Taste-testing the best low carb ice cream on the market. Which of these keto ice cream brands make the cut? This updated review includes some wonderful new products you may want to try. Plus some delicious homemade low carb ice cream recipes.
You scream, I scream, we all scream for keto ice cream! Nothing will ever trump homemade low carb ice cream and I have tons of delicious recipes. But there are some decent store-bought alternatives now and we are going to review them all.
The ketogenic diet world is expanding and becoming more and more mainstream. This has its advantages and disadvantages. But one of the distinct advantages is the increasing availability of keto ingredients and products.
In the past three years or so, not less than 4 new brands of keto ice cream have come on the market. And I mean truly low carb ice cream, made with real cream and keto friendly sweeteners like erythritol.
There are some posers out there too. Frozen desserts that claim to be keto friendly but really aren’t.And some that basically taste like frozen water and don’t deserve even a single cent of your money.
I think at this point, I have tested almost all of them out. I got a chance to try some new-to-me keto ice cream brands at KetoCon.
So I figured it was time to update this old post with a full review of all the best store-bought low carb ice cream.
Low Sugar Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts
Back when I first wrote this post, there were really only a handful of low carb ice cream brands. And I use the term “low carb” very loosely. They were really more low sugar ice cream. And some weren’t even really ice cream, but very watery frozen milk.
They were (and still are) attempting to play both fields: low carb and low fat. To me, that really isn’t the point of ice cream. Ice cream should be a decadent treat. It can still be very low carb, but it should have a creamy smooth mouth feel.
Arctic Zero (This is my original review with a minor update)
I don’t love giving negative reviews but I did not think this was a very good ice cream alternative. I picked up two flavours at Whole Foods, the Chocolate Peanut Butter and the Hint of Mint. They tasted like….nothing.
There was barely any flavour to them and my son nailed it when he said they tasted like watered down hot chocolate. It’s not that surprising, when you look at the ingredients. It’s not really ice cream at all, as it’s made with skim milk and whey protein. And it’s almost fat free.
In this case, it also seemed to equal flavour free. The nutrition seems to have changed too, so now they are higher carb and even LESS keto friendly. For the Vanilla Bean (the lowest carb) each serving has 14g carbs per serving, 3g of fiber, 9g of sugars.
The verdict: Not keto-friendly. Pass on by, my friends. There are better low carb ice creams out there.
Halo Top (updated review)
I originally gave Halo Top a favorable review but they appear to have changed their mission and now are far less keto friendly than they once were.
This well known brand has recently expanded their line to include a whole bunch of new flavors, including a number of dairy-free frozen treats. I still like the taste but their formula seems to have changed and the carb count is quite a bit higher now. It used to come out to 4g net carbs per serving and now it’s more like 6g to 8g, depending on the flavor.
And all those wonderful exciting new flavors like salted caramel and cookie dough? Full of things like corn syrup and wheat. Corn syrup! Seriously.
I still buy these for my kids sometimes but as a someone trying to adhere more strictly to the keto diet, I give Halo Top a pass most of the time. If you are desperate, stick to the basic flavors like chocolate or vanilla and eat a small portion.
Vanilla Bean per serving: 14g of carbs, 3g of fiber, 6g of sugar, 5g sugar alcohols (Net carbs would be 6g).
The verdict: Not keto-friendly. Pass on by or have only a half portion, if you must.
Enlightened
Low sugar and low fat, this ice cream brand has plenty of interesting flavors and the flavor is pretty good. My kids really like it but similar to Halo Top, it has some iffy ingredients, including cane sugar and gluten.
And being low fat, it isn’t as satisfying as a keto ice cream really should be. Besides, I am a little concerned about how they arrive at their net carb count, because some of the fiber comes from soluble corn fiber. Corn again! But also the fact that it’s soluble fiber suggests that it could affect blood glucose levels. It also contains tapioca syrup.
Vanilla Bean per serving: 14g carbs, 4g of fiber, 3g of sugar, 6g sugar alcohols (Net carbs would be 4g but I am not sure you can truly trust this).
The verdict: Not keto-friendly. Pass on by or have only a half portion, if you must.
Truly Keto Ice Cream Brands
Okay now that we’ve gotten those imposters out of the way, let’s look at some truly keto ice cream brands and how they stack up.
