Turkey Hill is a classic ice cream brand that evokes nostalgia for many, but is it actually good? This polarizing brand seems to spark debate, with ice cream aficionados landing on both sides. I decided to take an in-depth look at Turkey Hill to determine once and for all if it deserves a spot in your freezer.
A Look at Turkey Hill’s History and Offerings
Turkey Hill Dairy dates back to 1931 when Armor Frey established a small dairy farm in Pennsylvania. The company remained a small regional dairy until 1985 when it launched its first ice cream flavors.
Today, Turkey Hill Dairy is still family-owned and produces a wide range of ice creams, drinks, and refrigerated teas. The brand touts 39 “premium” ice cream flavors plus a selection of lower calorie and no sugar added options.
Turkey Hill’s ice cream lineup includes classic flavors like French Vanilla and Mint Chocolate Chip alongside more unique offerings like Caramel Cookie Crunch and Chocolate Marshmallow. The brand releases limited batch flavors seasonally.
Texture and Creaminess – Middle of the Pack
Ice cream texture and creaminess is hugely important. You want each bite to be smooth, creamy, and never gritty or icy.
Overall, Turkey Hill lands somewhere in the middle here. It’s creamier than cheaper generic brands but not quite as creamy and dense as super premium options like Talenti.
The texture tends to be on the lighter, airier side And while some ice creams suffer from large ice crystals, Turkey Hill is smooth with minimal grittiness
One downside is that it melts faster than really high quality ice cream. So you need to act fast before it becomes a puddle.
Sweetness – Diabetic Friendly But Lacks Bold Flavor
Turkey Hill ice cream is noticeably less sweet than many competitors. For some, this is a major perk and makes it more appealing if you’re watching sugar. But for others, the low sweetness means less bold flavor.
The vanilla, for example, lacks the rich sweetness and true vanilla flavor you might expect And the chocolate doesn’t have quite enough cocoa richness
If you want that ultra creamy, decadent flavor and mouthfeel, you’ll likely be underwhelmed and need to upgrade to a pricier pint.
Mix-Ins – Conservative But Decent Quality
With flavors like chocolate chip cookie dough and mint chocolate chip, mix-in components are critical. Overall, Turkey Hill tends to be pretty conservative with mix-ins. You won’t find huge chocolate chunks or generous swirls of caramel.
On the plus side, the quality is decent. The cookies taste fresh, the caramel swirl is smooth, and the chocolate isn’t waxy. Just don’t expect huge mix-in pieces in every bite.
Price – Budget Friendly
At around $4 per pint depending on location, Turkey Hill hits the sweet spot of being affordable but still a step above cheap generic store brands.
It’s a nice mid-range option between expensive craft ice cream at $6-8 per pint and bargain brands under $3.
Kid Friendly Flavors and Portion Control
Turkey Hill makes an effort to offer portion control options that are appealing for kids. Their line of 50 Calorie Bars are a smart choice for a sweet treat without going overboard.
They also focus on playful flavors like cotton candy and circus vanilla that will get little ones excited.
The Verdict – Better Than Generic but Not Top Tier
After extensively sampling Turkey Hill ice cream flavors ranging from salted caramel to cookies and cream, I can confidently say it’s pretty good – but not amazing.
The creamy yet airy texture is pleasant but melts fast. The flavors are generally mild instead of overly sweet and indulgent. And the mix-ins, while decent, are used sparingly.
At the end of the day, Turkey Hill is a better option than cheap generic store brand ice cream. But it pales in comparison to top tier brands like Ben and Jerry’s and Talenti.
If I’m indulging in a special treat, I’ll spring for the really good stuff. But for casual everyday eating and packing in lunches, Turkey Hill hits the spot. While not incredibly exciting or rich, it’s dependable with broad appeal at a fair price point.
So while Turkey Hill might not “wow” me, it’s a nice middle ground that I don’t feel guilty about always keeping stocked in my freezer.
Alden’s Organic Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
FOR ⅔ CUP: 200 calories, 12 grams of fat (8 grams of saturated fat), 40 mg of sodium, 21 grams of carbs (0 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar), 3 grams of protein
This 1.5-quart container of vanilla bean ice cream from Aldens Organic is a lighter dessert with fewer calories, less fat, and slightly less sugar than the more premium ice creams I sampled. It comes from Oregon, and the ingredients are all organic except for the xanthan gum, a texture-enhancer often used in ice creams.
