It's officially *everything pumpkin* season which is arguably either the best or worst part of fall depending on who you talk to! 🤪 I'll admit they can get a little crazy with some of the PS releases (looking at you, Pringles!) but it's become a fun little tradition I can get on board with. I've said this before but I'm pretty "pumpkin selective"-- I don't love anything and everything pumpkin. Pumpkin bread, rolls + cookies are right up my alley... PSLs and pumpkin pie, not so much. I also happen to *love* Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream but it was news to me that they come out with a limited edition Pumpkin Cheesecake flavor every fall? Ya'll know I obviously had to go on the hunt + after weeks of searching everywhere, I finally found it at my Kroger!
The flavor is made up of a pumpkin cheesecake ice cream with a graham cracker swirl. After one bite, you're hit with this sweet and creamy pumpkin blend and a kick of warm spices. The pumpkin itself is more on the subtle side which is how it should be IMO-- if you've ever baked with pumpkin puree, it mimics that yummy spiced batter goodness. I didn't find the amount of spice to be too much either-- it has a warm cinnamony ginger flavor that balances the sweetness of the ice cream perfectly. SO DELICIOUS!! I will say I didn't pick up much of an obvious "cheesecake" flavor. I feel the same with the strawberry which I'm obviously still obsessed with. They both have a sweet, creamy taste but I don't pick up much of the wang + sourness that cream cheese often gives. I'm not convinced that it would be better that way but it's worth noting if you're expecting a strong cream cheese flavor.
Once you get in the deep stuff, you hit the graham cracker GOLD MINE. Totally steals the show, you guys. It is THAT GOOD and to be truthful, the main reason why I wanted to try out the flavor. The strawberry cheesecake has the same graham swirl and it's my favorite part of the pint. It's this soft, buttery graham cracker swirl that's rich and delicious. It's so heavenly- you need to try it out.
As far as pumpkin flavored things go, this one is a huge win in my book! I'm probably a little biased because of the graham cracker, however I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the actual ice cream flavor too. I was definitely a little skeptical on how pumpkin spice would taste as an ice cream. I just didn't think I'd really *love* it, ya know? I think the subtleness of the pumpkin makes all the difference, especially with the graham cracker being super rich and buttery. I'll also say that out of all Ben & Jerry's flavors, this is one of the best I've tried. Ranking wise it's VERY close to the strawberry cheesecake for me. I'm a diehard strawberry gal so I don't know if it would replace that spot all-year round... I'll have to keep eating it to find out! ;)
What's your fave B&J flavor?
Also read: Taste Testing Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bread + Muffin Mix
