If there‘s one thing that gets me excited about a trip to Aldi, it‘s browsing the freezer section to check out their awesome selection of ice cream. As an avid Aldi shopper and ice cream lover, I‘m always impressed by the ever-expanding variety, high quality, and unbeatable prices of Aldi ice cream. Whether you‘re a fan of traditional flavors or on the hunt for keto, non-dairy, or low calorie treats, Aldi has you covered.
From classic cartons to ice cream sandwiches to unique flavors you won‘t find anywhere else, Aldi offers something for every ice cream fan. In this post, I‘ll dive deep into the delicious details of Aldi‘s ice cream lineup. Get ready to make some room in your freezer!
The Many Brands and Varieties of Aldi Ice Cream
One of the first things to know about Aldi ice cream is that it‘s sold under multiple store brands, each with its own varieties and specialities. Here‘s a quick overview of Aldi‘s core ice cream brands:
Belmont – Aldi‘s main ice cream brand with traditional flavors in cartons, pints, and speciality desserts. You‘ll find classics like vanilla bean, chocolate, butter pecan, cookies & cream, and mint chip, as well as more decadent options like "Maximum Fudge Moose Tracks." Belmont is also behind Aldi‘s famous pint-sized Ben & Jerry‘s dupes like Brookie Dough.
Sundae Shoppe – Speciality frozen treats like ice cream sandwiches, cones, fruit bars, gelato, and no-sugar-added ice cream. A good choice if you‘re looking for low-calorie, portion-controlled treats or hand-held desserts.
Specially Selected – Gourmet and "super premium" ice cream flavors sold by the carton. Options usually include high quality vanilla and chocolate ice creams with a dense, rich texture and high butterfat content.
Fit & Active – Reduced calorie and fat ice cream in bars and sandwiches. Usually around 100 calories or less per serving.
Earth Grown – Aldi‘s vegan line includes non-dairy frozen desserts made with almond milk, oat milk or coconut milk in flavors like mocha fudge, chocolate peanut butter, and raspberry cheesecake.
In addition to the everyday core ice cream products, Aldi regularly introduces new limited-batch flavors as Aldi Finds or Special Buys. Recent offerings have included keto-friendly pints, European gelato, and vegan oat milk frozen desserts in seasonal flavors. These special items tend to sell out fast, so if you see something intriguing, scoop it up while you can!
With so many ice cream choices at Aldi, how do you decide? In the next sections, I‘ll share specific product recommendations and price comparisons to help you find your new favorite frozen treats. Your taste buds and your wallet will thank you!
How Do Aldi Ice Cream Prices Compare to Other Stores?
We all know Aldi is famous for low prices, but you may be wondering how much you can really save on ice cream specifically. As a price-conscious shopper, I‘ve done the research to compare Aldi ice cream prices to name brands and other grocery stores. Here‘s what I found:
Let‘s start with a cost comparison of basic 48-ounce cartons. A carton of Belmont chocolate ice cream is just $1.85 at my local Aldi. The cheapest equivalent at Walmart is $2.97 for their Great Value brand, and my regional grocery store charges $3.29 for their store brand. Aldi is clearly the winner at almost half the price of competitors.
How about pricier pints of ice cream? A 16-ounce Ben & Jerry‘s dupe like Belmont Brookie Dough is $2.09 at Aldi. The real Ben & Jerry‘s pints cost around $4.50 in most stores, so that‘s a savings of nearly 50% without sacrificing taste!
I also price checked some speciality items like gelato and non-dairy pints. Aldi‘s Sundae Shoppe gelato is $3.99 for 28.5 ounces, or about 14 cents per ounce. Talenti gelato pints at Walmart are $4.78, or nearly 30 cents per ounce. So Aldi is half the price! Aldi‘s Earth Grown vegan pints are $2.99, while the leading name brand So Delicious costs $5.49 for the same size at my grocery store. Again, Aldi comes out way ahead.
Across the board, from cheap cartons to non-dairy options, Aldi consistently has the lowest price compared to other stores, usually by a wide margin. If ice cream is a staple in your house and you have an Aldi nearby, you stand to save a bundle over time by buying your frozen treats there. More money in your pocket and more ice cream in your bowl is a win-win!
Is Aldi Ice Cream as Good as Name Brands?
Okay, so Aldi is clearly the cheapest option for ice cream. But is it actually any good? As someone who eats an embarrassingly large amount of ice cream, I can assure you that Aldi‘s offerings are top notch in both quality and flavor.
Many of Aldi‘s everyday ice cream products are direct dupes for name brand favorites. For example, the Belmont Super Premium pints are dead ringers for Ben & Jerry‘s flavors like Cherry Garcia and Phish Food at less than half the cost. Reviews of these pints are glowing. As one Reddit user put it, "I bought one of each flavor…it‘s stupid good."
