Fresh Market's Keto Ice Cream Options: What Brands To Try?

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carb diet. This means that ice cream, which is usually high in carbohydrates, is typically off the menu. However, there are keto-friendly ice cream brands available, such as Halo Top, Edy's, Enlightened, So Delicious, and Rebel. These brands use sugar substitutes and other ingredients to create a product that is low in net carbs and suitable for those following a keto diet.

Fresh Market is a popular grocery store, but does it carry these keto ice cream brands?

Keto ice cream brands and flavours

There are several keto-friendly ice cream brands available on the market, including Halo Top, Edy's, Enlightened, So Delicious, and Rebel. These brands offer a range of flavours and are made with sugar substitutes and natural sweeteners to keep the carb count low.

Halo Top

Halo Top's Keto Series offers a range of flavours, including Chocolate Caramel Lava Cake, Mint Chocolate Cookie, and Banana Cream Pie. Their ice cream has a grainy texture and comes in unique flavours that may be too sweet for some. It is available at Walmart for $3.88.

Edy's Slow Churned No Sugar Added

Edy's replaced sugar in its fan-favourite flavours, including Fudge Tracks, Vanilla Bean, Triple Chocolate, and Neapolitan, with sugar substitutes. A two-thirds-cup serving of their Vanilla Bean flavour contains 130 calories and 14 grams of net carbs.

Enlightened

Enlightened offers both keto and non-keto options. Their keto ice cream has 2-3 grams of net carbs per serving and uses allulose, a sugar alcohol, and monk fruit extract as sweeteners. They have unique flavours and a creamy texture with no weird aftertaste. It is available at Walmart for $4.97.

So Delicious No Sugar Added (Dairy-Free)

So Delicious makes dairy-free ice cream from full-fat coconut milk. Their No Sugar Added varieties are sweetened with erythritol and monk fruit extract and have 9-10 grams of net carbs per serving.

Rebel

Rebel is an ice cream brand specifically designed for people on the keto diet. Their pints are made with high-fat ingredients and natural sweeteners, resulting in a higher fat and calorie content than other brands. Rebel ice cream has 4-8 grams of net carbs per pint and comes in a variety of flavours, including Mint Chip. It is available at Walmart for $4.97.

In addition to these brands, there are a few other keto ice cream options worth mentioning, such as Real Good, Kroger, and Keto Pint. However, they may not be as widely available or may have slightly higher carb counts.

Ingredients and nutritional value

The ingredients in keto ice cream vary by brand, but they all have one thing in common: they're low in carbohydrates. Most ice cream is high in carbs, but keto ice cream is made with plant fibers and sugar alcohols instead of added sugar.

Rebel Ice Cream

• Cream
• Water
• Roasted pecans (pecans, butter, coconut oil, salt)
• Erythritol
• Vegetable glycerin
• Egg yolks
• Chicory root fiber
• Milk protein isolate
• Natural vanilla flavor
• Salt
• Peruvian carob gum
• Guar gum
• Monk fruit

Arctic Zero Ice Cream

• Purified water
• Organic cane sugar
• Allulose
• Sugarcane fiber and/or vegetable fiber
• Faba bean protein concentrate
• Gum blend (acacia, tara, guar)
• Natural flavors
• Sea salt
• Turmeric
• Monk fruit concentrate

Enlightened Keto Ice Cream

• Cream
• Water
• Peanuts
• Egg yolks
• Non-GMO soluble corn fiber
• Erythritol
• Allulose
• Dutched cocoa
• Peanut oil
• Milk protein concentrate
• Vegetable glycerin
• Tara gum
• Guar gum
• Monk fruit extract
• Salt

Halo Top Ice Cream

• Ultrafiltered skim milk
• Cream
• Erythritol
• Eggs
• Vegetable glycerine
• Soluble corn fiber
• Inulin
• Macadamia nuts
• Sugar
• Skim milk
• Natural flavors
• Coconut oil
• Corn starch
• Salt
• Stevia leaf extract
• Sunflower lecithin
• Citric acid
• Cellulose gel
• Cellulose gum

So Delicious No Sugar Added Coconutmilk Frozen Dessert

• Organic coconutmilk (filtered water, organic coconut),
• Chicory root extract
• Acacia gum
• Erythritol
• Vegetable glycerin
• Pea protein
• Guar gum
• Sea salt
• Locust bean gum
• Monk fruit extract
• Natural flavor
• Vanilla bean specks

How to make keto ice cream at home

Ingredients:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons sugar-free powdered sweetener
• 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Method:

