Cookies and cream is an ice cream tale as old as time, or at least as old as old as 1979; where the flavor creation is credited to Joe Leedom, a dairy science student at South Dakota State University. The dunk-ability and kinship of Oreo cookies and milk is indisputable, so turning that undeniable marriage into an ice cream is so logical it’s no wonder it’s a staple in some form for nearly every ice cream company in the United States. Originally released in 2019 as a Walmart exclusive flavor, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Sammie answers that cookie call via vanilla ice cream with chocolate sandwich cookies and chocolate cookie swirls.

For those of you looking for an even more straight forward take on cookies and cream than last year’s Topped Dirt Cake, this pint is for you. If you’re familiar with this blog you know I love to get as long winded and flowery poetic as possible, but there’s not a whole lot to say about this pint — it tastes, looks, and even smells exactly as you’d expect. The vanilla base is sweet and slightly floral with a strong vanilla presence and the great creamy density that I know and love from Ben & Jerry’s.

The tandem of cookie chunks and cookie swirls work their way into the base for a bit of grit in every bite of vanilla, but also stand out in bigger more prominent chunks throughout. The cookie swirl is more gritty, slightly buttery, and bittersweet, while the whole pieces are soft and soaked like a proper dunking would create. The larger pieces of cookie wafer are so soft they really do give me an ice cream sandwich feel, which is a throwback nostalgic flavor and texture that really works; especially when a bigger piece of creme filling is wedged inside for an extra pleasant pop of sweetness.

This is an excellently executed take on a scoop shop staple that is entirely unexciting yet satisfying at the same time. It’s a great limited batch for the summer that will no doubt be a crowd pleaser for young and old alike. Although it’s not one of my personal favorites, I’m more of a chocolate and caramel kinda guy, it’s still hard to miss with a classic cookies and cream.

Rating: 7/10

Found at: sent to me by Ben & Jerry’s for review (FREE)