Review: Alden's Dairy Free Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches

I loved the Alden's Dairy-Free ice creams that I tried (Muddy Brownie and Caramel Almond Crunch) so I wanted to try their ice cream sandwiches next.

These were so good.

Other vanilla vegan ice creams that I've tried tasted too much like soy or coconut. Usually chocolate or other strong flavors are better for dairy-free ice cream.

But not these. I don't taste any coconut, soy, or mystery aftertaste that would give it away as being vegan. I want to try a pint of their dairy-free vanilla ice cream next because it is so good in these ice cream sandwiches.

The cookie part is also incredible. It tastes just like the ice cream sandwiches I had as a kid. But somehow it doesn't stick to my fingers.

These are thicker than I expected and sometimes that can make it hard to bite into. But the cookie and ice cream are both soft enough to bite into without falling apart.

Alden's also makes Dairy Free Caramel Drizzle Round Sammies that I want to try soon.

Alden's Dairy Free Vanilla Bean Round Sammies ingredients:

FROZEN DESSERT: Dairy Free Frozen Dessert Blend* (Water, Cane Sugar*, Coconut Oil*, Tapioca Syrup*, Inulin*, Brown Rice*, Whole Oat Flour*, Acacia Gum*, Pea Protein*, Soy Lecithin*, Guar Gum*, Locust Bean Gum*), Natural Vanilla Flavor With Other Natural Flavors*, Ground Vanilla Beans*. COOKIE WAFERS: Wheat Flour*, Cane Sugar*, Palm Oil*, Caramel Color*, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Cocoa* (Processed With Alkali), Cane Syrup*, Soy Lecithin*, Salt, Baking Soda, Natural Flavor*. *Organic

Review: Alden's Dairy Free Vanilla Bean Round Sammies

Taste: Chocolate and vanilla from your childhood

Texture: Soft enough to bite into but doesn't fall apart 

Can you tell it's vegan? No

Does it look like the picture on the package? Yes, a little smaller though
Better than other vegan options? Yes

Worth buying again? Yes

Overall: 5/5

Review: Ben & Jerry's Cinnamon Bun Dough Chunks

Ben & Jerry's new snackable cookie dough line has two vegan flavors: Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Cinnamon Bun Dough. The Cinnamon Bun Dough doesn't say vegan on the front of the package but it is vegan.

I was expecting cinnamon flavored cookie dough even though it's called cinnamon bun dough. It's kind of like a hybrid of both. It's softer and less crumbly than cookie dough but it's closer to cookie dough than bread dough. Which is good because who eat's raw cinnamon roll dough? 

The cinnamon didn't taste that strong to me at first but it has a nice aftertaste.

I really liked these, but my boyfriend didn't like the texture. We both liked the Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. 

Ben & Jerry's Cinnamon Bun Dough Chunks ingredients:

Wheat flour, sugar, water, coconut oil, expeller pressed soybean oil, cinnamon, natural flavor, pure vanilla extract, tapioca flour, sunflower lecithin, salt, baking soda.

Review: Ben & Jerry's Cinnamon Bun Dough Chunks

Taste: Sweet with a hint of cinnamon that gets stronger as you eat more. 

Texture: In between cookie dough and bread dough. Soft and not crumbly. 

Can you tell it's vegan? No

Does it look the like the picture on the package? Yes
Better than other vegan options? I like the other flavor better.

Worth buying again? Yes

Overall: 4/5

Review: Alden's Dairy Free Muddy Brownie

Another Alden's dairy-free ice cream I tried is Muddy Brownie. I love brownie pieces in ice cream and this did not disappoint. 

The texture was super creamy and easy to scoop. The brownie pieces are chewy and soft and there are a lot of them. 

This flavor was a little rich because of all the chocolate. I couldn't eat very much at a time. Maybe that's a good thing though.

I also tried Alden's Dairy Free Caramel Almond Crunch. They were both delicious and I would buy them again. 

The competition in vegan ice creams is heating up. I now have 3 brands that I consider a favorite: Alden's, NadaMoo, and So Delicious. 

Alden's Dairy Free Muddy Brownie ingredients:

Dairy Free Frozen Dessert Blend* (Water, Cane Sugar*, Coconut Oil*, Tapioca Syrup*, Inulin*, Brown Rice*, Whole Oat Flour*, Acacia Gum*, Pea Protein*, Soy Lecithin*, Guar Gum*, Locust Bean Gum*), Fudge Brownie Pieces* (Cane Sugar*, Wheat Flour*, Soybean Oil*, Water, Cocoa* (Processed with Alkali), Corn Starch*, Sunflower Lecithin*, Salt, Natural Vanilla Extract*), Chocolate Base* (Sugar*, Water, Cocoa* (Processed with Alkali), Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Salt).

*Organic

Review: Alden's Dairy Free Muddy Brownie

First impressions: Might have a new favorite

Taste: Rich and chocolatey

Texture: Creamy ice cream with chewy brownie pieces

Can you tell it's vegan? No

Does it look like the picture on the package? Yes
Better than other vegan options? One of the best.