The look: This light and fluffy ice cream contains the tiniest specs of vanilla beans. It develops the telltale ridges of an airier ice cream and scoops into nice round balls with ease.
The taste: This ice cream has a natural vanilla flavor thats neither overwhelming nor a background player. Its nice and flavorful but would be amplified by hot fudge or a slice of pie. This is a great standard lighter ice cream choice if you dont want to go the super-premium route.
PER SERVING (⅔ cup): 80 cal, 6 g fat (3. It has 18 grams of carbs (7 grams of fiber and 0 grams of sugar), 3 grams of protein, and 150 mg of sodium.
I did not expect whats billed as Swedish-style light ice cream—with a fraction of the calories and fat as most of the other ice creams in this test—to mimic the classics so closely. This is a great choice to satisfy an ice cream craving without as much fat and an astounding 0 grams of added sugars, plus 7 grams of fiber. Of course, this is also the most complicated ingredient list of the desserts I sampled, as it contains a “diary protein blend” of milk and whey proteins, allulose, erythritol, and coconut oil.
The look: This ice cream takes a little longer than the others to soften up, but once it does, it’s very light and soft, making it very easy to scoop. Be careful, or you could end up with the whole pint in your bowl! There are few vanilla beans visible.
The taste: I was surprised by how well-balanced and natural-tasting this ice cream was. I don’t like sugar substitutes, but this one didn’t have that chemical aftertaste that erythritol and stevia often do (each serving has a very small amount of stevia). After being mixed just right, this dessert had the perfect soft ice cream texture. It had a nice flavor and was just sweet enough.
Tillamook Old-Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream
210 calories, 13 grams of fat (8 grams of saturated fat), 55 mg of sodium, 23 grams of carbs (0 grams of fiber, 21 grams of sugar), and 4 grams of protein per serving (⅔ cup).
Tillamook makes some of my favorite cheeses, particularly sharp cheddar, so I had high hopes for this family-sized container of old-fashioned vanilla ice cream. According to the label, its made with a “special blend of the very best vanilla.”
The look: Theres nothing remarkable about how this ice cream looks. It has the classic off-white hue you expect from “old-fashioned” vanilla and no vanilla bean speckles. The texture is somewhere between dense and airy. It’s not the richest ice cream I’ve tried, and it’s not so airy that it’s mostly air.
The taste: I loved the scoopable, not-too-dense texture of this ice cream from Tillamook. Its made with egg yolks, which give it a natural custardy texture and flavor. A little more vanilla flavor would have been nice, but this would go well with other ice creams or sundae toppings in general.
Is Turkey Hill All Natural Ice Cream healthy?
FAQ
Is Turkey Hill considered good ice cream?
What is the #1 ice cream in the world?
Is Turkey Hill ice cream Good?
As far as flavor goes, Turkey Hill is good, but not especially wowing or anything. It’s definitely a notch above your typical store-brand ice cream but it’s also a notch below many of the other brands in terms of decadence and flavor.
Does Turkey Hill have Vanilla Ice Cream?
Turkey Hill may not have the best vanilla ice cream that you’ll find on your grocery store freezer shelf. But its creamy, soft texture is easy to scoop and super affordable. This makes it a great choice for birthday parties and other events. However, don’t buy this brand expecting to enjoy ice cream made with actual vanilla bean.
Does Turkey Hill have Cookies ‘n Cream?
Like most brands, Turkey Hill also has its own Cookies ‘n Cream flavor. It hasn’t received the same complaints about cookie content and instead, is considered to be one of the brand’s best flavors, with a winning duo of vanilla ice cream and chocolate wafer crumble. Looking for an ice cream parlor-style treat?
What ice cream flavors does Turkey Hill offer?
The brand has released a number of new tubs, each of which features three of Turkey Hill’s various ice cream flavors. The American Dream Trio’politan™ blends three fruity flavors: blueberry, vanilla with a strawberry swirl, and strawberry ice cream with chocolate chips.
Is Turkey Hill a real ice cream brand?
Few of the world’s most popular ice cream brands today feature a name that hints at the products they sell, and Turkey Hill is no exception. More than just an odd name for an ice cream brand, Turkey Hill is named after a real-life location in Pennsylvania.
When did Turkey Hill ice cream start?
The company’s owners started producing ice cream in the 1950s with vanilla, chocolate and fresh-fruit flavors, like Peach. In the 1970s, Turkey Hill drivers started to advertise more flavors, such as Egg Nog and Southern Pecan Pie. The seasonal flavors became extremely popular, so the company began making them year-round.