Aldi‘s keto-friendly pints, which came out in 2020, have also garnered a cult following. Made with a combination of milk protein, monkfruit extract and sugar alcohols, they achieve an extremely creamy texture and rich flavor with only a fraction of the sugar and calories. Flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Fudge have been a hit with keto dieters and general ice cream lovers alike. The Kitchn rated the PB fudge flavor "indulgent" and free of any funny aftertaste you sometimes get with alternative sweeteners.
One of my personal favorites from Aldi is their Earth Grown line of non-dairy desserts made with almond or oat milk. Whether you‘re lactose intolerant, vegan or just curious, these products prove you don‘t need cows to make amazing ice cream. The chocolate peanut butter oat milk flavor is a dead ringer for a Reese‘s cup in frozen form. I actually prefer it to leading vegan brands like Oatly and So Delicious.
Aldi also delivers on the classics. I challenge anyone to a blind taste test of Aldi‘s Belmont vanilla or mint chip against any name brand. With real vanilla bean flecks and a silky smooth texture, Aldi‘s basic flavors are far from basic. Most of them cost less than $2 for a whopping 48 ounces. I‘d choose Aldi‘s over Breyers or Edy‘s any day.
Of course, taste is subjective, and you may need to try a few options to find your favorites. However, in my experience, Aldi ice creams consistently deliver high quality ingredients and spot-on flavors. I‘ve converted many skeptical friends and family members into Aldi ice cream fans with just a few spoonfuls!
How Aldi Keeps Ice Cream Prices So Low
At this point, you may be wondering how Aldi pulls off such low prices without sacrificing quality. Part of the answer lies in their private label business model. Like most Aldi products, their ice creams are manufactured by third parties and sold under Aldi‘s own brands. This lets Aldi cut out the middleman and skip the expensive marketing that inflates the price of name brands.
For example, the Belmont ice cream brand is made by House of Flavors, a Michigan company that specializes in ice cream manufacturing for private labels. Aldi contracts House of Flavors to produce ice cream according to Aldi‘s own specs and packaging. This arrangement allows Aldi to sell high-quality ice cream while maintaining control over ingredients, production, and cost. It‘s all part of Aldi‘s mission to offer premium products at budget prices.
Another key to Aldi‘s prices is their streamlined, no-frills store model. By keeping stores small, staffing lean, and eliminating expensive extras like free bags and credit card processing, Aldi maintains low overhead costs that translate into serious savings for shoppers. All those nickels and dimes add up to extra wiggle room for stocking up on the good stuff – like a freezer full of ice cream!
The Best Aldi Ice Creams to Try
With so many options, you really can‘t go wrong with any of Aldi‘s ice cream treats. However, if you‘re new to the Aldi ice cream experience or just looking for a place to start, let me share my personal top picks.
If you want a classic carton flavor, go for the Belmont Mint Chocolate Chip. At just $1.85 for a whopping 48 ounces, this ice cream is packed with real mint flavor and a generous amount of chocolate chips. It tastes like a much more expensive brand.
For a splurge-worthy pint, grab one of the Belmont Super Premium flavors like Brookie Dough or Thank You Cherry Much. Priced around $2, these pints will fool your friends into thinking you sprung for Ben & Jerry‘s. The mix-ins are generous and the flavors are spot on.
Keto and low carb dieters rave about the Sundae Shoppe pints in flavors like Mint Chip and Peanut Butter Fudge. At $3.99 per pint, they‘re about half the price of leading keto ice cream brands and just as delicious. Even non-keto folks will enjoy them!
And if you‘re looking for a non-dairy option, don‘t miss the Earth Grown Oat Milk Frozen Desserts. I‘m partial to the chocolate peanut butter, but the vanilla and cold brew flavors are also incredible. Even as a dairy lover, I stock my freezer with these. At $2.99 a pint, you can explore all the varieties!
Conclusion
So what‘s the final scoop on Aldi ice cream? If you love a good frozen treat and you‘re not stopping by Aldi to stock up, you‘re missing out! With an extensive lineup of delicious, top quality ice creams at unbeatable prices, Aldi is an ice cream lover‘s paradise. From cheap cartons to speciality pints, keto options to non-dairy delights, Aldi truly has something for everyone.
By selling ice cream and frozen treats under their own private labels, Aldi is able to offer premium products at budget prices. Everyday flavors and even Ben & Jerry‘s dupes can be found at Aldi for less than half the cost of name brands. And the low prices definitely don‘t mean subpar quality. Aldi ice creams consistently earn high marks for taste, texture and ingredient quality.
As an added bonus, Aldi regularly introduces fun seasonal and limited-time ice cream varieties to keep your freezer exciting all year round. You never know what new treats you might discover on your next Aldi run!
Whether you‘re throwing an ice cream social, treating yourself after a long day, or just appreciate a good sweet deal, Aldi is the place to shop for all your ice cream needs. So grab a cart, head to that freezer aisle, and get ready to scoop up the savings and deliciousness. With Aldi ice cream prices and selection, you really can‘t lose!
