Aunt Bessie's Jam Roly Poly and Custard Ice Cream

Whilst Aunt Bessie's is fine for yorkshires, I've never been keen on any of her desserts - they're just a little too cheap, too sweet and no where near as good as homemade with a very long list of ingredients. So for her to move into ice cream seemed a bit odd to me and it's definitely not something I would pick over Haagen Daaz or Ben and Jerrys. However, what she has bought new to the table is a range of dessert inspired ice creams - rhubarb crumble with pastry pieces, lemon meringue pie with meringue bits and this jam roly one with sponge inclusions.

First up this is never going to be premium quality ice cream - whereas Haagen Daaz for example uses quite simple ingredients with lots of real cream and whole milk, the contents of this are

Partially Reconstituted Buttermilk, Sugar, Palm Oil, Sponge Cake Pieces (6%) [Sugar, Wheat Flour (Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Thiamin, Niacin), Sweetcream Butter (Milk, Salt), Water, Free Range Whole Egg Powder, Skimmed Sweetened Condensed Milk, (Skimmed Milk, Sugar), Cornflour, Salt, Raising Agent: Bicarbonate of Soda], Dextrose, Raspberry Ripple (3%) [Sugar, Raspberry Puree (42%), Water, Cornflour, Raspberry Concentrate, Acidity Regulator: Citric Acid, Antioxidant: Tri Sodium Citrate, Colour: Anthocyanins, Natural Flavouring], Emulsifier: Mono & Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Stabilisers [Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum], Colours [Annatto, Curcumin], Natural Flavour

Yeah....

However, it did look appetising when I opened with it - with a (very!) yellow colour and lots of swirls of raspberry sauce. It scooped out very easily which means it's pretty airy rather than the creamy density of Ben and Jerrys.

Overall I thought it was pretty good but there were a few niggles. Firstly for all its promises of jam roly poly it was more raspberry ripple - however a very good raspberry ripple indeed. There was loads raspberry sauce which had a nice fruitiness and wasn't too sweet and the ice cream itself was vanillaey with a slight custard edge. However, sometimes I found the texture a bit icy rather than smooth and creamy and the sponge pieces weren't really that noticeable and even when you did notice them, they are small and not soft and spngey but just little frozen pieces.

It's nice enough and I'd maybe buy it again but as a decent raspberry ripple. Once again I've been duped by something promising to be a dessert flavour that can't quite delver it

Bought at: Morrisons
Nutrition per scoop: 92 calories, 4.2g fat, 2.2g sat fat, 11g sugars, 0.10g salt

Sainsburys Deliciously Freefrom Coconut Vanilla Iced Dessert

Dairy free is all the rage nowadays and whilst I am not dairy intolerant and still love my milk and yogurts, I am very much into my almond and coconut alternatives as well. Dairy free milks and yogurts are pretty mainstream and easy enough to find now and it seems ice cream is the next area that’s set to boom. Sainsburys did a big freefrom push earlier this year with loads of new own label options across every sector from pasta sauces to bread and cakes to cereals. One thing that grabbed a lot of attention was there new freefrom ice creams made of coconut and available in vanilla, strawberry and chocolate versions.

This ice cream is made from - Water, Coconut Milk (30%) (Water, Coconut Extract), Sugar, Inulin, Dextrose, Coconut Oil (4%), Vanilla Extract, Thickener: Carob Gum, Cellulose; Colour: Beta-carotene  - so suitable for vegans and those avoiding dairy. It's also gluten free and wheat free.

Because of the coconut milk base this is actually really quite high in saturated fat. And whilst health bloggers claim it’s good for you, I’m still not convinced and think too much sat fat is bad and that the best fats are those in things like nuts, avocado and seeds which are monosaturated. It’s also just as sugary as normal ice cream at 22% - for context that’s the same as salted caramel haagen daaz and not much further behind than Ben and Jerry’s cookie dough at 25% .

What I was impressed with was just how scoopable this was after leaving out for a few minutes. Nice and soft, it felt creamy and looks quite attractive with a simple yellow colour (albeit one derived from added colour beta-carotene).  

