I grabbed my biggest spoon and hit the Costco freezer aisle to taste-test the trendiest ice creams, viral treats, and healthy pops of the season. Here is my definitive guide to what you should buy or skip.
1. The Undisputed King: Kirkland Signature Super Premium Vanilla Ice Cream
Grab your biggest spoon because I am diving headfirst into a tub that puts gourmet scoop shops to shame. If you think vanilla is boring, this will completely reset your expectations.
Price: Under $15 (for two massive half-gallon tubs).
Taste Test: This isn’t artificial “vanilla flavoring.” It is exploding with a deep, rich, authentic Madagascar vanilla bean punch. The sweetness is heavy but perfectly balanced by the clean, dominant dairy notes. It tastes exactly like a high-end parlor scoop.
Texture Summary: Jaw-droppingly dense and velvety. Because it has a remarkably low “overrun” (the amount of air whipped into ice cream), it feels incredibly thick and luxurious on the tongue, melting slowly and evenly.
Make It Better: Elevate a scoop by swirling in a warm spoonful of unheated elderberry syrup or flaky sea salt and a quick drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Perfect Pairings: The absolute ultimate companion for a warm slice of summer peach cobbler or dropped into an ice-cold mug of IBC root beer for a legendary float.
Final Verdict: BUY (An absolute freezer staple).
2. The Luxurious Trendsetter: La Menorquina Mini Dubai Chocolate Style Ice Cream Sandwiches
The viral Dubai chocolate trend has officially hit the frozen aisle, and I am here for it. This imports pure boutique luxury straight into a convenient, bite-sized format.
Price: ~$16.99 for a 15-count box.
Taste Test: The dark chocolate outer shell snaps beautifully, giving way to a wonderfully mild, lightly sweet green pistachio ice cream filling. The chocolate flavor is deep and decadent without being waxy, though the pistachio flavor is more elegant and subtle than aggressive.
Texture Summary: A literal culinary masterpiece of textures. You get the immediate crisp snap of the thick chocolate coating, paired with the gritty, highly addictive crunch of traditional kataifi pastry bits, ending in a silky-smooth ice cream center.
Make It Better: Keep these deeply chilled until the absolute second you eat them; if they sit out even slightly, the delicate pastry crunch inside can lose its structural integrity.
Perfect Pairings: Serve these alongside a bitter espresso or a dark roast Turkish coffee to contrast the rich chocolate sweetness.
Final Verdict: BUY (A decadent, must-try winner).
3. The Nostalgic Crowd-Pleaser: Kirkland Signature Ice Cream Bars
I am unwrapping a true classic here. This is Costco’s answer to the premium ice cream bars we all loved growing up, scaled up to feed an entire backyard gathering.
Price: ~$12 for an 18-count box.
Taste Test: Solid, dependable, and comforting. The milk chocolate coating is rich and sweet, embedded with beautifully roasted almonds that cut through the sugary creaminess of the vanilla center.
Texture Summary: The crunch from the roasted almonds and the initial bite of the chocolate shell contrast nicely with the soft vanilla ice cream underneath. It lacks a major “wow factor,” but the mouthfeel is refreshing and chilly.
Make It Better: Chop one up and drop the pieces directly into a blender with a splash of milk for a quick, crunchy, chocolate-almond milkshake.
Perfect Pairings: Pairs beautifully with a crisp, dry prosecco or served as a casual backyard dessert after a smoky plate of grilled barbecue ribs.
Final Verdict: BUY (A reliable, high-value staple for families).
4. The Theme Park Escape: Dole Whip Pineapple Cups
I am cracking open a cup of pure sunshine. If you’ve ever waited in an hour-long line at a theme park just for a taste of soft-serve tropical perfection, this is your shortcut.
Price: ~$12 for an 8-count box.
Taste Test: Tangy, vibrant, and incredibly punchy. It strikes an amazing balance between intense pineapple sweetness and a sharp, citrusy acidity that wakes up your entire palate.
Texture Summary: Impressively smooth and refreshing. Despite being dairy-free, it manages to maintain a velvety, cooling mouthfeel that mimics a light soft-serve without feeling like a hard, icy water pop.
Make It Better: Spoon a cup into a blender with a splash of coconut milk and a pour of white rum to instantly create an effortless, world-class frozen Piña Colada.
Perfect Pairings: Outstanding alongside spicy jerk chicken or enjoyed poolside on a blistering 100°F afternoon.
Final Verdict: BUY (The ultimate dairy-free refresher).
5. The Whimsical Delicacy: Afters Ice Cream Cookie Monster Mini Sandos
This one is visually striking, turning my tongue a brilliant shade of electric blue. It is a wildly playful, cookie-loaded treat that feels like a boutique ice cream parlor creation.
Price: ~$17.99 for a 12-pack.
Taste Test: A cookie lover’s dream. The base is a smooth vanilla ice cream layered with crushed Oreos and fudge swirls, all sandwiched between two soft chocolate chip cookies. It leans heavily into a sugary, comforting cookies-and-cream flavor profile.
Texture Summary: The cookies stay shockingly soft and chewy even straight out of the deep freeze—a massive win. The ice cream itself is creamy, punctuated by the faint, occasional crunch of mini chocolate chips.
