We’re about a month shy of National Ice Cream Sandwich Day but right up against the belly of our nation’s birthday — not to mention it’s high season for locally made frozen treats. So we figured a taste test was in order.
We rounded up 17 samples from bakeries, grocery stores, specialty shops and a food truck. This was a blind tasting; judges rated cookies and ice cream separately (on a scale of 1 to 5) and gave an overall score.
The winner — from the executive chef for Cork Wine Bar and Restaurant and its nearby Cork Market — made us swoon. Kristin Hutter swirls a luscious house-made caramel sauce into a subtle, creamy house-made banana ice cream that’s sandwiched between outstanding house-made peanut butter cookies.
“I get to taste flavors she comes up with, so I have the best job,” says co-owner Diane Gross. Cork’s ice cream sandwiches are a summer-only dessert, and the winning ’wich has been offered since the summer of 2011.
Advertisement
— Bonnie S. Benwick
Here are the contestants, in order of ranking, with some of the judges’ comments.
Top 5
Banana Caramel Ice Cream/Peanut Butter Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Cork Market and Tasting Room, 1805 14th St. NW, 202-265-2674
A chorus of flavors; delicious homemade taste; the cookie is actually crunchy. OMG!
Ginger Snapwich With Lemon Ice Cream
Bakeshop, 1025 N. Fillmore St., Arlington, 571-970-6460
Stellar cookie — like a chewy molasses — and very good ice cream, but a not super-interesting flavor.
Ginger Rosemary Ice Cream Sandwich by CreamCycle
Available at Bean & Bite, 1152 15th St. NW, 202-296-3078; Smucker Farms, 2118 14th St. NW, 202-986-7332
Lovely, subtle flavor in the ice cream. Wish the cookie had been baked a bit more.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich with Vanilla Ice Cream
Advertisement
Captain Cookie & the Milkman food truck, various locations in the District (weekdays), 202-556-3396
Cookie consistency was great; ice cream was creamy but too melty.
Saffron and Rosewater Ice Cream Sandwich
Meat in a Box, 312 S. Washington St., Falls Church, 703-533-9070
$3.99 each
Crisp, cracker-type cookie made it tough to eat as a sandwich. The ice cream’s flavoring was interesting, but a bit heavy on the rosewater.
Good to middling
Flying Saucer (chocolate cookie with vanilla ice cream)
Carvel, various locations
$1.99 each
Creamy ice cream; the cookie stayed crunchy.
Ciao Bella Key Lime Graham Gelato Squares
Whole Foods Markets, various locations
About $1.30 each
Great tang to the ice cream, but the cookie is blah.
Klondike Mrs. Fields Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches
Widely available
Share this articleShareAbout $1 each (sold in a four-pack)
Advertisement
Ice cream reminiscent of soft-serve or marshmallow cream. Cookie has stale-freezer taste.
Skinny Cow Chocolate Peanut Butter Low Fat Ice Cream Sandwiches
Widely available
About 75 cents each (sold in a six-pack)
Decent hit of peanut butter. The cookie was too soft.
Trader Joe’s Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches
Trader Joe’s, various locations
About $1 each (sold in a four-pack)
Way too sweet and artificial-tasting; lots of chips.
Lucerne Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches
Safeway, various locations
30 cents each (sold in a 12-pack)
Breath-minty ice cream, gummy cookie.
600-Lb. Gorillas Premium Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich, Vanilla Bean (tie)
BJ’s Wholesale Club, various locations
83 cents each (sold in a 12-pack)
Reminds me of summer at the pool; good hit of toffee.
Imagine Almond Dream Lil’ Dreamers Vanilla Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert Sandwiches (tie)
Advertisement
Widely available
About 50 cents each (sold in an eight-pack)
Tasted freezerish; no richness or depth of flavor in the sandwich or ice cream.
So Delicious Dairy Free Vanilla Minis
Widely available
About 57 cents each (sold in an eight-pack)
Cookie was gooey, the ice cream too thin.
Not impressive
Tofutti Cuties Vanilla Sandwiches (tie)
Widely available
About 44 cents each (sold in an eight-pack)
It’s like Cool Whip on a cookie.
Whole Treat Organic Ice Cream Sandwiches (tie)
Whole Foods Markets, various locations
83 cents each (sold in an eight-pack)
Flabby cookie, bland ice cream.
Julie’s Organic Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches
Widely available at health food stores
About $1 each (sold in a six-pack)
Sticks to your teeth; bad, sad.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZLmqssSsq7KklWSzsLvDaKuaq6SaerWx0q1kopuVYrCzscCmZKyZnpnEqq%2FHnqpoamBmgHB8lmhnamdhZ4J6sJJsb2ack5qzbn2QnmlmcGWZsm6vj2yamnBkmK91scWYqq2noq57qcDMpQ%3D%3D