Scan the freezer aisle of any grocery store these days and you'll likely see cartons upon cartons of ice cream flavors—and we're not just talking about your basic chocolate and vanilla, either. There are sweet-and-salty combinations, fun mix-ins, and even an ice cream that tastes like Dr Pepper!
But if you're an ice cream lover who prefers traditional flavors over the more creative varieties, then you might be out of luck; particularly, that's true of one classic flavor: chocolate chip ice cream.
Once a childhood favorite, the creamy vanilla flavor studded with chunks of rich chocolate chips is no longer a top seller, according to a recent report cited in The New York Times. In fact, chocolate chip has been having a bit of a rocky road for a few years now with sales dropping 22% from 2018 to 2022.
"The reasons for chocolate chip's slide aren't exactly clear," The New York Times states, "Ice cream tastes change, as they always have, and there are more choices than ever, in every category."
Just take Ree Drummond's ice cream shop in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, for example. The Pioneer Woman was the first to admit that coming up with the menu was anything but easy. "Our brainstorms could have lasted forever," she said, "but we finally had to just pick our favorites!"
Though classics like old-fashioned vanilla and strawberry still appear on the menu, you won't find chocolate chip among the offerings. Instead, modern flavors like buttered maple pancakes, huckleberry, and coffee almond fudge are part of the scrumptious delights.
When looking at a survey from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the most popular ice cream flavor sold to consumers was cookies n' cream. Other notable flavors included mint chocolate chip, caramel, and cookie dough. But chocolate chip no longer made the top ten list!
Even Blue Bell Creameries told The New York Times that chocolate chip was no longer a "standard flavor" for the company. So if you're looking to make an ice cream sundae, you might have to think again before you reach for a pint of chocolate chip.
Kara Zauberman is the Senior Editor of Content Strategy at The Pioneer Woman, covering stories ranging from food, lifestyle, news, and more. When she’s not writing and editing, you can find her seeking out new restaurants or cooking for friends and family.
