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We Asked 3 Chefs to Name the Best Ice Cream, and They All Said the Same Thing

Ali Domrongchai
Ali Domrongchai
Prior to my current position as Associate Editor for Groceries at The Kitchn, I held staff positions at Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, and Allrecipes. My words and recipes have also been featured in Cook's Country, Simply Recipes, and EatingWell. Oh, and most importantly, I can’t go more than a few hours without a sweet treat.
published Aug 22, 2025
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Chocolate ice cream in a white container with a metal scoop, showing a smooth, creamy texture.
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Credit: Alex Lepe

It’s already a scorcher this summer, which means frozen desserts are top of mind. You’ll find at least one tub of ice cream in our freezers at all times. Sometimes they’re freshly churned (with the help of our favorite ice cream makers); more often, though, they’re straight from the frozen section at our neighborhood grocery stores.

Last year we asked a few of our favorite chefs to recommend the best vanilla ice cream brand on shelves. We were curious to know what the experts think about another very popular flavor, so we reached out to chefs and professional bakers to get the inside scoop on chocolate ice cream. Their unanimous pick? Jeni’s Darkest Chocolate Ice Cream.

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Credit: Ali Domrongchai
Jeni's Darkest Chocolate Ice Cream

The Best Chocolate Ice Cream Brand, According to Chefs

Stacey Mei Yan Fong, cookbook author of 50 Pies, 50 States: An Immigrant’s Love Letter to the United States Through Pie and close friend of mine, didn’t mince words when I asked her to share her go-to chocolate ice cream brand. “Jeni’s Darkest Chocolate Ice Cream. It’s my favorite, HANDS-DOWN,” she enthusiastically responded without missing a beat. “It’s so creamy — almost like eating the Betty Crocker frosting out of the tub, or hot fudge from McDonald’s. It’s pure nostalgia.” 

Jeni's Darkest Chocolate
$12
$12 at Jeni's

Terrence Gutiérrez, a professional recipe developer, baker, and food content creator, agreed. “When I eat ice cream, I need a ton of chocolate — and this one is full of it,” he said. “Every element is super-chocolaty and delicious.”

What really solidified this as the best chocolate ice cream? My friend and ice cream maker at a local ice cream shop in Brooklyn, New York (who asked to remain anonymous), named Jeni’s over the one at the shop she works at (although she “loves the ice cream” there as well). “It’s the crème de la crème of ice cream!” she said. “Rich, chocolaty, yet smooth … it’s the best brand and flavor.”

Buy: Jeni’s Darkest Chocolate Ice Cream, $12 for 1 pint at Jeni’s

What’s your favorite chocolate ice cream brand? Tell us about it in the comments below.

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: We Asked 3 Chefs to Name the Best Ice Cream, and They All Said the Same Thing

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