This was the first keto ice cream brand that caught my eye. I started seeing them mentioned on Instagram, before it ever came out on the market and I asked them to send me some to try. They were obliging and sent me a container of the chocolate.
Since then, I have ordered some myself and they’ve sent me a batch of their new flavors to try. I can’t say I am wild about the chocolate because I like my chocolate ice cream REALLY chocolatey. But every other flavor I’ve tried has been delicious and I think they’ve got a great product. I’m a big fan of the butter pecan.
As an aside: Some people complain about the texture of this (and a few other) keto ice cream brands, saying it isn’t creamy enough and has a crumbly consistency. I say… it’s REALLY hard to make commercial keto ice cream. Why???
Well consider my popular homemade keto ice cream recipes. I make them with all heavy cream. I also make them with a mix of sweeteners to help keep them soft in the freezer. Do you know how much using full cream and both Swerve and Bocha Sweet costs per pint? If an ice cream company were to use these ingredients on a large scale, the cost per pint would be absolutely exorbitant. Think way out of the price range of most budgets!
How does Rebel fare on the nutritional scale?
Vanilla: 10g of carbs, 2g of fiber, 0 sugars, 7g erythritol.
The verdict: This is truly keto ice cream and I give it a thumbs up.
I have a particular affection for Keto Pint because it’s made right here in my (adopted) hometown of Portland, Oregon. I have actually met the lovely young couple behind Keto Pint, as they were serving up treats at a local street fair last summer. We got chatting and I was delighted to hear that they were coming out with a keto ice cream.
I supported their Kickstarter campaign and I’ve been pleased with their approach and their ice cream. My family loves the Salted Caramel. They don’t have a vanilla, because they want to be a bit different and come out with more interesting flavors. I’m all for more interesting low carb ice cream!
They have faced some criticism on the texture as well and they reacted to the feedback with a great attitude. They took it to heart and worked on a re-formulation that included just egg yolks instead of whole eggs, for a richer, creamier product.
I am going to stand by these guys too. I think they’re doing a great job.
Again, I think if people are expecting store-bought keto ice cream to be exactly what they used to enjoy, they need to change their expectations quickly. Sadly, ice cream made with erythritol will ALWAYS freeze very hard and be a little more crumbly in texture. It’s the nature of the sugar-free beast. Erythritol is the only sugar alcohol we can fully trust because it is the only one with zero carb impact. And if you want keto ice cream with a reasonable price tag, you need to accept this.
Keto Pint doesn’t have a vanilla, but the nutritional info for the Salted Caramel (our favorite!) is 7g carbs, 2g fiber, 2g sugars (no added sugars), 2g erythritol.
The verdict: This is truly keto ice cream and I give it a thumbs up. And I am cheering them on because YAY PORTLAND!
This was a new-to-me brand that I got a chance to try at KetoCon. Admittedly, I only tried a single flavor and it was a very unusual one that they are producing in limited edition in support of Orca Whales. I think it may go on sale tomorrow (July 15th) and they expect it to run out quickly.
It’s a flavor made with activated charcoal, of all things. It’s black in color and absolutely delicious. Weird but true.
I haven’t had that much experience with this brand but I do hope to get my hands on more of it soon. Regardless, first impressions are important and my impression was that it was incredibly creamy, even straight out of the freezer.
For their vanilla flavor, the nutrition per serving is: 9g carbs, 3g fiber, 0g sugar, 4g erythritol
The verdict: A truly keto ice cream brand and one I am looking forward to getting to know a lot better.
Again, a new-to-me brand I got to try at KetoCon. The problem was that I only got the teeniest, tiniest taste in a very small sample cup. The taste was fine but it was pretty rock solid and yes, very crumbly.
Several people had raved about it and told me it was the creamiest and the best so I was surprised at the texture of the sample. It’s local to the Austin, TX area so I suppose many of them are cheering on Mammoth the way I am cheering on Keto Pint.
I don’t really feel like I can fully review their product at this time except to say it’s another truly keto ice cream brand and I feel the more, the merrier. I will have to try to get my hands on more to give you more info than that. But apparently it is more expensive than the other brands.
Their vanilla weighs in at (per serving) 6g carbs, 0 fiber, 1g sugar (no added sugars), 5g sugar alcohols
The verdict: Truly keto, but I need to do more taste testing to see how it stacks up against the others.
