The diverse and ever-evolving world of ice cream has always held a special place in the hearts (and freezers) of Americans, with U.S. ice cream manufacturers producing more than 1.38 billion gallons of ice cream annually, and more than 94% of U.S. adults buying ice cream, frozen novelties, or frozen yogurt last year. What better time to dive into America’s latest and greatest flavor preferences than during National Ice Cream Month in July?
Traditional Flavors
A recent survey of more than 2,200 American adults conducted by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and Morning Consult revealed that 97% of Americans either like or love ice cream. The survey shows that traditional tastes continue to dominate, with Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry being the top three flavors enjoyed by U.S. consumers, and Butter Pecan and Cookie Dough holding 4th and 5th positions respectively.
Google Searches Reveal More Eclectic Tastes
Another study conducted by Affordable Seating, which analyzed Google search data on over 100 different ice cream flavors across each US state, uncovered more adventurous tastes among the American public. Making the top twenty list were eclectic flavors such as Blue Moon (#11), Ube (#12) and Moose Tracks (#8), an ice cream recipe consisting of vanilla ice cream with peanut butter cups and Moose Tracks fudge. Neapolitan ice cream led the pack with an impressive 60,200 searches per month, while classic Vanilla held the second most popular position, and Superman, a three-flavor ice cream that usually appears in red, blue, and yellow colors came in third.
Moose Tracks Ice Cream
TikTok’s Take
TikTok’s most enduring culinary craze involves a surprising twist on vanilla ice cream: drizzling it with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkling it with flaky sea salt. This unusual flavor combination gained fame when Grammy-winning singer Dua Lipa revealed in an interview on BBC Radio 1, last November that it’s her favorite way to enjoy ice cream. The trend quickly caught on, with Halo Top Creamery even creating a TikTok video featuring their vanilla ice cream paired with these unique toppings, riding the wave of the newfound ice cream obsession.
Vanilla bean gelato with sea salt and olive oil
The Final Word… Instacart
With Instacart commanding at least one-fifth of the online grocery market, there’s no more insightful way to determine America’s favorite ice cream flavor than by taking a glimpse at its sales data. Instacart delivers 22% more ice cream per customer in July than the yearly average, and according to sales volumes, vanilla comes out on top. Vanilla makes up 30% of all Instacart purchases, with 21 states favoring it. Chocolate is the second most popular flavor, preferred by 15 East Coast states. Mint chocolate chip leads in four states, including the Pacific Northwest and Pennsylvania, while coffee ice cream is a favorite in four states from Hawaii to Rhode Island.
This look at America’s favorite ice cream flavors highlights the timeless allure of Vanilla. Whether determined through surveys, online search data, social media trends, or spending habits, it’s clear that this classic flavor holds a cherished place in American culture.
“It’s arguably the most versatile of them all,” says Laurentia Romaniuk, Instacart’s Trends Expert, of the popularity of vanilla ice cream. “The luscious vanilla flavor effortlessly enhances a variety of desserts, whether it’s nestled in a chocolate sundae, paired a-la-mode with a slice of pie or cobbler, or simply savored in its pure form with a delightful sprinkle topping. As such, it holds the title of America’s favorite ice cream overall, and we don’t foresee it losing its lead anytime soon!”
As the summer heats up, now might be the perfect time to indulge in your favorite flavor— or perhaps discover a new one.