality, which are best, and where some of these delectable dairy (or non-dairy if you prefer) products are made. Read on!
What Ice Cream Flavors Does Aldi Have?
Below you will find Aldi’s Everyday-type (meaning they’re permanently on shelves, unlike Aldi Finds) ice cream products, organized by label and marked with both size and price.
This list is based on Aldi’s website but is not intended to be comprehensive; consider it a snapshot from a moment in time, meant to be generally informative. Aldi may alter their stock or their prices whenever they choose.
Belmont
Belmont seems to be Aldi’s more “basic” ice cream label, featuring straightforward ice cream in tubs, though there is nothing basic about the flavors or the selection contained herein. As you will see, Belmont products are comparable to both Breyers and Ben & Jerry’s pints.
I’ve listed the common Belmont flavors below, with some notes where applicable.
- Butter Pecan or Cookies & Cream Ice Cream – $1.85 for 48 fl. oz.
- Low Fat Ice Cream – Vanilla, Sea Salt & Caramel, and Peaches and Cream flavors, $1.89 for 48 fl. oz.; Features half the fat as regular ice cream.
- Maximum Fudge Moose Tracks & French Vanilla – $2.89 for 48 fl. oz.; A slightly more dense and flavorful variety. Seasonal.
- Mint Chocolate Chip or Chocolate Ice Cream – $1.85 for 48 fl. oz.; I have to say, for a tub of ice cream that costs less than $2, I was surprised at how real and fresh the mint flavor was in the mint chocolate chip.
- Strawberry or Moose Tracks Ice Cream – $1.85 for 48 fl. Oz.
- Super Premium Ice Cream Pints Assorted Varieties – Fudge, Brookie Dough, and Thank You Cherry Much flavors, $2.09 for 16 fl. Oz.
- These are the Ben & Jerry’s dupes that people have been raving about, and when you see how they compare to the name-brand prices, you’ll want to pick up a whole bunch on your next Aldi trip.
I believe with their wild popularity, Aldi has been variously releasing different flavors beyond the three listed here; I’d be very surprised if Aldi didn’t expand this line!
- Belmont Vanilla Bean or Cookie Dough Ice Cream – $1.86 for 48 fl. Oz.
Sundae Shoppe
The Sundae Shoppe label features specialty ice cream products beyond the cardboard carton. Think ice cream on sticks, gelato, special diet items, and ice cream bars.
- Fruit Bars – Strawberry, Pina Colada or Caribbean flavors, $2.29 for 12 fl. Oz. (4 fruit bars at 3 oz. each); Dreamy, fruity, all-natural flavors (no artificial flavors or colors).
- Fudge & Caramel Sundae Nut Cones Variety Pack – Four Vanilla Caramel and 4 Vanilla Fudge, $4.29 for 36.8 fl oz. box.
- Gelato Mixed Assortment – Caramel Cookie Crunch, Mixed Berry or Triple Chocolate flavors, $3.99 for 28.5 fl. Oz. tub; The Mixed Berry flavor is to die for, and these creamy, decadent gelatos are a great taste of Italy in your own home.
- Aldi also releases specialty flavors beyond the list here as Aldi Finds throughout the year.
- High Protein Ice Cream Pints Assorted Varieties – Mint Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, and Chocolate, $3.39 for 16 fl. Oz.; Aldi decided to compete with the likes of Halo Top, and so far, it’s going swimmingly.
This line gets an Aldi Find upgrade now and then as the company tries out new flavors, hopefully, to expand the flavors permanently.
- Ice Cream Bars or Crunch Bars – Strawberry and Chocolate flavors, $2.19 for 30 fl. Oz.
- Junior Pops or No Sugar Added Junior Pops – Cherry, Grape, and Orange flavors, $2.49 for 33 fl. Oz.
- Keto Ice Cream Pints Assorted Varieties – Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Fudge, and Mint Chocolate flavors, $3.99 for 16 fl. Oz.
As keto and low-carb diets become increasingly popular, Aldi can be found catering to those restrictions with increasing interest. Luckily, Aldi’s keto ice cream has been met with great acclaim and positive feedback (we’ll discuss that further below).
- Mini Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches – $3.99 for 12 fl. Oz. (12-ct.); If portion control is tough for you, especially where sweets are concerned, I think these mini sandwiches are the perfect size for a dessert that feels indulgent but doesn’t overdo it.