As you can see, I think all of these keto ice cream brands have merit. They have tough shoes to fill, because using keto sweeteners often results in a difference in texture and consistency from the ice cream we may be used to. Personally, I am just happy to have some I can grab once in a while when I don’t have time to make my own.
Be sure to try these great low carb ice cream recipes
Low Carb Death By Chocolate Ice Cream
Low Carb Butter Pecan Ice Cream Pie
Low Carb Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Low Carb Peanut Butter Fudge Ripple Ice Cream
Easy Chocolate Mason Jar Ice Cream
Low Carb Pumpkin Spice Latte Ice Cream
Low Carb Blueberry Pie Ice Cream
Low Carb Raspberry Mascarpone Ice Cream
Low Carb Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Bars
Michelle Dickman says
I LOVE the soDelicious sugar free icecream. Chocolate is my favorite, but the mint chip is pretty awesome too. I was able to have some of the bars while on vacation in Arizona and I thought I diedand gone to low carb icecream heaven. They, sadly, don’t carry them in my area and I’ve even tried to special order.
Jessica says
FYI, your silicone mold link is incorrect.
This is a great post. I can’t wait to try this stuff out!
Carolyn says
Oh, thanks for the heads up!
Ashley says
I’m with you on the Arctic Zero. Flavored frozen water is what it tastes like. I’ve tried to like it, my hubby has tried to like it, but BLECK! Do love SoDelicious, though! And while I don’t have to avoid carbs/sugar, I do have to avoid soy and love that they have soy free frozen treats I can enjoy! Going to try to find Halo Top today on my lunch hour. No promises there will be any left for my husband, though, if it’s that’s good 😀
Becca says
I love Halo Top, hope to see those new flavors in stores soon because they look amazing! I also need to try to find that quark!
Shawn Anderson says
I have been so sad as I just bought a pint last week of the birthday cake flavor. I am so excited to see that this in moderation will be okay!!
Kissa says
Thank you so much for posting these! I will definitely check out the Halo brand. Low carb ice cream is great but like you said, it’s not always convenient to break out the ice cream maker, make custard, etc. Sometimes you just want the instant gratification and I’m happy that some good alternatives now exist! I’ve been trying out the Enlightened bars lately and some of them are really excellent. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl is a thing of beauty and at 5 net carbs (after subtracting erythritol and fiber) I’m sold on these as an occasional treat. Just thought I’d share. 🙂
LimoBarbie says
Breyers carb smart is the BEST low carb ice cream going. The chocolate is hard to find, but the vanilla is great–creamy with good flavor and perfect to mix with diet Orange or A&W diet root beer. It’s also good underneath chopped strawberries or blueberries. You should try it, it kicks the crap out of anything else on the market.
Carolyn says
I have tried it but I don’t like to eat sucralose. So it’s not on my list, I find things like that unappealing and I can taste the chemicals.
Suzy Padilla says
I agree with Limobarbie about Breyers vanilla My favorite is the ice cream topped with Smucker sugar free Carmel topping, a swirl of Redi Whip and some Walnut nut topping on top. Heaven pure heaven!!!
Annannas says
I saw an ad for the carb smart Breyers so I looked it up. I’m looking for things with no sugar (and the ingredient list is too long, complicated and chemical laden) so it doesn’t work for me. If you’re interested, the ingredient list is:
Skim Milk, Water. Cream, Sorbitol, Polydextrose, Whey
Contains 2% or Less of each of the Following:
Glycerin, Natural Flavor, Propylene Glycol Monoesters, Cellulose Gel, Mono And Diglycerides, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Carob Bean Gum, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose (Splenda Brand), Carrageenan, Sugar
By contrast, Halo Top ingredients look pretty good but it lacks real creaminess which is, after all, part of the wonder of ice-cream. So, while the flavor is pretty good, if a bit on the heavy milky side, the texture is very disappointing. Here’s the ingredient list for Halo Top vanilla:
Milk and cream, eggs, erythritol, prebiotic fiber, milk protein concentrate, organic cane sugar, vegetable glycerin, vanilla extract, vanilla beans, sea salt, organic carob gum, organic guar gum, organic stevia.
I’ve not tried the carb-smart Breyer’s but I do like the regular Breyer’s ice-cream. In part, because they have better ingredients than other, big brand ice-creams that you can get in most grocery stores. Bottom line for me: if I’m going to be conservative of sugar and calories, I’ll take Halo Top and feel good about the ingredients. If not, I’ll cover my peepers and eat the real stuff. (If I’m gonna’ eat junk, I want the good junk.)
