10 Best Ice Creams UK 2022 | Häagen-Dazs, Mackies and More

1. Choose Ice Cream Based Off Whether It Is Organic, Vegan Or Has Whole Ingredients 
2. Consider The Size Of The Ice Cream Tub And How Many It Will Need To Serve

Traditionally the main ingredient of ice cream was either whole milk or cream, but modern-day food production techniques have meant that in some brands, other processed ingredients now take the top spot over milk and cream. 

Whole milk and cream are generally more expensive to produce and process than concentrates or derivatives, so you will generally find that the products with the highest percentage of whole ingredients will generally not only be of higher quality but will also be more expensive.

Whilst milk derivatives can mean that you're spending less on your ice cream brand of choice, they can also affect the texture of the finished product. During processing, milk derivatives can lose a lot of their fat content meaning that they don't feel as nice in your mouth, so it is common for emulsifiers to be added to give that smooth texture without adding more fat. 

This means that ice creams using milk derivatives are much likelier to contain a higher proportion of additives and synthetic ingredients compared to their counterparts with more milk or cream in the recipe. 

New and different flavours of ice cream are always being produced. Although flavours such as vanilla, chocolate and strawberry are a great choice as they are universally liked, if you are wanting a more memorable taste sensation then you should look for ice creams which have added ingredients such as fruits, nuts and chocolate.

The addition of fruit can make an ice cream taste refreshing as well as creamy. This therefore makes them a great choice for the summer season. Berries, mangos and lemons are just some of the fruits which are commonly used. Brands such as Häagen-Daz offer a wide range of fruit flavoured ice creams. 

In terms of nuts, almonds, pistachios, pecan and macadamia nuts are all popular and delicious option. Nuts not only add a crunch but depth to the overall flavour. Finally, in terms of chocolate, many brands use white, milk, and dark chocolate pieces to help create a sweet and slightly bitter taste.

For more chocolate treats, check out our guides on the best chocolate cakes, chocolate chip cookies and vegan chocolates!

Vegan options are becoming more readily available, they are a safe way of avoiding any kind of dairy due to lactose intolerance as well as catering for people with plant based diets. Furthermore, since vegan ice creams are made with either coconut, almond or soy instead of whole milk, they tend to contain less calories.

Lower sugar and lower fat ice cream alternatives are becoming more popular and the recipes are improving all the time. Whilst these are great if you’re trying to be mindful of what you eat, or if you’re diabetic, it is worth bearing in mind that these ice creams contain fewer whole ingredients and include a number of additives to simulate the taste and feel of fat and sugar. 

Whey protein is often used in lieu of milk or cream as it is much lower in fat, but if it is used in high quantities can give the ice cream a grainy texture which isn't very pleasant so is often used with emulsifiers. 

Sweeteners replace sugars in low fat and sugar ice cream recipes, and whilst they benefit from being much lower in calories than sugar and syrup, they can have adverse side effects such as headaches, dizziness and a laxative effect if they are consumed in large quantities. 

Ice cream brands containing the most whole ingredients tend to be towards the higher end of the price scale, and the more expensive the brand the more likely it is to be available in smaller sized containers. This is worth bearing in mind if you have a large group to cater for, as the higher end brands could work out very expensive.

The average ice cream serving size is 100g, and based on this you could be paying as much as £1.50 per serving of some of the more expensive brands, versus around 12p for the cheaper high volume brands.

It is also worth bearing in mind that lower-priced ice cream brands have a lot of air whipped into the mixture to both achieve a soft serve texture and to also make the product a lower price point. So where more volume tends to be more attractive to buy, you may end up with more air in your tub compared to other brands. 

There can be a lot of hidden allergens in ice creams, so it is always worth checking the ingredients list if you or someone you are buying for has any allergies. In UK law, food manufacturers must emphasis any allergens in their product in the ingredients list. These are often listed in bold to make them easily identifiable, and any potential contamination with other allergens in the manufacturing process must also be listed. 

1. Mackies - Traditional Luxury Dairy Ice Cream for £3.00
2. Grom - Gelato al Caramello Salato for £6.99
3. Green & Black's - Chocolate Ice Cream for £4.35
4. Ben & Jerry's - Phish Food for £3.00
5. Haagen Dazs - Pralines & Cream for £4.80

For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of ice creams available and understand how our ranking was determined.

This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.

If this sumptuous selection wasn't quite enough choice for you then food blogger Mel Watts has some more guilt-free choices for you to take a look at! They may be all low-calorie, but we can assure you that's where the cutting down stops because this selection is as delicious as any regular ice creams. 

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Written and researched by Catherine Torrance