Here’s my take on five flavors of Jeni’s Ice Cream — including some duds and superstars — released in summer 2025.
The best thing about being a food writer is, well, the food. The second best thing is when it’s free and arrives unexpectedly. For the second time this year, Jeni’s Ice Cream shipped me a box of their product. I told them I’d write about it, offering my genuine opinion — just like I did in the spring. Here goes.
First let me add that this isn’t sponsored content and while I do truly adore ice cream, my opinion isn’t for sale (and if it were, it’d cost more than just a couple pints). Here’s my actually unfiltered take on these flavors — including some that, in my book, are duds and others that soar.
Pink Bubble Gum Ice Cream
I’ll be honest, I was ready to hate this. I expected something gimmicky and overly fake — you know, like bubble gum itself. Jeni’s managed to replicate the flavor experience well without resorting to a sort of synthetic, ultra-hyped up flavor smash. I’d planned to take a bite or two and then let my wife finish the pint, but I ended up scooping myself a bowl and happily consuming it.
This one won’t be my new go-to or anything, but it’s a solid and satisfying experience that far exceeded my expectations. Kudos.
Popcorn Brittle Ice Cream
Yep, it tastes like popcorn. And also the corn-toffee crunch that Jeni’s mixed in. I liked it okay, and would eat it again if you put it in front of me, but if I walked into a Jeni’s shop and this were on the menu, I wouldn’t second-guess ordering something else. It’s fine, but forgettable for me.
The three scenarios where I’d be most likely to have it again:
- It’s movie night and I want something sweet and on-theme.
- I have the option to order a flight with small bites of different flavors and this gives me some welcome variety.
- I’m taking a bite of someone else’s cone.
Related: Try this brownie brittle popcorn recipe.
Toasted S’mores Ice Cream
As the description reads, this one contains “Toasty vanilla bean marshmallow ice cream with gooey milk chocolate and graham cracker cookies.” And the flavor is absolutely true to a s’mores treat, even somehow folding in a hint of that campfire aroma.
Did they execute well for what they were trying to do? Yes. But I don’t see the appeal of having s’mores in ice cream form. So much of the draw of the original treat is the contrast between the crunch of the graham cracker, the puffy smush of the marshmallow, and the melty Hershey’s chocolate. Not to mention the experience of holding your ‘mallow over the fire, maybe letting it catch flame or patiently rotating it and hoping it doesn’t slide off your stick.
Trying to translate s’mores into ice cream form loses all of that magic — and warmth. I’d skip it in the future.
Related: Try these s’mores-inspired recipes.
Goose Tracks Ice Cream
Think of this as the millennial version of Cherry Garcia. It’s a collaboration with the band Goose, who’ve played with bands like the Dead & Company (hence my Jerry Garcia-meets-Ben & Jerry’s reference). I’d never heard of the group, but someone in my Instagram DMs was very keen to know how it tasted given their superfan status.
I had a feeling I’d like this one — made with blackberries, raspberries, and bittersweet chocolate chips. I figured if I love Jeni’s Brambleberry Crisp and their limited release Raspberry Rhubarb Delight back in the spring, this would probably be a safe bet.
And still, it exceeded my expectations. Goose Tracks is masterfully balanced, delivering some of that tartness you’re expecting without leaning in too far, with the creaminess and chocolate chips offering a welcome counterpoint to the berries. Jeni’s sent two pints of the purple-hued ice cream to us, and they both quickly disappeared, which is disappointing because it looks like you already can’t buy more on their website.
Jeni’s, if you’re reading this — please restock! Y’all sent me a Goose Tracks poster and everything, and I’m not ready to look at it nostalgically dreaming of earlier this summer. And bring back the Raspberry Rhubarb while you’re at it.
This one’s absolutely worth your cold, hard cash if they re-up it.
Root Beer Float Ice Cream
Not unlike the florescent Pink Bubble Gum flavor, I approached this one skeptically. Just because you can put something (like root beer) into ice cream doesn’t automatically mean that you should, or that it will translate.
But the Root Beer Float flavor is so good. I’m talking, instantly transported me 30 years back in time. Tickled my taste buds like a fizzy soda would. Hit me with the sweetness of soda without being heavy-handed or overpowering. I loved Goose Tracks, yes. But this flavor impressed me the most with its precision and ability to deliver satisfaction from something I didn’t know I wanted, but now crave.
I drank root beer all the time as a kid. Especially Barq’s. But I couldn’t tell you the last time I had some. Now I’ve been finding myself craving it, and it’s all because of Jeni’s. Or more precisely, I’m finding myself craving their version of it, because in so many ways it surpasses the original. That’s the opposite experience I had with the s’mores flavor — which just made me want to walk out to our fire pit and make my own. But sometimes the cover song is better than the original.
This too, unfortunately, doesn’t appear to be on their website. As far as I’m concerned, it should be a year-round flavor. If you told me it was at my local grocery store (as a range of other Jeni’s flavors are), I would literally go there the same day to grab it.
Related: Explore all of our dessert recipes or make these root beer float popsicles.