Make It Better: Let it sit on the counter for exactly two minutes before biting in. This allows the cookie layers to soften to absolute perfection.
Perfect Pairings: Serve with a cold glass of whole milk to wash down the intense sweetness.
Final Verdict: BUY (A massive hit for kids and sweet-tooth purists).
6. The European Biscuit Swap: La Menorquina Chocolate Honeycomb Sandwiches
I am shifting gears to another European treat from La Menorquina, swapping out the Dubai pastry for a heavy dose of spiced caramel decadence.
Price: ~$14.89 for a 12-count box.
Taste Test: “Dangerously good” is an understatement. The caramel-infused ice cream is rich, but the real star is the authentic speculoos biscuit base, which introduces a deep brown sugar and cinnamon warmth.
Texture Summary: A delightful contrast, though you need to be careful. The speculoos cookies provide a lovely, soft biscuit bite against the creamy ice cream, but if left out too long, they can get a tad soggy and stick to your hands.
Make It Better: Slice them in half lengthwise right out of the freezer. They are incredibly rich and sweet, and a half-portion is often the perfect sweet spot.
Perfect Pairings: Unbelievable when paired with a hot cup of black Earl Grey tea—the bergamot notes cut right through the spiced caramel.
Final Verdict: BUY (But eat them quickly before they soften!).
7. The Elevated Fruit Pop: Jonny Pops Organic Rainbow Fruit Stacks
I am biting into a striking, colorful stack of layered fruit juice. This is a massive step up from the basic, neon-colored sugar water popsicles of our childhood.
Price: Not specified (Bulk sizing).
Taste Test: Light and bright. Because they use real fruit juice, you can actually distinguish the clean flavors of real berries and citrus as you move through the layers. Note: A few internet critics think it veers slightly medicinal, but to my palate, it tastes like clean, organic fruit.
Texture Summary: Clean and cooling with a tight, fine ice-crystal structure. It melts smoothly without dropping big chunks of ice into your lap.
Make It Better: Submerge a pop upside down into a glass of lemon-lime sparkling water to create a slowly melting, fruit-infused summer mocktail.
Perfect Pairings: The perfect palate cleanser after a heavy, garlic-laden summer pasta dinner.
Final Verdict: BUY (An excellent clean-ingredient option for hot days).
8. The Guilt-Free Indulgence: Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP Strawberry, Almond & Cream Bars
I am testing out a bar that promises a lighter path to dessert paradise without sacrificing that essential, velvety ice cream mouthfeel.
Price: Not specified (Bulk sizing).
Taste Test: Fresh and clean. The strawberry flavor tastes like real fruit rather than artificial syrup, backed by a subtle, nutty undertone from the almond chunks. It is lightly sweet and highly refreshing.
Texture Summary: At just 100 calories, it’s surprisingly velvety. The cream base handles beautifully, and the scattered bits of almond provide a sudden, welcome crunch. It is a bit one-dimensional, but satisfying.
Make It Better: Crush a few freeze-dried strawberries over the top to double down on the bright, summery berry notes.
Perfect Pairings: A lovely, low-calorie treat to enjoy alongside a light spinach and goat cheese salad.
Final Verdict: BUY (If you want a lighter, cleaner dessert alternative).
9. The Summer Classic: Nestlé Drumstick Variety Pack
Time to open an absolute icon. The Drumstick is the undisputed king of mass-appeal frozen treats, engineered perfectly to withstand hot garage hangouts and summer pool parties.
Price: ~$7.79 for a variety pack.
Taste Test: Pure nostalgia. Whether you grab the vanilla, fudge, or caramel center, you are getting a wave of sweet cream coated in a thick layer of milk chocolate and crushed peanuts.
Texture Summary: A masterclass in structural engineering. The chocolate shell keeps the peanuts crisp, the sugar cone maintains a great crunch, and that legendary solid chocolate nugget at the bottom provides the ultimate textural finish.
Make It Better: Keep an eye on the ingredient list if you are looking for pure dairy; these are formulated to melt slowly, meaning they rely on oils and stabilizers to survive the summer heat.
Perfect Pairings: Best eaten straight out of the box with your feet dangling in a swimming pool.
Final Verdict: BUY (A timeless crowd-pleaser that never fails).
10. The Aesthetic Showstopper: Frosty Peach and Mango Fruit Shaped Ice Cream
This is easily one of the trendiest items in the Costco freezer aisle right now, designed to look just as spectacular on social media as it tastes on the spoon.
Price: ~$12 for a 6-count box.
Taste Test: Intensely fruity and vibrant. The mango flavor is tropical and bold, while the peach option offers a softer, floral sweetness. They taste remarkably close to fresh, ripe summer stone fruit spun into cream.
Texture Summary: Wonderfully smooth and soft. They are molded into the literal shapes of peaches and mangoes, giving them a whimsical, premium feel that elevates them above a basic scoop.
Make It Better: Serve them in a chilled glass bowl with a fresh mint leaf tucked into the side to complete the stunning, fresh-fruit aesthetic.