• In a deep and wide jar, add all your ingredients and mix.
• Using an immersion or stick mixer, beat everything together until it thickens and soft peaks form.
• Cover the jar and place it in the freezer for at least 4 hours, stirring every 40 minutes to ensure it doesn't become too icy.
• Remove from the freezer and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

Tips:

• If you want smoother ice cream, add 1 tablespoon of vodka. You won’t be able to taste it, but it will make the ice cream easier to scoop.
• To store: If your ice cream is too icy once removed from the freezer, you can microwave it for 15 seconds or let it sit for 15 minutes.
• To re-freeze: The ice cream will become icier if re-frozen. If you do have leftovers and need to re-freeze them, place them in a new container and store them in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Variations:

• Chocolate: Add 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to the mixture.
• Cookies and cream: Replace the vanilla extract with almond extract and add 1 cup of crushed keto Oreos.
• Cookie dough: Fold through 1/4 cup of crumbled keto cookie dough.
• Strawberry: Add 1/2 cup sliced strawberries and, if desired, strawberry extract.
• Mint chocolate chip: Replace the vanilla extract with peppermint extract and fold through 1/2 cup sugar-free chocolate chips.
• Butter pecan: Add 1/2 teaspoon butter extract and 1/4 cup chopped pecans.
• Salted caramel: Fold through 1/4 cup of sugar-free caramel syrup.
• Peanut butter cup: Drizzle peanut butter and add chopped-up keto peanut butter cups.
• Birthday cake: Add 1/4 cup sugar-free sprinkles and 1/2 teaspoon butter extract.
• Brownie batter: Add 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder and 1/2 cup chopped keto brownies.

Comparison to regular ice cream

While keto ice cream is a great option for those on the keto diet, it is important to understand how it differs from regular ice cream.

Keto ice cream is often higher in calories and fat than regular ice cream due to the use of high-fat ingredients. The keto diet involves drastically reducing your carb intake while consuming the majority of your calories from fat and a moderate amount of calories from protein. As a result, keto ice cream is typically made with high-fat ingredients, such as cream, butter, and oil, to increase the total fat content. This means that keto ice cream often has more fat per serving than regular ice cream.

In addition to being higher in fat, keto ice cream also tends to have more fibre. Many keto ice creams have added fibre, such as chicory root fibre or inulin, to influence taste and texture while keeping total carbohydrates low. Regular ice cream, on the other hand, is not a traditional source of added fibre, so it typically contains much less.

Another key difference between keto and regular ice cream is the type of sweeteners used. Keto ice cream uses sugar substitutes, such as erythritol, allulose, stevia, or monk fruit, to keep the carbohydrate and sugar content low. These sugar substitutes have zero to half the calories of regular sugar. In contrast, regular ice cream typically contains added sugar, which provides 4 calories per gram.

It is also worth noting that keto ice cream often has a different texture and mouthfeel compared to regular ice cream. Some people find keto ice cream to be crumbly, chalky, or grainy, especially straight out of the freezer. This may be due to the use of alternative sweeteners and added fibre, which can affect the texture. Regular ice cream, on the other hand, tends to be creamier and smoother.

Lastly, keto ice cream often has a higher price point than regular ice cream. This is likely due to the specialised ingredients used and the fact that it caters to a specific dietary niche.

In summary, keto ice cream differs from regular ice cream in terms of nutrient profile, ingredients, texture, taste, and price. It is important to consider these differences when choosing an ice cream, especially if you are following a specific diet or have dietary restrictions.

Where to buy keto ice cream

If you're looking to buy keto ice cream, there are a few brands that are widely available. Enlightened, Rebel, Halo Top, Edy's, and So Delicious are some of the most popular keto-friendly ice cream brands.

You can find these brands at major grocery stores like Walmart, Kroger, and Whole Foods, as well as online retailers. For example, Enlightened offers free shipping on orders over $50 on their website, and their products are also available on Amazon. Rebel ice cream is available in stores only, and you can use their store locator to find the nearest retailer. Halo Top also has a store locator on their website to help you find their products at a store near you.

Some keto ice cream brands are also available at specific grocery stores. For instance, Aldi carries its own keto ice cream brand, Sundae Shoppe, which comes in three flavors: Peanut Butter Fudge, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Cookie Dough. Costco sells keto ice cream bars, and Kroger has developed its own brand of keto ice cream.

It's important to keep in mind that not all keto ice cream brands are created equal. Some may have better flavors and textures than others, so it's worth trying out different options to find your favorite. Additionally, while these ice creams are marketed as keto-friendly, it's always a good idea to read the nutrition labels and ingredient lists to ensure they align with your dietary needs and preferences.

Frequently asked questions