YumSugar

Has French Vanilla Fallen Out of Favor?

YumSugar — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:49:20 PDT

Today, word spread that ice cream chain Baskin-Robbins is retiring five of its flavors, among them Campfire S'mores, Apple Pie a La Mode, Caramel Praline Cheesecake, and Superfudge Truffle. But the most surprising news of all? The company also plans to retire French Vanilla, a longtime hit and one of its original 31 flavors created in 1945.

Not only has French Vanilla been a core flavor for the past 65 years, but vanilla is the most popular ice cream variety in America by a wide margin. Does the discontinuation of French Vanilla suggest fewer consumers have an appetite for the flavor?

In recent frozen dessert encounters, I've spotted vanilla bean ice cream much more frequently than its flaxen yellow French counterpart, which is strained to be free of flavorful vanilla bean seeds and made heavier and creamier with egg custard. What do you think: Will other ice cream companies follow suit? Does French vanilla ice cream seem like a dated flavor to you?

Source: Flickr User cowbite

Treat Yourself to Ice Cream Tonight

partysugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:50:12 PDT

Baskin-Robbins's annual 31-cent scoop night is happening this evening from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. To get in on the deal, all you have to do is head to your local Baskin-Robbins for a small, single-scoop ice cream cone. The event was created to honor the National Volunteer Fire Council National Junior Firefighter Program, and Baskin-Robbins will be donating $100,000 to the organization. At select stores, ice cream eaters can contribute by making their own donation the cause. Cheap ice cream for a good cause: What's not to love?

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Baskin-Robbins New Lighter Line of Ice Cream

FitSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:30:00 PST

At a time when many people are resolving to eat less ice cream, Baskin-Robbins has introduced its new line of more diet-friendly treats under the umbrella name BRight Choices. The new selection includes a variety of flavors of light, fat-free, dairy-free, and no-sugar-added ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet.

The company's website lists nutritional information for the different types of treats and flavors - for example, the Premium Churned Light Ice Cream has 50 percent less fat and 20 percent fewer calories than Baskin-Robbins' regular ice cream. Keep in mind the serving size for the nutritional info is for a 2.5-oz. scoop.

To find out how to score a free scoop from the BRight Choices line,

Bring your gym membership card to your local Baskin-Robbins on Jan. 15 for a free scoop of any BRight Choices flavor. You're not exactly walking into the produce section when choosing a frozen treat for a snack, but it's always nice to have a lighter option when you have a hankering.

Campaign-Themed Food: Our Top Votes

YumSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:30:43 PDT

With the presidential election less than two months away, the whole country's been talking, breathing, and sleeping campaign politics. It's only natural, then, that we've been eating up campaign politics, too - and boy, is it tasty. We had some tough choices to make, but these treats get our top votes.

Baskin-Robbins' New Election Flavors! Which to Lick?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:00:48 PDT

Just in time to cool off this heated election, Baskin-Robbins has released two spanking new flavors, one for each of the candidates. Ever wonder what two scoops of McCain tastes like? His flavor, Straight Talk Crunch is:

Caramel ribbon, chocolate pieces, candy red states and crunchy mixed nuts swirled into White Chocolate ice cream.

Think a lick of Barack is more your taste? His flavor, Whirl of Change, is:

Peanut-nougat ice cream whirled with chunks of chocolate-covered peanut brittle and a caramel ribbon.

I think they're willing to look the other way on the whole Obama doesn't like ice cream thing . . . Given the (banana) split of the country, what would election-themed flavors be without a chance to vote for your favorite? You can, in the Flavor Debate '08. From now until Oct. 20, sample the candidates' sweet stuff and vote online or in stores for the winner. I wonder if the ice cream war could be a useful replacement for the old Electoral College? It would be a sweeter contest, to be sure.

Which flavor would you want to try first?