Sandy Calderone says
Hall has to be put out on counter for 20 minutes ish to be creamier. That’s what I figured out. Trial/error
Paula says
Yes, that’s right! If you look at the carton itself, it even tells you to let it sit before you eat it! When you do…it’s just as smooth as any ice cream out there. I’ve tried a few flavors that were amazingly good!
Karen S says
That’s interesting to learn. I bought Halo Top, took one bite and tossed it in the trash. It was way too chalky for me. Perhaps I need to try again and let it soften first. Thanks for the tip!
Rebecca LaBeth says
Unfortunately I can’t get HaloTop in my area AT ALL!!! Sad face! So I’ve resorted to Arctic Zero. The Cookie Dough and Vanilla Maple are not all that bad. Is it really ice cream? No. But it’s a good substitute. 🙂
Carolyn says
I believe Halo Top will start moving into new areas soon. Try the So Delicious products too, if you can find them!
Mary says
Does Halo Top or So Delicious contain corn? They sound worth trying but I have a corn allergy which makes buying pre-made products difficult. 🙁
Carolyn says
You can check out their ingredients on their websites. Here’s the direct link for the chocolate halo top. http://www.halotop.com/flavors/#chocolate
Laura says
Thank you for the reviews! I feel the need to go to whole foods now…. Another great ice cream is Clemmys…. It has malitol though, so I only eat a little at a time. Their chocolate peanut butter is awesome! Here is a link if you want to check it out. http://www.clemmysicecream.com/pints/chocolate
Carolyn says
Sadly, maltitol spikes my blood sugar. This is a no-go for me.
Ann Gardner says
Carolyn, I love your blog. I am a low carb gal and loved this post. I wondered if you ever have tried these? http://www.fatboyicecream.com/dlites/
They are legit! I have turned so many people on to active d’lites. I am with you that I don’t really like the ice cream with fake sugar, so these are kind of the perfect balance.
Carolyn says
I will have to keep my eye out for them.
Aimee says
Great post! And just perfect for the week we’ve been having here in Portland too…I love that you mentioned Eastside Distilling, their products are fantastic. They make a great Holiday Spiced Liqueur & if you haven’t do so yet, I highly recommend taking the tour+tasting once they start doing them again, it’s really fun to learn about how they make all of the products.
Carolyn says
I would love the tour!
Karen Jo says
Set a tour day up in September Carolyn 😉
Carolyn says
I will…with my husband, he would love it!
mellissa @ ibreatheimhungry says
Ooooh – lots of yummy things I haven’t tried yet! Looks like it’s time to head to Whole Foods and stock up!!!
Alice says
Thank you! I am an ice cream person … and miss that the most. I haven’t tried these so I appreciate your info. I need to try making my own too. The pork skins sound great. The ones I get are so salty …. and sometimes that bothers me a little. Definitely going in search of the whiskey! Hopefully they will have it here in TX!
AliceJoy
Barbara says
Love the So Delicious ice cream ! Will look out for the Halo one. Can never have too much ice cream on a hot summer day ! 😉
judy says
I agree…Arctic Zero is awful. I tried a few flavors and ended up throwing them all out. I just bought an ice cream maker and I was thrilled with the ‘easy’ recipe that I used. A trick to make it scoopable after putting it in the freezer is to put it in the microwave for 15 to 30 seconds. Worked great!
Katie says
Your earlier mention of Halo Top turned me on to it. It is available in Texas in the DFW area, at any rate. Sprouts Market carries it. It is definitely very tasty and the lemon one is especially good (I say this as an avowed chocoholic!). I’ve been lurking on your blog for a few years now and I just wanted to thank you, Carolyn, for your recipes and your blog. You and Maria Emmerich are my two go-tos when I’m trying to do the low-carb and/or keto thing and keep it as natural as possible. I have no particular dietary reason (such as diabetes or celiac disease) to do low-carb, other than I’ve been reading about it for years and have come to believe that it is probably best for health. I can eat a muffin or dessert (usually from one of yours or Maria’s recipes) and not feel as though I’ve “cheated” (I do try to avoid that language, but years of conditioning to believe some foods are “sinful” and others “guilt-free” are hard to shake!). I also appreciate that when I step on the scale, I haven’t gained! I’ve found keto/low-carb difficult as a weight loss tool, to be honest, but it seems to really work well as a maintenance diet. Since I am within 10 pounds of my goal weight, I really have to restrict calories in general to see any loss. Probably, I would have to restrict fat as well (and low carb, low fat is miserable!). At any rate, I love checking out your blog and do so on at least a weekly basis! I’m so glad you update constantly! Just wanted to drop you a line to show my appreciation! Keep on keepin’ on! 🙂
Carolyn says
Thanks so much, Katie. I hope you figure out a good way to get to your goal weight. I think every metabolism is a little different and needs slightly different things. But you’re right, I do believe that low carb is just simply a healthier way to live.
