Every Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop-Exclusive Flavor, Ranked

Ben & Jerry's is one of the most iconic ice cream chains out there. It has a line of pints you can enjoy at home, of course, but what if you're going out and want a scoop or two? No problem — just stop by one of its many locations. But many of the flavors you'll see at a Ben & Jerry's shop aren't available at your local grocery store. Rather, you'll find some familiar favorites as well as flavors that you may have never tried before if you don't frequent your local Ben & Jerry's.

We're on a mission to help you find the very best scoop exclusive to Ben & Jerry's brick-and-mortar stores. That way, you'll know what you're getting into when you place an order. After all, the last thing you want is to choose a flavor that misses the mark when your sweet tooth needs a fix. We've ranked all of the Ben & Jerry's shop-exclusive ice cream flavors, starting with our least favorites and working our way up to the best. Take a look at our rankings, then try these flavors out for yourself.

For all those who choose (or are forced) to avoid dairy and still enjoy Ben & Jerry's ice cream, the non-dairy strawberry marshmallow flavor might sound appealing. It's made with sunflower butter instead of the dairy variety. But in our opinion, this flavor, unfortunately, misses the mark. The marshmallow, as you may expect, is very, very sweet. Like, way too sweet. It has the potential to be balanced out with the addition of the strawberry if said strawberry had the appropriate tartness to it. Alas, it does not. The strawberry swirls just add even more sweetness to the final product, leaving you desperate for water by the time you finish a single scoop.

In theory, the strawberry marshmallow flavor sounds delicious. In practice, though, it leaves a lot to be desired. If you're the kind of person who just wants a super-sugary dessert, then you may find that this non-dairy option is just what you're looking for. But for those who prefer a more subtle dessert experience, there are better Scoop Shop flavors out there.

Is there really anything wrong with Ben & Jerry's chocolate ice cream? Not really. It's just what you'd expect: a creamy ice cream base with smooth chocolate mixed in. Most chocolate ice cream lovers will find Ben & Jerry's iteration of the classic dessert to be good overall. And for the kids out there who are still picky about what they find in their ice cream, this is a fantastic choice. But when you consider all the other delicious flavors that Ben & Jerry's boasts at its Scoop Shops, it's clear that this just shouldn't be your order if you really want to take advantage of what the brand is known for: their creative, off-the-wall flavors that you can't find anywhere else.

For those who just have to get their hands on a scoop of plain chocolate ice cream, Ben & Jerry's version is not likely to disappoint. However, we'd never set foot in a Scoop Shop and ask for the plain chocolate like we're at a regular old ice cream shop.

We want to like the lemonade sorbet. We really do. But when pitted against the other flavors in Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop lineup, it doesn't even come close to the top. The problem? It's just too basic. Of course, that doesn't mean there's not a time and a place to order it. If you're stopping into a Ben & Jerry's on an especially hot day when you have to be outside under the glaring sun, it's hard to beat the light freshness of this selection. However, if the outdoor temperature is below 90 degrees, this summery offering just doesn't hit the same.

Because this is a sorbet, it feels considerably less substantial than most of the other menu items. We appreciate its light, subtle flavor that would certainly make it a better choice on a hot day. However, that does mean it's kind of bland, which is probably not what you're going for the majority of the time you visit an ice cream shop. The lemonade sorbet certainly isn't bad, but you won't find us stopping by for a scoop anytime soon.

For those who love a mixture of sweet and salty flavors, the salted caramel blondie sounds like it's exactly what you're looking for. But that really depends on how salty you like your sweets. Those looking for a slight hint of salt are likely to fall in love with this flavor. The salted caramel swirl that weaves its way through the sweet cream ice cream is still very, very sweet, with just a dash of salt balancing it out and making it more complex in the best possible way. However, those who prefer their salty-sweet desserts a bit saltier might find that this flavor misses the mark.

The chunks of blondies add a nice texture to the ice cream, but we wish they were on the saltier side as well. Overall, the flavor just isn't as balanced flavor-wise as we would prefer, but it's certainly not a bad selection if you're truly looking for something very sweet with a minimal amount of salt.

Here's another flavor that would probably rank higher if it were offered anywhere other than a Scoop Shop: strawberry. Ben & Jerry's starts with high-quality cream that makes each scoop lusciously rich and smooth. Then, that base ice cream is infused with strawberry flavor and even some chunks of fruit. It's hard not to love the simplicity of such a ubiquitous ice cream flavor, and if you've always been a big fan of strawberry ice cream, then you're going to fall in love with the Ben & Jerry's version.

However, if you ask us, it's far from the best flavor of the bunch. The fruitiness is delicious, and it plays well with the intense creaminess of the base, but overall, it's a relatively boring flavor. We'd probably only opt for the strawberry ice cream if we were planning on pairing it with a scoop of some other flavor. If you want to keep things nice and simple, this strawberry ice cream is where it's at. If you're looking for something more interesting, though, there are plenty of other Ben & Jerry's options to love.

