10 Most Popular Ice Cream Flavors According to Americans
Let’s be honest: we all have strong opinions about ice cream. Whether you’re team vanilla or a die-hard rocky road fan, everyone’s got that one flavor they always reach for. So when the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) surveyed over 2,200 Americans about their favorite ice cream flavors, you know things got interesting.
We’re counting down from the 10th most popular flavor to America’s #1 favorite. Did your favorite ice cream flavor make the list? Let us know in the comments!
10. Peanut Butter/PB Cup
- 15% of Americans chose this flavor
If you’re a peanut butter fanatic, this one’s for you. Whether it’s swirled with ribbons of actual peanut butter or packed with chunks of peanut butter cups, this flavor is so delicious.
It’s that perfect salty-sweet combo that makes you go back for just one more bite… and then another… and then suddenly the pint’s gone.
9. Rocky Road
- 16% of Americans chose this flavor
This flavor brings chocolate ice cream together with marshmallows and nuts for a fun mix in every bite. You never know quite what you’ll get in each spoonful: maybe a soft marshmallow, maybe a crunchy nut, sometimes both. It keeps things interesting.
8. Chocolate Chip
- 18% of Americans chose this flavor
Sometimes you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Chocolate chip keeps it simple with creamy vanilla studded with chocolate bits. It’s like vanilla’s cooler sibling: familiar but with a little extra something. Perfect for when you can’t decide between vanilla and chocolate (why not both?).
7. Mint Chocolate Chip
- 20% of Americans chose this flavor
This polarizing flavor has people firmly divided: you either love it or think it tastes like toothpaste. But for the 20% who are fans, nothing beats that cool, refreshing mint paired with chocolate chunks.
6. Cookies and Cream
- 21% of Americans chose this flavor
Remember dunking Oreos in milk as a kid? This is basically that experience in ice cream form. Those cookie chunks mixed into creamy ice cream hit all the nostalgia buttons, and it’s no surprise this flavor ranks in the top 10.
Cookies and cream and the following two flavors tied with 21% of the votes. For this countdown, we’re listing them in the order they appeared in the survey
5. Cookie Dough
- 21% of Americans chose this flavor
Most of us grew up sneaking bites of raw cookie dough while making chocolate chip cookies (don’t tell mom). This flavor lets you indulge guilt-free with no raw eggs involved. Those chunks of dough mixed into vanilla ice cream are what dessert dreams are made of.
4. Butter Pecan
- 21% of Americans chose this flavor
Don’t sleep on butter pecan! This flavor brings a rich, buttery base with toasted pecans that add the perfect crunch. It might seem like an “old-school” choice, but there’s a reason it’s been around forever: it’s absolutely delicious. Sometimes the classics are classic for a reason.
3. Strawberry
- 25% of Americans chose this flavor
Coming in at third place, strawberry proves that fruit and ice cream are a match made in heaven. Whether it’s got real strawberry chunks or just that sweet berry flavor throughout, it’s the perfect pick for when you want something a little lighter but still indulgent.
2. Chocolate
- 32% of Americans chose this flavor
The ultimate classic lands in second place. Rich, smooth, and deeply satisfying, chocolate ice cream doesn’t need any fancy mix-ins or swirls to make its case. It’s perfect on its own, amazing with toppings, and the go-to choice for many Americans.
1. Vanilla
- 38% of Americans chose this flavor
And the crown goes to… vanilla! Before you roll your eyes and mutter “boring,” hear us out. Vanilla is the ultimate team player: it goes with every pie, cake, and topping imaginable. It’s the blank canvas of the ice cream world, and apparently, 38% of Americans appreciate its versatility.
Share in the comments what your favorite ice cream flavor is, we’d love to know!
These rankings come from IDFA’s America’s Ice Cream Preferences survey of 2,203 Americans conducted by Morning Consult in 2024, which is the most current data on America’s ice cream preferences.
