8 Popular Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Flavors, Ranked Worst To Best

There is no shortage of out-of-this-world ice cream in the U.S., and it would be a foodie's dream to travel and try them all. The good news is that some of the most reliably tasty frozen treats can be found close to home. Founded in California in 1945, Baskin-Robbins has spent decades selling ice cream to the masses — and just to get something out of the way, I have always been a huge fan. The ice cream chain has a great variety of flavors, and the quality is consistently good.

That being said, some of its scoops are better than others. I purchased all of the Baskin-Robbins ice cream included in this list from a grocery store, and to its credit, each scoop tasted like it was delivered by hand from a Baskin-Robbins employee, which is saying a lot for grocery store ice cream. However, the quality of each individual flavor varied.

Whether you pop into an actual Baskin-Robbins free-standing store or grab a few pints from your local grocer, there is a hierarchy, and some flavors outshine others. Here's my ranking of eight popular flavors, from the not-so-great to the delicious.

Availability of Baskin-Robbins products can vary by location. I purchased all eight Baskin-Robbins varieties available at my local grocery stores. The lineup includes: Pralines 'n Cream, Rainbow Sherbet, Cookie Monster, Chocolate Chip, Mint Chocolate Chip, Jamoca Almond Fudge, Cotton Candy, and Icing on the Cake.

Despite the gallery of flavor combinations available, I will admit that my heart belongs to one Baskin-Robbins OG flavor that I can never (and will never) quit. It's the chocolate peanut butter, and if either of those things does something for you, I urge you to try it. It is not included in this ranking because that particular flavor was not in stock, but rest assured, it would have been the immediate winner. It's probably best for the others that it was unavailable.

This ranking features a diverse mix of flavors. For fairness, I tasted a scoop of each ice cream flavor and based my overall ranking on first impressions of its flavor, sweetness, and quality.

Coming in last place is Baskin-Robbins Icing on the Cake, and it was not a tough decision. There isn't anything slightly redeeming to lean on to justify its existence in the Baskin-Robbins ice cream lineup. This flavor is bad. Like, really bad.

When you first take the lid off the icy pint, you are greeted with a bounty of different colored confetti pieces dotted throughout the cake-flavored ice cream. It also incorporates little pieces of cake and bits of frosting. None of that matters, though. While I love some good funfetti energy, this Baskin-Robbins attempt completely missed the mark. All of it is just too much and reinforces the idea that sometimes less is more.

All you actually taste when the ice cream hits your tongue is overpowering sweetness that makes you wish you had chosen a different Baskin-Robbins flavor. It's the kind of saccharine sweetness that makes you feel immediate regret. I'm sure a toddler with a penchant for unreasonable amounts of sugar would be all in on Baskin-Robbins Icing on the Cake, but as an adult, I just couldn't stomach it. If your sugar tolerance is abnormally high and you love birthday cake-flavored confections, it would work. Otherwise, my advice is to skip it and pick another Baskin-Robbins concoction.

Buckle up for this one if you are a staunch supporter of all things cotton candy, because you might not like my feedback. Truth be told, I do enjoy a nice fluffy serving of cotton candy. The way it melts in your mouth, with a deliciously sugary finish, is almost enough to make you forget that it's literally made of all sugar. But cotton is the kind of fare best enjoyed where it has deep roots, like a carnival, Disneyland, birthday parties, and other events where you can almost always expect someone to be spinning different colors of cotton candy on the obligatory white paper cone.

If you couldn't already tell, cotton candy ice cream would never be a top choice for me personally, but I do understand the lure of the sugary treat. Baskin-Robbins Cotton Candy ice cream is visually beautiful. I will not deny that. The opening of the lid reveals gorgeous swirls of pink and blue that scream cotton candy in every single way. Just by looking at it, you can tell what it's generally going to taste like. You automatically know it's going to be sweet, so you are mentally prepared for that major hit of sugar. But somehow, this Baskin-Robbins flavor is even sweeter than actual cotton candy, and I did not love it or even like it.

I am a child of the '80s, so obviously my freezer was always stocked with that giant white tub of sherbet your parents snagged at the grocery store. As a matter of fact, most family events came with that punch every boomer mom whipped up with her mother's recipe of champagne, Sprite or ginger ale, and a bajillion scoops of sherbet, all melted into the mixture to create a bubbly, foamy, and uncharacteristically yummy drink.

The latter is an attribute I could arguably apply to Baskin-Robbins Rainbow Sherbet, which tastes exactly the way good sherbet should. It's like a creamier version of a fruity sorbet, finishing with a pleasant sugary tang.

Just like the cotton candy-flavored ice cream from Baskin-Robbins, its rainbow sherbet is a total stunner. The colors are vibrant and swirled together expertly like a delicious-looking masterpiece. While I wouldn't turn it down, it just doesn't compete with many of the other ice cream flavors from Baskin-Robbins, which is why it is ranked lower on this list. But if you are a seeker of retro ice cream vibes, Baskin-Robbins has the sherbet you crave.