Cat says
Hi Carolyn
I wanted to let your California viewers know that Halotop is carried at Fresh and Easy stores, Ralphs and some Whole Foods. I too love Halotop and was saddened to see our Sprouts discontinue Halotop only to replace it with Arctic Zero…which is awful! Maybe your reviews will help bring it back into our stores. After reading your review, I’m gonna have to try the So Delicious brand of ice cream treats. Love your recipes and what you do for the low carb community!!! Thank-you
Erinn says
Glad to see I’m not the only one who found Arctic Zero repulsive.
Carolyn says
Yup, totally not worth the $$$!
Sara says
Love love love your review posts – so glad you’re doing more! You always have me learning about some nifty new product that I end up loving. I haven’t seen any of the Quark yogurt around here – might have to request it at my Whole Foods.
And so glad to have another vote of confidence for SoDelicious ice cream. It’s beyond tasty – love their butter pecan. Makes an excellent vanilla ice cream float, too (with a nifty stevia-only sweetened root beer I found)!
Pug says
I’m always so jealous of the range of low carb foods you can get in the USA! Next time I visit I’m bringing an extra suitcase just to cram full of FOOD. Might have to leave the ice cream over there though 😉
Carolyn says
I know, it’s tough. Even the Canadians just north of the border can’t get what we can.
Pattyg says
Love the So Delicious treats! Just ordeted the Zipsicicle molds this week. Have you posted before about what to fill them with?
Carolyn says
Patty, I haven’t posted about them before. But I do just make a big smoothie for my kids (often contains higher carb fruits, it’s not for me!), and fill it with that. But I’ve seen some awesome ideas, including sweetened coffee. I need to try that one!
Cat Latuszek says
I lovelovelove the So Delicious sugar free ice cream in mint chocolate chip. You can’t taste the coconut at all and the texture is incredibly close to regular ice cream. Mint chocolate chip is my fave flavour so that’s an added bonus. 😉 Soooo good. I’ve tried the chocolate and thought it was ok but the coconut flavour was a little strong for my taste – although after the first couple bites I didn’t notice it at all and it became a good creamy chocolate ice cream. Plan on trying the vanilla bean when I’m next at home since I can’t seem to find it up here.
Barbara Petrini says
Hi Carolyn. I was just about to order the pork rinds and I’m just curious to know your feelings on Olive oil. I of course know that it’s not good for high heat frying, but are there other issues?
Patti says
Thanks for your reviews and info about the products. I’ve already ordered the cherry whiskey and their marionberry whiskey, too (in time for Father’s Day)! Wegman’s and Whole Foods in my area carry the Halo ice cream, so I’ll need to get there to try it. Thanks again for sharing your info!
Carolyn says
I want to try the Marionberry too!
Patti says
Both the cherry and marionberry whiskeys are wonderfully smooth. Thanks for writing about them. I only wish they were available locally (had to order them in the mail).
Susan says
Quark is a huge thing in Germany. So cool that it’s finally made it’s way here!
Vicky says
I haven’t tried Halo Top yet, but I had to put chocolate syrup, peanut butter and whipped cream all over my Artic Zero to make it feel like ice cream.
Two brands I love though are Carb Smart (chocolate!) and Enlightened (salted caramel bar!). They are both so creamy and flavorful.
Denise says
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for the heads up on the So Delicious coconut ice cream. It’s the only one available in Canada and i found the chocolate and vanilla at my local Loblaws. Its really good and makes summer bearable!
