We All Scream For Ice Cream: America’s Favorite Flavors
Summer is around the corner and ice cream is the sweet treat of the season. Ahead of summer fun, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has partnered with Morning Consult to survey America’s love for ice cream and frozen desserts. This year’s survey asked over 2,200 American adults for their take on flavors, toppings, and other ice cream preferences.
What are Americans’ favorite ice cream flavors?
First things first, the survey found that 97% of Americans love or like ice cream. Traditional flavors seem to dominate their list, with vanilla being the top flavor. Following behind is chocolate and strawberry. Other top choices that they define as “newer” flavors include butter pecan and cookie dough.
“Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry are the ice cream flavors most often included in Americans’ “Top 5” lists. However, Mint Chocolate Chip rounds out the top 3 when respondents are pressed for their #1 favorite,” they said.
If you’re curious about the favorites from previous years, you can find results from the 2022 and 2019 surveys on IDFA’s website.
What about toppings?
According to the survey results, hot fudge, whipped cream, and caramel sauce are the top three most popular ice cream toppings selected among the 20 options provided. Other top topping choices include chocolate sauce, nuts, sprinkles, and chocolate chips.
They also found that people tend to prefer bowls or waffle cones. Only one in ten say “straight out the carton” is their favorite method of consumption.
When consumers are weighing ice cream options, the most important consideration is flavor. But four-fifths of adults think size and price are important as well. And not surprisingly, nutritional info and product packaging carry less weight.
Capitol Hill Ice Cream Favorites
In addition to this broad survey of the general American population, IDFA conducted a separate survey of staff on Capitol Hill to get their take on flavors, toppings, and what ice cream best describes the U.S. Congress.
Responses differed when IDFA asked staff on Capitol Hill the same questions. “Bakery-inspired” flavors were popular among these respondents. These top flavors include cookie dough, cookies and cream, and mint chocolate chip.
When asked what flavors best describe the U.S. Congress, 30% of the general American population respondents and 50% among Capitol Hill staff picked “Rocky Road: Anything but Smooth.”
Other popular responses were “Banana Split: Split Down the Middle” and “Butter Pecan: Rich and Nutty. You can view the full results of the Capitol Hill ice survey here.
Check out the complete study here.