This translates into a nice creamy, thick texture – it certainly didn’t feel like a sorbet and isn’t icy, watery or thin tasting. It’s not quite ice cream as it’s maybe a little oily and maybe a bit more girtty but this is really minor and for all extents and purposes it’s pretty indulgent in mouthfeel.

The flavour is okay…. To be honest coconut is the main taste you get and I would describe it as a coconut with hints of vanilla taste rather than a vanilla taste that just so happens to be made of coconut. It’s sweet and pleasant tasting but it’s not overly exciting. Considering the sugar and sat fat is comparable to normal ice cream, I think I’d rather just have a scoop of Ben and Jerry’s instead as this isn’t exactly a clean and pure product either. Vegans and those who can’t eat lactose will love this but it’s just as unhealthy as regular ice cream and the taste although nice just isn’t enough to make me choose this instead of my favourite brands.

Price: £3.00

Bought at: Sainsburys

Nutrition per serving: 193 calories, 8.4g fat, 7.5g sat fat, 20.7g sugars, 0.03g salt

Score: 7/10

Waitrose Seriously Creamy Stem Ginger Ice Cream

These delicious beauties are one of the most indulgent treats I've had in a very long time. They're a little pricey and pretty unhealthy but so delectable economics and waist lines don't even enter the decision.

Dark chocolate and ginger is probably my favourite flavour combination. I love strong, intense taste experiences, so two very distinct flavours in one product makes for a lovely balance. If you like the dark chocolate and ginger biscuits you can buy you'll love these.

When I opened the pack, I was very surprised, if not a little overwhelmed, by the sheer size of them. They might be £2.99 but you certainly get a lot for your money. As such, they're 300ish calories each with around 30g sugar per stick. However, I suppose this is the same as a lot of chocolate bars and because of their size they last a lot longer and you feel more satisfied.

And these are worth every calorie. Creamy, cool, melt in the mouth ice cream is swirled with a spicy, sweet stem ginger sauce and encased in a shell of deep, dark chocolate with bits of ginger studded throughout for further explosions of flavour.

The sensation of shards of dark chocolate snapping in your mouth, followed by a cooling ice cream with the warmth of ginger is sublime. The flavours complement each other perfectly for a delicious dessert. I will definitely buy these again.

Score: 9/10

Haagen Dazs Secret Sensations - Tiramisu

When I buy ice cream, I usually buy Ben and Jerry's as I love the wacky exciting flavour combos. I've always appreciated the quality of Haagen Dazs but usually don't find the choices as exciting. However, this has all changed with this delectable tiramisu ice cream. As a huge coffee fan, I knew this would be an ice cream for me!

As part of the secret senstions range, this has melting hearts of sauce throughout - in this case pockets of coffee sauce. You're supposed to leave the tub out for 15 mins before serving, allowing it to become seductively runny.

Opening up the tub revealed a lovely pale ice cream, studded with little sponge pieces to mimic the ladyfingers in a real tiramisu and dark pockets of the coffee sauce hearts. A lovely real coffee smell was apparent upon removing the lid. Like other Haagen Dazs ice cream, the quality of ingredients shines through  with real coffee extract giving the ice cream its authentic smell.

Apologies for all further photos as I did get into a bit of a mess serving this as the pockets of sauce really can only be described as melting! Upon my first taste of the ice cream, I knew I had found a new firm favourite. The main coffee ice cream is deliciously smooth. The use of real cream, whole milk and mascarpone cheese give it the richest, creamiest mouthfeel, which slowly melts and blankets your tongue with it's silky softness. The coffee flavour isn't weak at all, being noticeable and full of flavour.

The soft sponge pieces bring extra texture and interest to each mouthful. Soft and sweet, they do a great job of replicating the coffee soaked ladyfingers of a real tiramisu. I love the variety these bring to the ice cream, bringing a tasty cake like quality that makes this into even more of a real dessert.

But the star of the show has to be the secret sensations of sauce. I'm not sure how they achieve but, after leaving for fifteen minutes, the hearts of coffee sauce are not in the least bit frozen but lusciously runny and sticky. The sauce is amazingly thick and decadent and whilst it might make for a messy experience, it is totally worth it.