The butter pecan ice cream flavor at Ben & Jerry's isn't for everyone, but it definitely is for some of us. This simple recipe includes an especially buttery, creamy ice cream that has an almost velvety texture to it. This stuff could be eaten on its own even without the addition of pecans. But those roasted pecans are in there too, adding just enough crunch and texture to keep things interesting. Well, kind of interesting, at least. We wish there was something more going on in this recipe because it can start to feel a bit one-note after a few bites.

Still, this flavor is done exceptionally well. If you're already a fan of butter pecan ice cream, there's an excellent chance you're going to love the Ben & Jerry's version as well. Folks looking for something a bit funkier or more creative should pass this one up. But if you're going for a nut-studded dream of a cream, the butter pecan is going to go down as a hit.

Who said you had to live with boring flavors just because you've decided to avoid dairy? Definitely not Ben & Jerry's. You can snag some of its sunflower seed butter-based coffee flavor called cold brew coffee fudge chip. It's every mocha lover's dream come true. How can you go wrong when you combine coffee and chocolate? The coffee flavor here is just what you'd expect from a real cold brew. It's rich, sweet, and intense — just the way we like our coffee. We also love that the flavor is evenly distributed throughout the ice cream instead of being concentrated in small pockets.

The thing to keep in mind with this flavor is that there's actually a lot of chocolate in it. That may sound great to some chocolate lovers, but those who prefer more of the coffee flavor may be slightly turned off by just how much chocolate there is. But don't let that stop you if you're looking for a delicious dairy-free option at your local Scoop Shop — this flavor is fantastic for enthusiasts of all different types of coffee.

Listen, we know that not everyone can stand the marriage of mint and chocolate. It's just not for some people, and we totally get that. But if you ask us, there are few ingredients that go better together than mint and chocolate, and when they're combined in an ice cream flavor, you know you're getting something special. That's why we love the mint chocolate chunk flavor. The mint ice cream and chunks of chocolate pair beautifully together, creating a symphony of flavor that's both simple and undeniably good.

So, why doesn't this ice cream flavor rank higher? It mostly comes down to the fact that it's relatively plain compared to the other options at Ben & Jerry's. Beyond the chocolate chunks, there's nothing else dressing up the mint ice cream. Some of us love that level of simplicity, but when a lot of people go to Ben & Jerry's, they want to try something a bit more adventurous. It's up to you to decide whether this combo is worth a try.

Peanut butter cups are delicious on their own. But when they're blended with ice cream? It doesn't get much better than that. That's why we love Ben & Jerry's peanut butter cup sundae. The best part about this flavor is the fact that the candy is blended so imperfectly. Yes, you read that right. Instead of a smooth consistency, you'll get to enjoy chunks of those peanut butter cups. Every once in a while you get a relatively large piece, and it feels like you've won the lottery. Plus, the combo of salty peanut butter with sweet chocolate really makes this flavor come together.

The only thing holding this flavor back, as far as we're concerned, is the fact that it starts with peanut butter ice cream. That ice cream plus the peanut butter in the cups could be too much for some people. However, if you're a huge peanut butter fan, then this is likely going to be your new favorite flavor.

So, you want to enjoy some refreshing sorbet but don't want to have to stick to the lemonade variety we discussed above? No problem. Just make sure to pick out a scoop of the berry berry extraordinary sorbet instead. This berry-flavored sorbet is a touch sweet, but it mostly boasts an intense tartness that makes it feel even more refreshing on a hot day. And even though it's a sorbet, the consistency is surprisingly smooth and creamy — probably not what you'd expect from a fruit-based dessert.

This is an exceptionally simple flavor, but it's still one of our favorites on the menu because of just how good it is during the summer months. Don't limit yourself, though. Since it's not too light, you can really enjoy this flavor at any time of the year. Pair it with a scoop of chocolate if you want to indulge a bit, or just eat it on its own whenever you need a pick-me-up that won't weigh you down.

While it's a pretty concept, we'll admit the marshmallow sky flavor at Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops doesn't exactly look delicious. Once you take a bite, though, you'll forget what it even looks like because you'll be so focused on how good it is. The marshmallow ice cream is a sky blue color that's dotted with additional white pieces of marshmallows. The overall effect makes it feel like you're gazing at a little slice of the sky.

But the marshmallows definitely aren't the most exciting part of this flavor. Even better are the additions of chocolate chip cookie dough as well as chocolate chocolate chip cookie dough. Yes, those are two different, and amazing, things. The fact that you have two different types of dough keeps things interesting while offering a dense, doughy lump (in the best possible way) to just about every single bite. We love this flavor because it's not overly complicated, but it is complex in a thoughtful way. It's sweet, for sure, but it's balanced, and it's the kind of over-the-top dessert we love indulging in every once in a while.