I tried the Hidden Valley Ranch flavored ice cream and lived to tell the tale
On March 8, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream announced the launch of seven new flavors for the upcoming spring season—but the one on everyone’s lips is the new ranch flavor.
Created in honor of National Ranch Day on March 10, the ice cream company has teamed up with the best-selling farm brand in the country, Hidden Valley Ranch. The 14-ounce packages will be sold for $4.98 exclusively at Walmart locations nationwide starting March 20th through May 28th.
In a press release, brand reps admitted that ranch and ice cream may not be a typical pairing, but the Hidden Valley Ranch x Van Leeuwen flavor offers a “surprisingly delicious twist on dessert.” (The brands kindly sent me cartons, so I’ll be the judge of that. More on that later.)
The companies said the ice cream boasts the delicious flavors of the ranch, and includes buttermilk, savory herbs, and “a touch of sweetness,” indicating that the unique ice cream pairs well with savory snacks.
“We are very excited to launch this new series of flavors and unveil our most surprising ice cream yet: Hidden Valley Ranch,” Ben Van Leeuwen, co-founder and CEO of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream in a press release. “We’ve done some creative collaborations and can’t wait for Walmart shoppers to try this exciting new flavor alongside our other spring specials.”
“We know Hidden Valley Ranch goes with just about everything—pizza, carrots, hash browns—but ice cream is a number one for us,” Rachel Garrison, Associate Manager of Hidden Valley Ranch, added in a press release, adding that the company is excited about this creamy mix of Savory and sweet. Insider tip? Top your spoons with crushed pretzels or potato chips for the perfect salty crunch.”
Other (more traditional) flavors offered in Van Leeuwen’s spring lineup include Carrot Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, Honey Graham Cracker, Limoncello Cake, Sweet Maple Cornbread, and Blood Orange Chocolate Chip.
So, what does it taste like?
Ranch dressing ice cream isn’t Van Leeuwen’s first ice cream flavor, last year launching mustard ice cream (which I personally haven’t tried) and caramel onion ice cream (which I tried and really enjoyed).
It seemed poised to enjoy a sweet and savory treat in this context—after all, I’m someone who usually goes for honey mustard or poppy seed chutney when given the option. Still, admittedly, a spoonful of that ice cream threw me for the loop.
Right before the spoon touched my tongue, a heavy whiff of garlic in my nostrils, attributed to the presence of garlic powder and onion powder in the ice cream. This made my brain expect something tasty, but since there was a healthy amount of cane sugar in the ice cream – more than garlic and onions – the resulting taste was a shock to the senses.
I also tried a few spoonfuls with crushed potato chips on top, and the ice cream flavors actually worked a little better together for my taste. But, after trying the full scoop to be absolutely sure, I can say even though the ice cream is a pretty chart-topping shade, it’s not for me.
However, for a rancher, this might be right up your alley, and even though it’s pretty tasteless exactly Like Hidden Valley Ranch to me, it’s definitely in the same neighborhood. The addition of curd certainly helps validate this association.
But the tasty garlic treat really lingers on the tongue, so curious souls should probably skip this one on date night.
However, the mischievous flavor makers at Van Leeuwen have sent me all the other flavors in their spring offerings, and the main one to me is the Sweet Maple Cornbread flavor.
“Who can resist maple ice cream with honey cornbread? No one we met. Well, maybe it’s Joe but he wears white after Labor Day and doesn’t like puppies,” reads the flavor description in the press release.
I know this can’t refer to me, even though I proudly wear white year-round. Unlike other Joe’s, I think this new cornbread flavor is magical. And I love puppies too.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com