I consider myself a fan of a quality vanilla ice cream, but surprisingly enough I haven't had very much of Ben & Jerry's version. Flavors like their Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Americone Dream feature vanilla as a base, but considering my recent infatuation with Heath bars, this pint of Vanilla Heath Bar Crunch may end up being the best of the bunch. I've previously tried Coffee Heath Bar Crunch, which received a high ranking, so the vanilla version should be able to secure an even higher score. This notion is confirmed after removing the lid and seeing the bits of Heath Bar and toffee filling sitting on top.
Vanilla Heath Bar Crunch isn't the lightest of options coming in at 280 calories per serving, but after spooning out some of the thick ice cream, it seems like this will be well worth the added density. The vanilla doesn't scoop out easily until it's melted down a bit, but this simple, yet effective base should act as a nice foundation to showcase the Heath Bars. The complexity isn't on the level of some other super-premium vanillas I've had, but contains just enough to keep me interested. As expected, the smooth vanilla base can't even come close to the crushed pieces of Heath Bar strewn about inside.
Ben & Jerry's has seemingly taken a Gallagher-sized mallet to a Heath Bar, crushed it to smithereens, and then tossed in the various sized chunks. The stringy, inner-filling takes on the role of a typical swirl found inside a pint of Ben & Jerry's. The super-sweet swirl is perhaps the perfect addition to their vanilla ice cream, and only gets better when coupled with the chocolate toffee fragments found nearby. While many companies use same-sized pieces when it comes to candy, I prefer the random sized chunks used here that make every bite a little bit different.
Some of the pieces, such as the one seen above, grow to be pretty large. The largest chunk found in my pint nearly reached across the entire diameter of the carton. The thin chocolate coating on the outside of the bars add the ideal, rich finish to each bite. Some of the smaller pieces are soft and slightly crunchy, while the big ones take some time to break down before they can be chewed. Heath Bars seem to be so effective in ice cream because they hit such a high amount of textures with one ingredient, which is the case with Vanilla Heath Bar Crunch. The high amount of candy inside gives this flavor a heavy feeling, but the slow-moving, dense journey was one of the best Ben & Jerry's experiences I've had. This flavor that hides deep in their database should definitely be getting more attention than it does.
Where I Found It: Ingles Markets
Grade: A