It oozes and melts all over the ice cream, almost like pouring on a rich fondue sauce that never solidifies. There is plenty of it as well, coating the coffee ice cream with even more coffee flavour. The whole thing is perfectly indulgent and is a pretty good replica of tiramisu in ice cream form. If you like coffee ice cream, you will have to try this.

Price: £4.99 (bought on promotion for £2.49)
Available: Major supermarkets

Pros: Sweet, sticky and indulgent. Delicious pockets of melting sauce. Generous with sponge pieces for interesting and varied texture. Premium ingredients. Strong, authentic coffee flavour
Cons: A bit messy to serve and even messier to eat

Score: 8/10

Solero Mojito Flavour

On what's been the hottest day of the year so far, today's review was going to have to be on ice cream. Browsing the ice cream aisle offered loads of choice and there were plenty of new things that caught my eye but ultimately I was won over by the cool, tropical packaging and interesting flavour of these Soleros.

Solero is a brand I haven't bought for years. There's nothing wrong with it but I've always thought it to be a bit dull and old fashioned, albeit a refreshing treat, so it's great to see the brand doing something a bit innovative and modern and injecting a bit of life into it.

Th packaging makes you feel quenched and refreshed just looking at it and brings a little of the tropics and holidays home. As a big rum lover, its great to see it in something it hasn't been used in before, although it is only 0.5% rum so don't expect to get drunk on it!

Opening the pack revealed a cool, pale, icy looking colour that looked very refreshing. The lolly consists of a lime and lemon ice flavoured with rum and mint and has a zesty lemon and lime pulp core. It's all the components of my favourite cocktail but in a summer treat.

From the very first lick, I felt immediately more chilled. The ice was so cooling in the heat ad the zingy citrus fruits made this feel like a nice light treat that freshens you up rather than weighs you down. The one thing that really stood out for me was just how much this tasted like a mojito.

Though the rum is very faint, the zesty lemon and lime and the sharp cooling mint come through really strongly to deliver a delicious sweet, cooling punch that really replicates the flavour of the cocktail authentically.

I also absolutely loved the crisp green core. It has a really interesting texture. I'd like to say gritty but that makes it sound bad when it's not. It's fresh and packed full of flavour with a more crystallized, rough texture that provides an interesting contrast to the smooth, minty ice.

I really didn't expect these to be as good as they were and Solero have done a fantastic job in making something that packs lots of flavour. It's not watery and weak like other ice lollies and captures the refreshing hit of a mojito. They're also only 55 calories as well so very much a not too guilty treat.


Price: £2.49 for 3 (bought on a £1.49 promo at Morrison's)
Available: Major supermarkets

Pros: Refreshing and cooling, authentic Mojito taste, good portion size, interesting core, a light eat.
Cons: Pricier than other ice lollies

Score: 8/10

Ben and Jerry‘s Greek Style Frozen Yoghurt: Vanilla Honey Caramel

I've been dying to try out the new range of frozen yoghurt from Ben and Jerry's for a while now and with warmer weather approaching I finally got round to buying some. I plumped for the vanilla honey caramel variety as this seemed the most unusual and different.

Opening up the tub revealed a lovely creamy, golden colour with sweet caramel swirled through. For something made with yoghurt rather than cream, this still had a meltingly creamy mouthfeel that was cool and blanketed the tongue. And that's probably because this is still an indulgent product rather than a healthy alternative to ice cream having looked at the nutritional info on the back. It is lower in fat but still quite high in calories and sugar.

I felt this had quite a mild taste. The vanilla was subtle but not as interesting as some of the premium Madagascan ice creams on the market. The honey added sweetness that wasn't overpowering but didn't come through as strongly as I would have liked either. The caramel was buttery and delicious however but then again there are also probably better caramel ice creams out there like the Carte D'or Salted Caramel.

Overall, this was a nice alternative to ice cream if you want something lower in fat and it was fairly refreshing. However, I probably wouldn't buy it again as none of the flavours came through particularly strongly and it was pretty underwhelming. I would still try the raspberry and chocolate chunk and strawberry shortcake versions though.

Price: £5.49
Available: All major supermarkets

Pros: Lower in fat, refreshing, not overly sweet, creamy texture despite being lower in fat
Cons: Expensive, flavour not strong enough for my tastes, not as healthy as you might think

Score: 6/10