Ashlee says
Another low carb Ice cream I found at my local WholeFoods is called Clemmy’s. My favorite is their coffee but I also love the chocolate chip and vanilla flavored. I’ve never seen Halo Top but I will be keeping an eye out for it! Thanks!
Brynn says
The Strawberry Arctic Zero is really good! All the others I agree with the “no flavor” comments.
KarenJo says
Halo all the way! My freezer is small and a family of one so hard for me to make my own ice cream. I have only found the basic flavors but will hunt them down this summer for sure!
Maria says
Arctic Zero. The brand is very accurate on temperature: arctic cold; and taste: zero. I may have to find the strawberry as some one commented that it was good, unlike the other flavors. I have to google where to find Halo Top locally, other than Whole Foods.
Carolyn says
🙂 I think you left the same comment on my FB page and it made me laugh!
Mindy says
Update for those looking for Halo Top: Kroger sells it! I’ve seen the chocolate, mint chip, lemon cake, strawberry and vanilla bean. You can also order them online in a variety pack directly from Halo (for most areas).
Kurt Weina says
I guess I am the only one that can’t stand Halo Top “ice cream”. I find it just, not creamy. If only it were low carb AND high fat, it might be good. The way it is, it is only low carb, very little fat. Fat is what makes Ice Cream so delectable!
Carolyn says
True but Halo Top is the best commercial version I’ve tried.
gjeanieg says
Any opinion on the new Breyers Delights ice cream? They are definitely trying to tap into the Halo Top market.
Sandra says
Thanks so much for this (updated) post. Rebel is the only truly keto ice cream I can purchase in my small town and I’m so pleased to have access to it. While it’s definitely rock hard straight out of the freezer, I’ ve started following the suggestion on the carton to let it sit out 15min before consuming (not easy to do!) and it makes a huge difference in texture…much creamier. (to be honest, the drive home from the store seems to be the exact measure of time to wait!). I assume this recommendation would apply to other keto ice-creams as well.
Carolyn says
Yes, I should have mentioned that. Even homemade keto ice cream needs that sometimes.
Pat says
Thank you for your review! I useRebel and defrost it in the microwave! On another note, will you please tell me how many teaspoons of Pink salt (not grams) I should consume daily. Thank you!
Carolyn says
Sorry, I know nothing about consuming pink salt.
Kathleen Saage says
Per Phinney & Volek, 2 1/2 teaspoons of pink salt per day if you are keto. https://blog.virtahealth.com/sodium-nutritional-ketosis-keto-flu-adrenal-function/
But I came here not to answer salt questions but to offer my appreciation for these reviews and to say that Rebel is my new favorite. The mint chip and coffee chip are so tasty. Yes, it has to set on the counter for 15-20 minutes to be scoopable but it is truly keto and it’s delicious.
Jennifer King says
When Rebel ice cream ads first popped on Instagram I was anxious to finally try a REAL keto-friendly commercial ice cream! I was then super excited to find that Publix had picked them up and offers them at their stores (1200+!). My husband and I have been hooked ever since. He loves the Butter Pecan and I’m kinda hooked on the Peanut Butter Fudge… and wow, a net carb count for the WHOLE pint that’s equal to the 1/2 cup servings of others we have tried! …Not that we have ever eaten an entire pint! Rebel is creamy and filling and I always hurry the “soften” time by popping the carton in the microwave for about 10 seconds.
MJ says
Thanks Carolyn for this great read! I live in NE Oregon and Keto Pint thankfully is available in my small town. I treat myself occasionally and now feel more confident on indulging after reading your review. Salted Caramel, Coffee and P-nut butter are the only flavors available here, but hey I’ll take it!
Jessica Shea says
I have a small grocery store in Lake Tahoe – thanks for the reviews…so far, we’ve ordered the enlightened and arctic…hoping to be able to switch to KETO as soon as they are available in our area. Thanks for the new suggestions!
Carolyn says
Oh very cool! I could put you in touch with the people behind Keto Pint or Rebel if you wanted to carry it at your store. For me, these two are on par in terms of taste and texture.