- Neapolitan Light Ice Cream Pail – $4.19 for 128 fl. Oz.; Neapolitan is one of my personal favorites, but that aside, I love that Aldi carries these larger pails for bigger families or parties.
- Vanilla Light Ice Cream – $4.19 for 128 fl. Oz.
- Vanilla or Neapolitan Ice Cream Sandwiches – $1.85 for 42 fl. Oz.(12-ct.)
- Vanilla Sundae Nut Cones – $4.29 for 36.8 fl oz. (8-ct.)
Specially Selected
The Specially Selected line is a gourmand’s dream, and it includes products like cheese, pasta, and yes, a few different types of ice cream.
- Super Premium Vanilla Ice Cream – $3.99 for 48 oz.
- Super Premium Chocolate Ice Cream – $3.99 for 48 oz.
Miscellaneous Labels
Aldi’s other specialty diets also carry ice cream options at those great low Aldi prices. Earth Grown is Aldi’s vegetarian/vegan line, and the Fit & Active label is for low-calorie/low-fat shoppers.
- Earth Grown Non-Dairy Almond Based Pints – Chocolate, Mocha Fudge, and Vanilla flavors, $2.99 for 16 fl. I could probably write an entire article on these delicious non-dairy ice creams.
Aldi also carries a variety of coconut milk and oat milk-based non-dairy ice cream under the Earth Grown label as Aldi Finds.
- Fit & Active Low Fat Ice Cream Bars – Fudge, Wildberry Vanilla and Orange Vanilla, $3.79 for 21 fl. Oz. (6-ct.); Only 90 calories per bar and a good source of fiber!
Is Aldi Ice Cream Cheap?
Aldi prices always look cheap on paper, but you might wonder how they compare to other major retailers or grocery stores. For comparison, I’m using prices from Walmart (their own Great Value label where possible, name brand where not) and the more upscale Wegmans.
Let’s start with your basic 48-oz. tub of chocolate ice cream. Aldi’s Belmont label costs $1.48, Walmart clocks in at $1.97, and Wegman’s brand runs you $1.99.
Gelato is becoming more ubiquitous in grocery stores now; Aldi Sundae Shoppe’s 28.5-ouncers costs $3.99 (14 cents per ounce), while the closest products at Walmart are the Talenti pints for $3.98 (or 24.9 cents per ounce).
Wegmans does carry its own brand of gelato under the Amore label, and it’s $3.99 per pint or 25 cents per ounce.
Specialty diet foods are notoriously expensive, so let’s see how the prices stack up. Aldi’s keto ice cream is $3.99 per pint; Walmart’s cheapest option is the Halo Top Keto for $3.88 per pint, and Wegmans brings up the rear again with a wide variety for $5.49.
Amazingly, Walmart has the cheaper option and is a brand name!
Finally, let’s compare some non-dairy choices by the pint. Aldi’s: $2.99; Walmart: So Delicious Brand, $4.47; Wegmans: $3.99.
Aldi still comes out on top, even against Wegmans’ store brand.
So while Aldi was beaten out by Walmart in the keto ice cream category, it wasn’t by a whole lot, and if you only wanted to make one grocery stop, you can rest assured that getting ice cream at Aldi won’t break the bank.
Is Aldi Ice Cream Good Quality?
Aldi ice cream is very good quality and stands up well to name brands. Sometimes, shoppers and reviewers think it’s even better than what you’d pay two or three dollars more for under a big brand label.
Racheal at AldiReviewer.com gave her opinions on the Ben & Jerry dupes (a.k.a. Benton Super Premium), and she found them to be just as good as any of the major name-brand flavors. One Redditor described the Brookie Dough flavor as “So stupid good”!
Aldi’s keto ice cream has been making waves since it first appeared in 2020; fan approval has been so high that what started as an Aldi Find has apparently very quickly become an Everyday item.
Lisa Freedman at TheKitchn.com described the Peanut Butter & Fudge flavor as “indulgent” without “any weird textural or after-taste issues.”
Finally, Aldi recently released some Aldi Finds flavors of their non-dairy Earth Grown ice cream, having scooped up all three (Raspberry Cheesecake, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and Mint Chocolate Chip) – I can say they are incredibly good.