Taste Test: "New" Candy

partysugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:00:08 PDT

Updating an image or spinning off of a product is nothing new, but lately it seems like this concept has taken over the candy industry. I recently received a box full of new products that were featured at the National Candy Expo a month ago in Chicago. The majority of items weren't exactly new, but rather re-creations of old products. I selected four - Pop Rocks Chocolate bars, Nerds Giant Chews, Chocolate Pez, and Baskin Robbins Soft Candy - and decided to perform a taste test. Sadly none of the new variations lived up to their established counterparts. To see what I thought of each product,

Pop Rocks Chocolate bars: This oversized bar is described as "real milk chocolate with a kick." At first the chocolate bar tastes like any normal krispy-style chocolate bar. However, the krispies explode in your mouth like pop rocks. The chocolate is mediocore and the sensation interesting, but I wasn't hungry for more.

Nerds Giant Chews: These giant nerds (they're the size of peanut M&Ms) have a bumpy, crunchy shell and soft chewy center. They taste exactly like the miniature version. Eating one is the equivalent of tossing an entire handful of Nerds into your mouth.

View 5 Photos ›

Chocolate Pez: Why Pez felt they needed to expand into artificial chocolate-flavored candies is beyond me. These are chalky and leave a sour aftertaste in the mouth.

Baskin Robbins Soft Candy: With their sweet-minty scent, I was certain these chewy candies were going to be the best of the bunch. However they were disappointing and tasted fake. The best thing about them was the smell.

So has anyone else tasted any of these new candy formulas? What did you think of them?

Fast Food Mayhem: Baskin Robbins Frozen Treat Edition

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:00:00 PDT

You all enjoyed my first frozen treat quiz that I thought it would be fun to take it a little further. One of my guilty Summer pleasures is a Baskin Robbins shake. ~~Foolishly~~ Wisely I glanced at the nutritional information for the shakes and will probably be opting for a small cone from here on out. You'll be shocked to see the nutritional information in some of BR's tastiest treats.

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Yummy Deals: Buy One Sundae, Get One Free

YumSugar — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:57:31 PST

A little birdie just sent this great deal to me, and I absolutely had to pass it on. From now until the end of the month, Baskin Robbins is having a buy one sundae, get one free deal. It's only available at participating locations, and you will have to print out the coupon. So print out your coupon, find a store near you, and indulge this weekend!

For those of you wondering if it really works: I sent my gal geeksugar on a scouting mission, and she successfully came back with two delicious sundaes for the price of one! She said the best part was that they let her create her own - although they do have pre-determined flavors like Oreo and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup - and that she was able to go crazy.

Baskin Robbins' Pints Don't Add Up

YumSugar — Fri, 18 May 2007 07:59:31 PDT

When you purchase a pint of ice cream, you expect to receive a pint, right? Somehow the folks that pack the "hand packed pints" at Baskin Robbins didn't realize that. In an investigation of 416 pints, approximately 83% of their hand packed pints have been coming up short - with an an average of 4 oz (that's 25%!). Needless to say, savvy customers realized it and started to complain and Baskin Robbins was eventually slapped with a consumer protection lawsuit. The suit has been settled with the San Diego Attorney General and Baskin Robbins has been ordered to pay a total of $491,000 to the state. As of now, they are no longer offering the pint, but will continue to offer 12-ounce pre-packed containers.

Source: Trendhunter and NBC San Diego

31 Cent (aka Practically Free) Ice Cream

YumSugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:01:12 PDT

Well this one's not free, but it sure is cheap.
Baskin-Robbins has announced that next Wednesday (May 2) is 31¢ Scoop Night. Before you go thinking, what?! Ben & Jerry gave theirs away for free, I should let you know, 31¢ Scoop Night is in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and that Baskin-Robbins will be donating $100,000 to the organization. And hey, 31¢ is practically free, cheapy-mc-cheapster.

So next Wednesday, May 2, from 5pm-10pm, head to your local participating Baskin-Robbins and treat yourself! Oh and if you head over to the 31¢ Scoop Night website, you can even register to have a reminder email sent to you.