Perfect Pairings: An incredible finish to a fresh seafood dinner or paired with a glass of crisp, chilled Sauvignon Blanc.
Final Verdict: BUY (A fun, trendy, and high-quality summer treat).
11. The Hazelnut Dream: Nutella Ice Cream Cones
If you are a fan of creeping into the pantry with a spoon and a jar of hazelnut spread, this cone was engineered specifically to speak to your soul.
Price: ~$12 (Bulk sizing).
Taste Test: Unapologetically rich. Imagine the classic Drumstick format but completely taken over by the distinct, roasty, sweet flavor of Nutella. The ice cream itself features heavy ribbons of hazelnut cocoa swirl.
Texture Summary: Absolute decadence in every bite. The sugar cone remains beautifully crispy, holding a dense, slow-melting ice cream that coats your mouth with rich chocolate-hazelnut goodness.
Make It Better: Dust the top with a tiny pinch of espresso powder to deepen the roasted cocoa notes and cut through the intense sweetness.
Perfect Pairings: Pour a glass of ice-cold unsweetened almond milk to provide a clean, refreshing contrast to the heavy hazelnut profile.
Final Verdict: BUY (A mandatory purchase for chocolate-hazelnut purists).
12. The Ultimate Textural Mashup: Chipwich Ice Cream Sandwiches
I am biting into the definitive heavyweight champion of the sandwich world. This is the gold standard of combining bakery cookies with premium frozen dairy.
Price: ~$12.99 (Bulk sizing).
Taste Test: Perfection. You get the buttery, brown-sugar richness of two chocolate chip cookies acting as the anchor for a clean, premium vanilla ice cream center that is rolled generously in mini chocolate chips.
Texture Summary: The absolute best texture imaginable in a chilled sweet snack. The cookies offer a substantial, chewy bite, while the mini chocolate chips add a constant, rolling crunch against the soft ice cream core.
Make It Better: Roll the exposed ice cream edges in extra crushed graham crackers or toasted coconut flakes for an extra layer of complexity.
Perfect Pairings: Incredible when chopped into quarters and served alongside a glass of dark, malty stout beer.
Final Verdict: BUY (An elite frozen dessert experience).
13. The Party Star: Helados Mexico Ice Cream Bars Variety Pack
I am opening up a vibrant variety pack that brings the authentic flavors of a traditional Mexican paletería straight into your home freezer.
Price: Less than $20 for a large variety pack.
Taste Test: Captivatingly authentic. The mango bar is bright and tropical, the strawberry is loaded with classic berry notes, and the coconut bar is an absolute knockout—rich, milky, and deeply satisfying.
Texture Summary: Wonderfully creamy and dense. These are traditional ice cream bars, meaning they carry a heavier, more substantial mouthfeel than airy, machine-whipped American novelty pops.
Make It Better: Take the mango or strawberry bar and sprinkle a dash of Tajín seasoning and a squeeze of fresh lime juice directly over it before biting in.
Perfect Pairings: The absolute perfect ending to a backyard taco night or paired with an ice-cold horchata.
Final Verdict: BUY (An incredible, high-value option for summer hosting).
14. The Mindful Craving: Healthy Choice Organic Fudge Bars
I am testing out a bar designed for those nights when the chocolate cravings hit hard, but you want to keep your fitness goals completely on track.
Price: $9–$12 for an 18-pack.
Taste Test: Surprisingly deep. While it is a low-calorie, cocoa-based bar, it doesn’t taste like frozen water. It delivers a genuine, dark cocoa flavor that satisfies the need for a rich chocolate fix without a massive sugar crash.
Texture Summary: It yields a remarkably pleasing consistency. It lacks the heavy, coating fat of super-premium ice cream, but it remains smooth and pleasantly soft on the bite rather than icy.
Make It Better: Mash a bar into a bowl with a fork and top it with a handful of fresh raspberries for a gourmet, low-calorie “chocolate-covered raspberry” experience.
Perfect Pairings: A great guilt-free companion to enjoy while catching up on your favorite late-night TV shows.
Final Verdict: BUY (The best macro-friendly chocolate option in the aisle).
15. The Clean Family Favorite: DeeBee’s Organic Superfruit Freezie Pops
I am snipping the top off a treat that has taken over parent blogs and ingredient-conscious households everywhere. This is pure, unadulterated fruit refreshment.
Price: ~$5 for a massive 35-to-40 count box (pennies per pop!).
Taste Test: Vibrant, clean, and bursting with real fruit juice. Because there are zero added sugars or artificial flavors, you are tasting pure strawberry, mango, and tropical purees. It is crisp, light, and perfectly sweet.
Texture Summary: It is a classic liquid-to-freeze pop, meaning it has a firm, icy snap. However, the inclusion of real fruit puree keeps it from turning into a solid, unbiteable block of ice.
Make It Better: Throw 4 or 5 frozen pops into a food processor with a splash of lime juice to instantly spin up an effortless, organic fruit sorbet.
Perfect Pairings: Drop a frozen pop directly into a glass of sparkling water or a gin and tonic to act as a slow-melting, flavorful ice cube.
Final Verdict: BUY (An absolute no-brainer for hot days and big families).
