Arctic Zero Cookies & Cream frozen dessert a complete let down

Product: Arctic Zero Cookies & Cream Frozen Dessert – $4.99

When you think Cookies & Cream ice cream, what do you envision?  For me…it’s a rich and creamy vanilla base that is filled with chunks of cookies.  So, when I saw that Arctic Zero offered a frozen treat that was labeled Cookies & Cream, you better believe I got all excited about it.

While I tried and enjoyed the Chocolate Peanut Butter frozen dessert from Arctic Zero well enough…I mentioned that it seemed to be lacking a lot of the peanut butter flavor.  And trust me…when you buy something that has the words PEANUT BUTTER listed, you want to be able to taste peanut butter.

Well, the same concept sort of holds true for something that is called Cookies & Cream.  You just sort of expect to get cookies with your ice cream, right?  EXACTLY!!

And that’s exactly what I immediately noticed was missing when I opened up this pint of the Arctic Zero Frozen Dessert I picked up at Whole Foods not too long ago.  I mean…a gluten-free ice cream-like dessert that involved COOKIES??!!  I was sold.  And tonight, after a quick dinner, this was going to be dessert.  I hurried into the kitchen to open the pint, which I let sit on the counter while my roommate and I ate because I discovered that lactose-free desserts do better when they are left to soften a little.  I popped off the lid…and was staring at this gray-brown Italian ice-like substance.  Given that I had eaten a flavor of Arctic Zero before, I was expecting the sorbet-like look.  I wasn’t expecting the brown-gray color.  And…AND…there was NO sign of anything cookie-like scattered throughout it.

I was totally bummed.

But, I figured maybe it was supposed to just taste like cookies and cream, in which case…the picture on the front is very misleading.  That being said, I scooped up a 1/2 cup serving for my roommate and handed her a bowl, then went to scoop mine.  She gave it a taste…and said that…it didn’t taste like cookies and cream.  It almost tasted…caramel-like.

I finished scooping up my serving and put the pint back into the freeze.  Then, I settled in and took my first taste.  She was absolutely right.  So, not only did I not have any cookies in my Cookies & Cream dessert…it tasted like caramel.  Not cookies.  Not cream.  Caramel.  Now, I like caramel…but not when I want cookies and cream.  FOR REAL!!  False advertising.

This was a serious let-down for me.  It totally bummed me out on every level I could think of.  I’m still upset about it.  I could have forgiven them for the lack of cookies, but I can’t forgive them for getting the flavor wrong.  This is NOT cookies and cream.  This is…a disappointing let-down.  Not what I wanted.  Not what I was told I was getting.

Now, speaking nutrition-wise…the Arctic Zero Cookies & Cream Frozen Dessert is gluten-free and safe for the lactose intolerant.  The entire pint will only serve you up 150 calories.  But a regular serving, which is 1/2 cup, is only 36 calories and is fat free.  In addition, one serving has only 80 mg sodium, 10 mg cholesterol, and 5 grams of sugar.  Finally, one serving of the Cookies & Cream Frozen Dessert from Arctic Zero gives you 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

As far as ingredients go…well…I can see how it would be best not to skip to these low-calorie substitutions.  All the ingredients are, as listed: purified water, whey protein concentrate (milk), organic cane sugar, chicory root, sugarcane fiber, dutch processed cocoa powder with alkali, guar gum, xanthan gum, natural flavors, organic vanilla, sea salt, and monk fruit concentrate.

Definitely not the cleanest nor the best when it comes to ingredients.  And this is not a vegan treat as it does contain whey protein.  Just a warning.

For me…on this the second flavor I have tried from Arctic Zero…I’m beginning to see a trend…and I’m saying don’t waste your $5 on this.  Go for something delicious that you know you’ll like.  Be it real ice cream…or something offered from So Delicious or other non-dairy offerings that are SUPER delicious.  This…is just not worth it.