I’m a fan of So Delicious coconut milk ice cream, but these were even better!
What Is The Best Aldi Ice Cream?
If you want a 48-oz. tub of ice cream for the week, go with the Belmont mint chocolate chip. It tastes like a much more expensive brand, with no weird, artificial mint flavor.
If you’re dairy intolerant, the Earth Grown Aldi Finds flavor Peanut Butter & Fudge is IT. I can eat dairy just fine, but this is one of my favorite ice creams ever!
Who Makes Aldi Ice Cream?
Aldi sources many of its products from wholesalers and mass suppliers, and while it’s impossible to find out who makes all of its ice creams, I can tell you who makes their Earth Grown label.
These come from the dairy maker SmithFoods, based in Orville, Ohio. The plant also manufactures yogurt and almond milk under different (non-Aldi) labels.
Where Is Belmont Ice Cream Manufactured?
When the FDA recalled some of Aldi’s Belmont ice cream in 2014, they also revealed the actual maker of the sweet frozen treat, which is the House of Flavors Ice Cream Company.
Because Aldi sources products from many different manufacturers under each label, I can’t say for certain that House of Flavors produces all of Aldi’s dairy ice cream, nor even that it produces all of Aldi’s Belmont label ice cream, but they do make the chocolate chip cookie dough flavor.
Based in Ludington, Michigan, House of Flavors was founded in 1948 as Park Dairy. House of Flavors now specializes in private label ice cream manufacture, so chances are you’ve had their ice cream before – from some other supermarket with a store brand!
Does Aldi Sell Ice Cream Cakes?
Aldi does not sell ice cream cakes as part of their Everyday product line.
However, as part of their Aldi Finds line, the store has occasionally carried items like the Oreo Ice Cream Cake, a rare name brand find.
While this has shown up in stores in the past, it’s important to note that it appears only sporadically, and each store receives only a limited amount.
Check your Aldi ads or the digital ad on their website to see if it’s coming to your store in the near future. In the meantime, your best bet is probably ordering one from a local bakery or Dairy Queen.
Does Aldi Have Peppermint Ice Cream?
Aldi does sell peppermint (and mint-adjacent) ice cream under a few different labels.
Aldi sells a 48-oz. Peppermint Bark ice cream container under their Belmont label for $2.89.
Their Sundae Shoppe label offers ice cream sandwiches in a mint chocolate chip flavor (12 sandwiches for $1.89); their high protein, $3.39, 16-oz. pints come in mint chip, as well.
The Sundae Shoppe label also carries a mint gelato ($3.99 for 28.5 oz.), and the keto ice cream comes in a mint chocolate chip flavor (also $3.99, but for a 16-oz. container).
Does Aldi Sell Ice Cream Cones?
To complement their ice cream selection, Aldi’s Benton’s label carries three types of cones: Waffle ($1.59 for 12), sugar ($1.19 for 12), and ice cream cake cups ($1.19 for 24).
Additionally, Aldi sells ready-to-eat ice cream cones (cones with ice cream already in them); these include the Sundae Shoppe Sundae cones (in vanilla, fudge, and caramel, $4.29 for a box of eight); and the M&M’s brand ice cream cones ($3.89 for a 6-ct. box).
Does Aldi Do Vegan Ice Cream?
Aldi sells vegan ice cream as part of their Earth Grown label, which is 100 percent animal-free. These include the popular Almond Based Pints: Chocolate, Mocha Fudge, and Vanilla flavors, at $2.99 for 16 fl. oz. containers.
Aldi expanded their vegan ice cream selection via Aldi Finds, with coconut milk-based flavors like Raspberry Cheesecake, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and Mint Chocolate Chip (all of which are delicious).
Per their website, Earth Grown products are devoid of eggs, dairy, honey, gelatin, and lanolin.
Now that you know about Aldi’s ice cream, you may also check our related posts on Aldi chocolate, Aldi cheese, and Aldi almond milk.
Conclusion
Aldi ice cream, which sells mainly under the Belmont and Sundae Shoppe labels, is a diverse product group, with everything from basic vanilla to keto-friendly and non-dairy options in creative flavors.
You can’t go wrong getting your ice cream from Aldi, and if anything, the low price points are dangerous – they make it way too easy to stock up!
