The Only Dessert You’ll Find in My Freezer This Summer
The combination of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream can't be beat, and this version of Neapolitan from Tillamook might be the best iteration on the classic.
I am never so full that I can't have one more scoop of ice cream. And then maybe one more scoop. And then another. And one more? Well, you get the picture. I love ice cream. And out of all of the brands and flavors to choose from at the grocery store right now, the carton I'm grabbing the most these days is Tillamook's Neapolitan Ice Cream.
The combination of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla is already one of my favorites, but Tillamook's version of Neapolitan might be the best iteration out there.
Why I Love Tillamook's Neopolitan Ice Cream
Each flavor in Neapolitan ice cream should taste good on its own, but also when paired together. And Tillamook achieves this in spades. The chocolate ice cream has chocolate ripples throughout the base, the strawberry ice cream has flecks of Oregon strawberries, and the old-fashioned vanilla ice cream is the great neutralizer. The slight texture variation helps distinguish the three flavors without having one flavor feel more prominent or special than the others.
Speaking of texture, there's a lot to unpack here. Tillamook uses more cream in its ice cream than legally required for it to be considered ice cream (according to the FDA, ice cream needs to contain at least 10% milkfat to be considered "ice cream" and not "frozen dairy dessert"). The result is a smooth, rich, and (duh) creamy ice cream.
Tillamook's Neopolitan ice cream also somehow manages to have this incredible fluffy texture. I don't know how else to describe it other than it feels like you're eating creamy air. It's like if cotton candy was thick, smooth, and not too sweet.
According to Steve Marko, Sr. Director of Research & Development, this is achieved through their quality ingredients. "At Tillamook, we combine the added extra cream with real eggs, sugar, and natural tara and guar gum. This provides a rich ice cream that may still seem fluffy because it is not weighed down by high fructose corn syrup, modified starches, or mono and diglycerides," Marko explains.
At about $5.99 for 48 ounces, Tillamook is a little more expensive than Breyers or Edy's, but well below other premium brands you'd find at the grocery store like Van Leeuwen. It's available nationwide, including at Target, Kroger, Albertsons, and Safeway.
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