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Our Favorite Store-Brand Chocolate Ice Cream

See how supermarket offerings from Aldi, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, and more stood up to Breyers and Häagen-Dazs

Scoops of chocolate ice cream in glass bowls beside a white spoon.
We found great-tasting store-brand chocolate ice cream for less than some brand-name options.
Photo: Ben Goldstein

Like most everything in the grocery store, the price of ice cream has risen in recent years. But our tests found that you can get a tub of rich, fudgy chocolate for less by choosing store brands. 

Our experts blind-tasted two well-known classic brands—Breyers and Häagen-Dazs—and nine less expensive supermarket versions. 

More on Healthy Eating

The ice cream comes in two categories: premium and regular. These are marketing terms and don’t have standard definitions. But premium ice creams, like Häagen-Dazs, usually contain less air and have a richer, denser texture (along with more calories, added sugars, and saturated fat) than regular ice creams, like Breyers. Because they’re higher in fat, premium ice creams typically need fewer gums and emulsifiers (such as guar gum, carrageenan, and mono- and diglycerides) to maintain structure, prevent iciness, and slow melting than regular ice creams.

The big-name brands got top marks for taste. Some of the supermarket offerings were just okay, but we found two near-dupes for each brand name that, depending on your preferences, you might like even better. The cherry on top: Some of our favorite store-brand buys will save you up to 65 percent per ⅔-cup serving.

Regular Ice Cream
Breyers Chocolate
Name Brand Breyers Ice Cream, Chocolate 1.5 quarts, $5.60 62¢ per serving

This ice cream has a rich, fudgy flavor and subtle nutty notes. The texture is slightly icy and light but not airy.

Nutrition
Calories: 180
Saturated fat: 6 g
Added sugars: 15 g
Protein: 3 g
365 Whole Foods
Top Store-Brand Pick 365 Whole Foods Market Ice Cream, Chocolate
1.5 quarts, $5.50
61¢ per serving

Good, bittersweet chocolate taste, with notes of caramel. It has a nice thick texture, too, that makes it taste a bit richer than Breyers and other supermarket regular ice creams.

Nutrition
Calories: 200
Saturated fat: 7 g
Added sugars: 15 g
Protein: 5 g
Wellsley Farms
Good Deal Wellsley Farms (BJ's) Premium Ice Cream, Chocolate ½ gallon, $6 50¢ per serving

Despite the word "premium" on the label, the calories and fat content of this ice cream are similar to other “regular” ice creams. Our testers like its deep, dark-chocolate flavor. It's a bit sweeter, fudgier, and denser than Breyers.

Nutrition
Calories: 180
Saturated fat: 6 g
Added sugars: 15 g
Protein: 3 g
Sundae Shoppe
Just Okay Sundae Shoppe (Aldi), Chocolate 1.5 quarts, $2.75 31¢ per serving

Mild milk-chocolate ice cream with a slightly airy texture. It contains more additives than the brand name.

Nutrition
Calories: 170
Saturated fat: 5 g
Added sugars: 10 g
Protein: 3 g
Great Value
Just Okay Great Value (Walmart), Chocolate 1.5 quarts, $3 33¢ per serving

Basic chocolate flavor with malty notes and a slightly airy texture. It contains more additives than the brand name.

Nutrition
Calories: 190
Saturated fat: 6 g
Added sugars: 13 g
Protein: 3 g
Favorite Day
Just Okay Favorite Day (Target), Chocolate 1.5 quarts, $4 44¢ per serving

Milk-chocolate ice cream with a slightly airy texture. It contains more additives than the brand name.

Nutrition
Calories: 200
Saturated fat: 7 g
Added sugars: 13 g
Protein: 3 g
Premium Ice Cream
Haagen-Dazs
Brand Name Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream, Chocolate 28 fluid ounces, $9.50 $1.90 per serving

Dense, full, and creamy smooth ice cream with balanced chocolate and milk flavors and subtle nutty and caramel notes.

Nutrition
Calories: 310
Saturated fat: 12 g
Added sugars: 19 g
Protein: 6 g
Trader Joe's
Top Store-Brand Pick Trader Joe’s Super Premium Ice Cream, Ultra Chocolate 1 quart, $5 83¢ per serving

A win for dark-chocolate lovers, this creamy dessert has a deep, rich flavor, with hints of nuts and coffee. Dense and creamy.

Nutrition
Calories: 330
Saturated fat: 12 g
Added sugars: 25 g
Protein: 5 g
Specially Selected
Good Deal Specially Selected (Aldi) Super Premium Ice Cream, Chocolate 48 fluid ounces, $6 67¢ per serving

This tastes close to Häagen-Dazs: dense and creamy, with a milk-chocolate flavor and some nutty notes.

Nutrition
Calories: 340
Saturated fat: 15 g
Added sugars: 23 g
Protein: 6 g
Wegmans
Also Good Wegmans Premium French Ice Cream, Chocolate
1 pint, $4.50
$1.50 per serving

The flavor of the chocolate is milder here than in some of the others in this category, and you pick up hints of cherry and malt. Dense texture.

Nutrition
Calories: 330
Saturated fat: 14 g
Added sugars: 22 g
Protein: 5 g
Better Goods
Also Good Bettergoods (Walmart) Premium Ice Cream, Ultimate Chocolate 1 pint, $3.45 $1.15 per serving

Reminiscent of a dark-chocolate brownie, this one has a rich fudgy flavor and a fairly dense texture.

Nutrition
Calories: 280
Saturated fat: 11 g
Added sugars: 20 g
Protein: 5 g

Editor’s Note: A version of this article also appeared in the July/August 2026 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.


Trisha Calvo

Trisha Calvo has been the deputy editor for health and food at Consumer Reports since 2013, focusing on nutrition and food safety, frequently editing food safety investigations. Previously, she was an executive editor at Rodale Books and the executive editor at Shape magazine. You’ll often find her in her kitchen creating deliciously healthy dishes.