8 Great Peppermint Ice Creams to Try Right Now

Peppermint ice cream brands

No matter the time of year, ice cream is a freezer staple, always there to lend creamy comfort whenever we need a scoop (or two). With the holidays upon us, ice cream is clutch for adding some cheer to your favorite holiday desserts, whether that's pie or cake or a super festive ice cream sundae. Pro tip: Sandwich leftover Christmas cookies with ice cream for a special winter treat.

But we digress. Although you can find many classic ice cream flavors in the freezer case year-round, there are a few flavors that only pop up at certain times of the year. Case in point: peppermint ice cream. The cool, creamy flavor pops up around the holidays and is often gone by the middle of January, if not sooner, which makes this peak seasonal treat even sweeter.

Peppermint stick ice cream used to be somewhat hard to find, but it seems to be getting a bit easier as more and more brands create their versions of the seasonal sweet. To help you find a pint (or a gallon) for your holiday dessert adventures, we searched for the best-rated, most-available brands so you can pick some at your local store. Read on for the 8 best peppermint ice creams you can buy right now.

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What is peppermint ice cream?

Peppermint ice cream, not to be confused with mint ice cream, is a seasonal treat. The ice cream recipe typically consists of whole milk, sugar and peppermint extract. Some store flavors even have chucks of crushed candy canes swirled inside their holiday ice cream blend.

Another difference between peppermint ice cream and mint ice cream is that it's often pink instead of green, which makes it extra fun for the holidays. Like mint ice cream, some peppermint ice cream has a chocolate mix-in, whether that's chocolate chips or a chocolate swirl because it's hard to beat the combo of mint and chocolate (just ask any Thin Mints fan).

Related: The 20 Best Tillamook Ice Cream Flavors Ranked

The 8 Best Peppermint Ice Creams

Now the moment we've all been waiting for—the creamy, dreamy list of the best peppermint treats, listed in no particular order.

1. Tillamook Peppermint Bark Ice Cream

The Oregon-based ice cream company took the peppermint note and pushed it a step further, by folding in white chocolate peppermint bark into this peppermint ice cream. The bark is studded with pieces of peppermint candy, which adds extra color, crunch and flavor. Bonus points for the festive pink and white tub, which will look cute in the freezer on the dessert buffet.

2. Favorite Day Peppermint Bark Ice Cream

An elf-favorite ice cream flavor is back in stock at your local Target. The next time you’re on a Target run, grab a gallon of Favorite Day Frozen Peppermint Bark Ice Cream to add some holiday cheer to your day. The frosty peppermint ice cream is packed with chocolate chunks, plus a candy cane swirl.

3. Van Leeuwen Artisan French Peppermint Stick Flavored Ice Cream

Add a bit of gourmet flair to your freezer this Christmas with Van Leewen’s Limited Edition Peppermint Stick French Ice Cream. The creamy peppermint ice cream is flecked with tiny pieces of crushed peppermint candies, which makes this treat look extra sweet. This flavor sells out quickly and isn't around for long, so if you see it at your store you should definitely grab it.

4. Blue Bunny Peppermint Stick Frozen Dessert

This yearly favorite pink peppermint ice cream mixes things up a bit by mixing in bits of red and green candy pieces, for an extra festive scoop. It has a lighter texture than some other brands, which makes it easy to sandwich with cookies. For an extra-special sundae, top a few scoops with warm chocolate ganache or hot fudge sauce.

5. Talenti Peppermint Bark Gelato

Not everyone loves pink. Not everyone is an ice cream lover. Luckily for you, there is Talenti’s Peppermint Bark Gelato. This limited-batch gelato is more subtle than the other options, with its clear tub and brown lid. The creamy peppermint gelato is mixed with flakes of semi-sweet chocolate to give it a minty-chocolate flavor and a Dalmatian-like aesthetic. Buon Natale to all.

6. Purple Cow Peppermint Stick Ice Cream

This fun carton with its candy-cane-skiing penguins will bring out the kid in everyone. Inside is a cool and creamy peppermint ice cream swirled with bits of peppermint sticks.

7. Sundae Shoppe Peppermint Ice Cream

This Aldi-brand pink peppermint stick ice cream packs a lot of flavor in one (affordable) pint. At $1.99 it's hard to beat this sweet value. While you're at Aldi, keep an eye out for other seasonal favorites, like red and green frosted brownies and fruits of the forest strudel.

8. Candy Cane Joe-Joe's Ice Cream

Trader Joe's entry into the peppermint ice cream space holds nothing back. The base is a mix of vanilla and peppermint ice cream that's swirled with chocolate fudge, but the pièce de résistance are the big hunks of the holiday version of the fan-favorite TJ's cookie: Candy Cane Joe-Joe's. This one's for the maximalists among us.

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