When I think Crème Brûlée, I think white tablecloths, tuxedo-clad waiters and table side service. But when I'm kicking back with a big bowl of Ben & Jerry's that's the last thing I want. Luckily Ben & Jerry's offers their Crème Brûlée ice cream without the fancy French restaurant feel.
Described as, "Sweet Custard Ice Cream with a Caramelized Sugar Swirl," this flavor appeared to be a strict translation of the actual French dish. Typically this dessert consists of a creamy custard filling, topped with hardened caramelized sugar in individual ramekins, sometimes prepared table-side with the assistance of a tiny torch. Having only had the dessert a few times in the past, I wasn't really sure what to expect from this in it's frozen form.
Ben & Jerry's was obviously convinced, but would I be convinced that the crème's a lot crème-ier and the brûlée's a lot cooler, too? Pulling off the lid, the initial layer shared a lot of the same coloring as the real deal.
I collected a copious chunk of the sweet custard ice cream on my spoon for my first bite. I was expecting a pretty sugary substance, but following my first bite I think I heard my dentist screaming in the distance. This was among the sweetest of any base ice creams I've had ever, not just from Ben & Jerry's. But surprisingly, it's not too sweet for me to continue. Almost as versatile as a vanilla, it intrigues me why Ben & Jerry's hasn't used this in any other of the flavors I've foraged through.
But this base just covers the sweet custard creaminess of the crème brûlée, not the torched topping. It only takes a few bites before I land a large collection of the caramelized sugar swirl. If my dentist was screaming before, now he's just shaking his head in disbelief. This surge of saccharin intensifies the sweetness beyond what I thought previously possible. It retains the crunchy consistency of the actual topping of crème brûlée, quickly dissolving after a few chews. There wasn't a ton of this twirl of sugar, but less was certainly more in this case. Any more and my teeth may have rotted on site.
Maybe I have an insatiable sweet-tooth, but I didn't find this overbearing despite the influx of sugar soaked ingredients. It teetered on the brink, but never drove me to put it back into the depths of my freezer. In fact, I found myself fiending for more when I was finished, however, if you're cavity prone or aren't into super-sweet treats, I'd steer clear of this one.
Where I Found It: Whole Foods Market
Grade: B
