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From limoncello to sour cherry, the best ice cream to keep you cool this summer
The GHI has the scoop on the best flavours, from sweet mango to sour cherry
Tested by Joanna AnastasiouFood and Drinks Tester
Whether served in a cone with a flake or sandwiched between cookies, the best ice cream is the tastiest way to cool down on a hot summer’s day.
So, as part 2025’s BBQ Taste Test, our expert tasting panel at the Good Housekeeping Institute braved the brain freeze to find the best ice creams out there – whether you’re after creamy salted caramel, decadent rich chocolate, or a refreshing fruity gelato.
After trying 23 different tubs from the likes of Waitrose, Ben & Jerry's, Jude’s and Crosta & Mollica, we’re confident we’ve found a flavour for every taste and occasion.
Best ice cream 2025
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Read on for more BBQ winners: Best burgers | Best sausages | Best kebabs | Best ribs | Best steak | Best BBQ chicken | Best meat-free burgers | Best meat-free sausages | Best hot sauce
What is the difference between gelato and ice cream?
Typically, gelato contains more milk but is made with less cream and fewer egg yolks than traditional ice cream. With fewer calories, less sugar and lower fat, many consider gelato to be the healthier choice.
How we test ice cream
Our panel of taste testers tried 23 different ice creams to find the best for summer. They were looking for creamy and indulgent frozen desserts with a smooth texture. The ice cream had to match the described flavour, with a balanced sweetness and a high dairy content.
Score: 82/100
This sweet, salted caramel ice cream impressed our testers with its rich coffee-like note, which is finished with a touch of salt. That’s complemented by a fudgy caramel core, biscuity cake chunks and a thick, creamy texture reminiscent of clotted cream.
Score: 79/100
This new super summery Ben & Jerry’s flavour has been created in collaboration with displaced refugees-turned-entrepreneurs. It's a fruity ice cream laced with mango swirls and white chocolate. Proceeds from every tub go to support refugee-led businesses.
Waitrose No.1 Belgian Dark Chocolate & Sour Cherry Ice Cream 480ml
Score: 77/100
Made with decadent dark chocolate and swirls of chunky sour cherry sauce, this premium ice cream is a must-order for summer. Rich and intense, we think it’s strictly adult-only.
Score: 77/100
Morrisons has combined the refreshing flavours of lemon meringue pie with sweet gelato to create an uplifting post-barbecue dessert that our testers described as “sensational”. You’ll also find zingy lemon sauce and crunchy meringue pieces laced throughout for contrast.
Score: 75/100
An Italian treat that’s perfect for your summer soirées, this gelato is made with whole milk mascarpone for a slow-whipped, creamy texture. The swirls of sticky cherry provide a pop of sweet and sour flavour.
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Vanilla & British Blackcurrant Ice Cream 480ml
Score: 75/100
This new vanilla ice cream is rippled with blackcurrant sauce and has a gorgeous fresh vanilla aroma. The zippy berry coulis brings a punchy contrast to the creamy texture – it’s a match made in ice cream heaven.
Score: 75/100
Cherry seems to be the ice cream flavour of the season and, here, it adds a sweet, albeit slightly artificial tasting, note to the clotted cream base. Our panel enjoyed the texture, which is as soft as a Mr. Whippy – delicious!
Score: 74/100
Tesco’s limited-edition dessert takes its inspiration from the Italian after-dinner lemon liqueur. The milky ice cream has sponge cake laced throughout and is finished with a jelly-like lemon sauce.
ASDA Really Creamy Strawberry Sorbet & Cream Flavour Ice Cream 900ml
Score: 74/100
Great for large gatherings, this super-sized soft serve dessert combines zippy strawberry sorbet with creamy ice cream. Spoons at the ready!
Score: 72/100
Made up of multiple layers, including creamy mascarpone, jammy cherry sauce and biscotti pieces, the resulting flavour is not dissimilar to a cherry bakewell. Crunchy, smooth and sweet, it’s a truly delicious way to round off a meal.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Joanna Anastasiou is our Food and Drinks Tester, and has completed certifications in Sensory Foundation and WSET Wine Level 2 training. Prior to this she studied geography with conservation biology at the University of Exeter and trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Through this she has developed a passion for sustainability within the food and agricultural sectors. Joanna also volunteers in kitchens with FoodCycle, as well as on multiple wildlife conservation projects, where she formed a particular love for bees!
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