Worth buying again? Yes

Overall: 5/5

Review: Alden's Dairy Free Caramel Almond Crunch

Alden's is an Oregon ice cream company known for traditional dairy ice cream. They recently came out with a line of vegan, dairy-free ice cream. They have 5 flavors of vegan pints plus non-dairy ice cream sandwiches. 

I tried two of their dairy-free ice creams: Caramel Almond Crunch and Muddy Brownie. 

I found these at Sprouts. You can use their website to see if a store near you carries them. Click "Select Specific Products" and check a non-dairy flavor because it looks like some stores only have their dairy flavors (for now).

The ice cream base of the caramel almond crunch has a buttery caramel taste and is so creamy. There's a crunchy texture from the tiny almond pieces. A swirl of sweet caramel is mixed throughout the ice cream. 

I loved the texture of both of the Alden's dairy-free ice creams I tried. Some vegan ice cream can be dense and not creamy. These both reminded me of old-fashioned ice cream from a mom and pop store. 

This is one of the more decadent vegan ice creams that I've tried. Another is So Delicious Salted Caramel Cluster. I can't say which is better. They're both very good and can satisfy your sweet tooth. 

Alden's Dairy Free Caramel Almond Crunch ingredients:

Dairy Free Frozen Dessert Blend* (Water, Cane Sugar*, Coconut Oil*, Tapioca Syrup*, Inulin*, Brown Rice*, Whole Oat Flour*, Acacia Gum*, Pea Protein*, Soy Lecithin*, Guar Gum*, Locust Bean Gum*), Non-Dairy Caramel* (Tapioca Syrup*, Water, Cane Sugar*, Pea Protein*, Natural Flavor*, Salt, Coconut Oil*, Pectin), Chocolate Chips* (Unsweetened Chocolate*, Cane Sugar*, Palm Kernel Oil*, Cocoa Butter*, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract*), Roasted Almonds*, Caramel Base* (Sugar*, Water), Sea Salt, Natural Caramel Flavor*, Annatto Extract* (Color).

*Organic

Review: Alden's Dairy Free Caramel Almond Crunch

First impressions: Wow, this looks good.

Taste: Buttery caramel ice cream with a sweet caramel swirl

Texture: Creamy ice cream with crunchy almond pieces

Can you tell it's vegan? No

Does it look the like the picture on the package? Yes
Better than other vegan options? One of the best.

Worth buying again? Yes

Overall: 5/5

Review: Sweet Rose Coconut Whipped Topping

I've been looking forever for a vegan coconut whipped cream in an aerosol can. Finally Trader Joe's started carrying one! The brand is Sweet Rose but I've only seen it at Trader Joe's.

This dispenses just like non-vegan aerosol whipped cream. It even makes the same fun noise as you spray it.

I could taste the coconut but it was subtle. It didn't overpower the flavors of my ice cream. 

You could use this for anything that you would normally use whipped cream for. I made a sundae with Alden's Nondairy Muddy Brownie and Caramel Almond Crunch, and Ben & Jerry's vegan cookie dough pieces. 

Sweet Rose Coconut Whipped Topping ingredients:

Coconut cream, water, sugar, glucose syrup, inulin, mono and diglycerides, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, carrageenan.

Propellant: nitrous oxide.

Review: Sweet Rose Coconut Whipped Topping

First impressions: Resist temptation to spray directly into my mouth

Taste: Sweet, hint of coconut

Texture: Light, airy, fluffy

Can you tell it's vegan? No, unless you hate coconut

Worth buying again? Yes

Good enough to replace the non-vegan version? Yes

Overall: 5/5

Review: Trader Joe's Soft Baked Snickerdoodles

Trader Joe's has a lot of great vegan products. Their vegan soft-baked snickerdoodles are also gluten free and allergen friendly. 

These plant-based cookies are very soft and a little chewy. They're not dry or crumbly at all. 

They have some unexpected ingredients to keep them so soft and allergen-friendly (full ingredient list below). I can taste a subtle hint of fruit from the dates and fruit juice. 

These are so soft it's hard to compare them to other cookies. They're very good, but not what I picture when I think of snickerdoodles. They remind me more of molasses cookies even though they don't have any molasses in them. 

I was disappointed by how much plastic packaging there is. It doesn't seem necessary to have them in a tray. It was hard to open and not resealable. 

Trader Joe's Soft Baked Snickerdoodles ingredients:

Sorghum flour, brown sugar, dates, sunflower oil and/or safflower oil, pear juice concentrate, water, rice syrup, grape juice concentrate, flaxseed meal, baking soda, xantham gum, salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract (water, ethyl alcohol, vanilla bean extractives), natural flavors, rosemary extract (to preserve).

Review: Trader Joe's Soft Baked Snickerdoodles

First impressions: Soft baked is accurate, they are very soft. 

Taste: Sweet with a subtle fruity taste

Texture: Very soft, a little bit chewy

Can you tell it's vegan? Maybe
Better than other vegan options? Close but I think Sprouts has some better vegan cookies

Worth buying again? Yes

Overall: 4/5