I've always wondered how store-exclusive flavors come to be. How is it that Häagen-Dazs and Walgreens pharmacy were able to come to terms on creating a flavor specifically for their customers? While Ben & Jerry's have a few exclusive flavors, such as Blueberry Cheesecake available only at Wal-Mart, Häagen-Dazs has a handful as well. While 7-Eleven has the rights to offer Bananas Foster, Walgreens was able to lock down not one, but two flavors. Joining Pralines & Cream, Midnight Cookies & Cream looked a little more enticing. The liquid fudge cascading down chocolate cookies on the front cover didn't hurt either.
I've always appreciated the flavor profile rundowns on the rear of Häagen-Dazs pints, but this one sounds better than most. They describe Midnight Cookies & Cream as an indulgent blend of smooth chocolate ice cream, buttery fudge ribbons and chocolaty wafer cookies. Removing the gold lid and pulling back the plastic seal shows off a large array of cocoa components. The lightly shaded chocolate base is broken up by swirls of fudge and chunks of cookie. After trying so many non-super premium, low calorie brands as of late, the density of Häagen-Dazs doesn't disappoint.
The 290 calories per serving is a bit on the high side, but that thought is quickly ushered out of my mind following my first bite. The thick chocolate ice cream follows the profile laid out on the pint's description. The mellow, yet rich cocoa flavoring avoids the odd, dry finish that many chocolate bases seem to have a problem with. The slow melting, complex chocolate could have kept my attention all by itself, but once I begin to run into the fudge and cookies, this flavor begins to skyrocket up the standings. Although not overly abundant, the buttery ribbons of fudge remain liquid-like and add an intense influx in chocolate flavoring.
The fudge swirl was a nice accompaniment to the base ice cream, but the pieces of chocolate wafer cookies are the crowning achievement of this flavor. The chunks aren't crunchy as I'd expected, but instead, the varying size pieces are flaky, soft and chewy from beginning to end. Despite having all the chocolate components, the overall profile still manages to avoid being overly rich. The nice balance of flavors, textures and varying richness result in a flavor that's worth seeking out. The next time you're feeling sick and picking up a prescription, I'd advise grabbing a pint of this. You'll feel much better.
Where I Found It: Walgreens
Grade: B