Greg Stevens says
Taste can be very subjective, but on texture… I found the Keto Pint to be very powdery. They advertised a video of you trying it, but was that their production batch? You even said it was scoopable out of the freezer on this video on their instagram. But It took twice as long to to soften as other keto ice creams, and and even then it was still crumbly and powdery… It tasted very powdery in my mouth too. It was very strange. I’ve seen dozens of others on Instagram try to fix this by stirring it for like 15 minutes, after letting it soften for like 45 minutes, to try and make it creamy… so I’m not sure how the texture could be on par with Rebel? Did you try their new improved formula or something
Carolyn says
It was a test batch that I tried, yes. But they’ve now changed their formula to be only egg yolks and not whole eggs so you may find it less crumbly now. I’ve since had both of their commercial batches (the ones with whole eggs and the ones just with egg yolks) and I know what you’re talking about. The egg yolk only version is better.
And personally, I find Rebel has many of the same issues.
Pamela says
I just moved from Portland to CA and I have to give props to KETO ice cream, it is the best out there in my opinion and sea salt Carmel my absolute favorite (I didn’t care for coffee one)! REBEL is my second favorite , I love love the butter pecan and my husbands favorite is strawberry. I did try Killer but only the chocolate peanut butter and thought it was pretty good. Thank you for these posts and awesome recipes!
Dina says
I’m in Austin, and of the Keto selections you’ve covered, have only seen Rebel. They started carrying it at HEB, the local supermarket chain.
Enlightened is GROSS– once I accidentally left out a pint and it “melted” to a completely solid mass of jiggly goo from all the stabilizers and chemicals. Not something I want to ingest.
Carolyn says
Apparently Mammoth is local, you should check them out.
Lisa K says
I have to admit that out of all the “keto” or “low carb” ice creams out there, I’ve only eaten Rebel. And the reason I haven’t tried anything else is because it is FABULOUS! I’ve probably tried all of their flavors–love that it’s sent to me all the way across the country (still haven’t seen it in my local stores). The negative comments that were made can be fixed by (1) letting it thaw a few minutes on the counter or (2) warming it a bit in the microwave (yes, the microwave!) for a minute at 50% power. I find Rebel ice creams to be creamy, sweet, and delicious! I love that I can recognize all the ingredients and that they come in a variety of flavors. My daughter’s favorite is Coffee Chip and mine is Butter Pecan, but we enjoy all the others. I hope that other blog readers will give it a try. Just let it get a little soft, and you can dish it out of the pint container with ease and enjoy it!
Anna says
Are people not letting their ice cream sit out on the counter before eating? We buy rebel ice cream and depending on the flavor (some of them take longer), we leave them sit out before eating. My favorite, Butter pecan, takes over 30 min to soften…the texture is super creamy!!
Adrian says
Nobody has mentioned Sola, which I’ve seen in a couple stores. It has a creamy texture. It is sweetened partly with tagatose but does have “less than 2% maltitol”. https://solasweet.com/product/ice-cream/
Regarding corn fiber, I read here:
https://convenientketo.net/tapioca-fiber-soluble-corn-fiber-imo/
that corn fiber has a low blood sugar impact, at least for one individual, unlike tapioca fiber aka IMO, which has been showing up in a lot of things.
Carolyn says
Yes, so they say about corn fibre. But tell that to a diabetic who’s sugar spikes every time. Also… some of the brands actually contain corn syrup, not corn fiber. I have not seen any Sola ice cream as yet near me.
Andrea Elkins says
Try the Low Cow brand. I can’t remember where I found it, but it beat Halo Top by a mile!
Carolyn says
Sorry but with those ingredients (this brand contains sugar, cornstarch, and maltitol), I cannot say this would be a very good choice for keto or even for low carb. Except in very small amounts.
Phyl says
The only low carb ice creams I have in my area are Halo Top and Rebel. Rebel just appeared about 3 months ago, so Halo Top was the only choice for quite some time. I definitely was not a fan of the texture of Halo Top and gave up on it after a few tries. I did let it soften for quite some time, but the texture still was very chalky and gritty. Then Rebel came along, and I gave it a try thinking it would be the same. The texture at first seemed a little chalky again, so I left it out even longer to see what would happen. I have found that, even with the warmer summer temperatures, I need to let it sit on the countertop for about an hour (sometimes longer) before it truly softens. When I do that, it is SOOOOO creamy and delicious. So I decided to try that with another Halo Top, but I still did not like the texture. Can’t wait to see if other brands make it to my area. Until they do, Rebel will be my brand unless I take the leap and start making my own.