I know this one can be divisive, but I am not going to lie: Baskin-Robbins Pralines 'n Cream. I'm not saying that it would necessarily be my sole flavor of choice, but I can respect a solid pralines and cream ice cream for exactly what it is. Baskin-Robbins really nails the whole Pralines 'n Cream experience as a whole. The vanilla ice cream base is super creamy and perfectly rich, and that alone sets a good tone as far as ice cream is concerned.

Even one scoop of the Baskin-Robbins sweet treat is jam-packed with craveable, crunchy, sweet praline pieces (which are essentially pecans accessorized with a sugary coating if you didn't already know). They are so good and satisfying — and that's not even everything the Baskin-Robbins Pralines 'n Cream brings to the table.

Throughout every serving of Baskin-Robbins Pralines 'n Cream, you'll find very generous sweet caramel ribbons that seem to go on forever. It's one of the more indulgent ice creams on the Baskin-Robbins roster, for sure, but it definitely leans toward the sweeter side. If you don't typically like chocolate-flavored ice creams but want something a little more decadent than plain ol' vanilla, Baskin-Robbins Pralines 'n Cream is a good option when the ice cream hankering hits.

I already know that my ranking of this one is going to bring out the pitchforks of cookie enthusiasts everywhere. Unfortunately, the bright blue color of Baskin-Robbins Cookie Monster ice cream is a bit of a deal-breaker for me. I just can't get past it. It's just so incredibly blue, and while I understand the chain is just trying to accurately convey a Cookie Monster vibe, I'm not into that amount of artificial color.

If you close your eyes, however, you would never know you are eating blue. It just tastes like typical sweet cream-flavored ice cream. That's not what brought Baskin-Robbins Cookie Monster ice cream to this point in the ranking, though. Any respectable and skilled ice cream peddler knows that ice cream toppings matter. One thing Baskin-Robbins has mastered is including some of the all-time best toppings in the ice cream itself. In the sea of Cookie Monster blue, there are ample chunks of delicious chocolate sandwich cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and cookie dough.

For cookie lovers, this is a definite win. Admittedly, I found it a bit too sweet at times, and I wonder if it would taste better with a regular vanilla base. However, the incredible amount of cookies and cookie dough is worth every gram of sugar.

Some people may find it odd to rank a mint chocolate chip ice cream so high compared to some of the other creative Baskin-Robbins varieties on the list. What can I say? Not to throw anyone for a loop, but I love a good mint chocolate chip scoop in all its refreshing yet decadent glory, and I don't care what anyone else thinks.

Baskin-Robbins truly nailed its Mint Chocolate Chip flavor. The base is a mint-flavored ice cream that packs the perfect amount of minty flavor without feeling offensive to the taste buds. There's no question that it's clearly mint-flavored, but it isn't so strong that you feel like you are eating a stick of gum.

The hue of Baskin-Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip is an ever-so-subtle greenish tint that almost could pass as white to the naked eye if it weren't directly next to a vanilla ice cream scoop. It's finished off with a stellar amount of semi-sweet chocolate pieces, which totally complement and balance out the mint and make everything flow. I loved it and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Here's the thing about ice cream. Do I love the ice cream parlors that serve more unusual flavors? Sure. But am I also equally a sucker for classic flavors sold at a grocery store? Most definitely. There is something to be said for ice cream tradition, and that's why these ice cream flavors remain popular, no matter what else is on the menu. Baskin-Robbins delivers on its out-of-the-box varieties, but the famous ice cream chain really knocks it out of the park with the classics. Baskin-Robbins Chocolate Chip ice cream is a testament to that ability.

From a strictly aesthetic angle, the Baskin-Robbins Chocolate Chip ice cream is almost identical to the mint chocolate chip flavor. It's the same creamy ice cream with the same delightful chocolate specks dotted throughout. When it comes to Baskin-Robbins' regular chocolate chip, however, you'll find a plain vanilla ice cream base that is both luscious and creamy.

The chocolate chip ice cream also has the same generous outpouring of semi-sweet chocolate pieces, and the ratio is pure perfection. Ice cream classics are classics for a reason. Even if you aren't an ice cream traditionalist, you do not want to sleep on Baskin-Robbins Chocolate Chip.

Baskin-Robbins Jamoca Almond Fudge is a legend and not just because it's fun to say. Invented in 1959, it's one of those iconic flavors that kind of put Baskin-Robbins on the ice cream map and stood strong all these years, no matter what other flavors were brought into the fold. Everything about Jamoca Almond Fudge is delicious, and I will stand 10 toes on business with that statement. It's got a little bit of everything. There are sweet notes along with salty ones to even out the flavor, and it all just works. It's no surprise that Baskin-Robbins Jamoca Almond Fudge swept this ranking because it's a tried-and-true winner.

The coffee ice cream is smooth, creamy, and has that quintessential signature coffee flavor that hooks you immediately. The swirls of fudge are proof that Baskin-Robbins does not skimp on its add-ins, because they are everywhere and will only make you more invested. My personal favorite element of the Baskin-Robbins Jamoca Almond Fudge is, hands down, the roasted almond pieces. They are the shining star that really brings the whole thing together with a texture that hits all the high notes. If you've never tried it, let it be the gateway to the Baskin-Robbins dynasty that you have been missing out on. If I were giving grades, it would get As across the board.