Susan L Yenne says
So I tried the Killer Creamier 3 different flavors I felt they were very medicine tasting. I couldn’t find the one you tried of the Salted Caramel but it made me sad that they texture and taste wasn’t very good. On the other hand I had rebel cookie dough in the fridge so all was not lost. For texture I have to say Rebel just wins hands down on what is currently on market.
Melissa says
On the Rebel Ice cream, it says to leave it out for 15 minutes before eating it. This helps it not to be so crumbly. I think it’s amazing!
Carolyn says
They all say that. And yes it helps but some people still object to the texture of some of these ice creams.
Sara says
I love the Breyers low carb chocolate ice cream and I just found out they also make a peanut butter flavor and chocolate dipped ice cream bars too! It’s affordable and available at mainstream grocery stores. I actually found the best selection at Wal-Mart.
Mary S. says
The only ones available in my area are Halo Top, Rebel, Enlightened and Arctic Zero. AZ is the last resort for me – only if I need something cold and sorta sweet but nothing else. I have 2 beefs with Rebel: (a) the Vanilla has a horrible metallic taste, (b) calorie count. I may eat keto-ish, but calories are still important to me and for my individual style 150 calories and up per 1/2 cup serving just doesn’t work. I have no self control around ice cream and limiting to a tablespoon or so of Rebel at a time is not a price I’m willing to pay. Enlightened can be strange, but their Red Velvet hits the spot for me with creaminess and sweet. Can’t find it any more, though. So I’ll stick with Halo Top. Hint to everyone: You will never replace Haagen-Dasz with a low carb version, so make the best you can of it. My freezer cannot accommodate the Cuisinart ice cream maker bowl, and my fridge is already stuffed with Bob’s Red Mill Flours and Swerve packets, so adding leftover chicharrones to the mix would push out the eggs and yogurt. Sigh. No free lunch.
Michelle says
I find that Halo Top also gives me quite a bit of gas (TMI?) after eating. And I recently realized that their ice cream is made in a facility that also processes wheat… I don’t know if this is new? But it doesn’t say GF on the label anymore, and so as a Celiac patient I can’t eat this. (Could also be why I felt bloated 🤷♀️). I love So Delicious Caramel Mousse! It’s NOT low carb, unfortunately – plenty of sugar – but lower in calories overall than most ice cream. I think it’s 130 cal for 2/3 cup. It’s light and fluffy (hence the name mousse) and certified GF 🙂 Thanks for this review!
Carolyn says
Yes, all true! Halo Top was good before but then they came out with all of these other kinds and they really aren’t healthy at all.
Marilee says
I can only get Halo and Rebel at my local supermarket here in south Florida. I have tried several Halo flavors but am not a fan, plus some are too high carb. Fortunately for my summer treats, I’ve fallen in love with Rebel butter pecan. I let it sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before eating and feel the texture is quite good. Other flavors I’ve tried are decent and I’ll try yet more, but with the Butter Pecan being so yummy, I’m reluctant to spend… Rebel is almost $6 a pint here.
Dee Gee says
Thank you for your great review. I found Rebel Ice Cream near me and tried (several) pints.
My dad is a diabetic in Texas. Rebel happens to be sold in a little town near him. What a great treat!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Skur says
I was surprised when i bought the Breyers smart carb vanilla to see the carton says 12 cards per half cup serving with 2 gr fiber. 10 carbs is way too much for me. I did try something called wink bday cake flavor and it is cold and lower carb. I guess thats all i can ask. The texture is weird and it has an aftertaste, but its hot here so…
Julie says
Hi Carolyn, thanks for the awesome review. We are just down from Canada, visiting family in Portland. I was excited to try the Rebel kind and assumed I would be able to find it since you are from Portland. I didn’t see it at Whole Foods. Do you mind commenting on where you were able to find it? Thanks so much!
Carolyn says
Hi Julie, I am honestly not sure who carries it in Portland or if anyone does. They have sent it to me for review. I know it’s available in some stores in other parts (found it in Austin TX). They do carry Keto Pint in Whole Foods in PDX, though!
kabira says
I wonder if you know that someone is selling pdf copies of your cookbook on eBay for $1.50. I am always leery of these sort of offers since I wonder if they violate copyright
Carolyn says
Yes, unfortunately they are. Pirated copies and there isn’t much we can do.
Jennifer says
Enlightened has just come out with a “Keto Collection.” I would love to hear your thoughts on these new pints.