When I learned that Hershey’s Ice Cream Shoppe bars would be available in stores for the first time, I felt an anticipatory thrill as though I’d heard the ice cream truck’s song growing ever closer. Rather than search manically for cash and sprint down the block lest those punk neighbor kid snag the last SpongeBob Squarepants-shaped Popsicle, I just had to stalk Walgreens for a few weeks.
Previously available only at Hershey’s Chocolate World or the online Hershey’s store, the available flavors—Strawberries ‘N’ Creme, Cookies ‘N’ Mint, and Salted Caramel—can be found at Walgreens’ front registers through summer’s end. Since they will be available for a very limited time, I’ll cut to the chase: my stalking efforts were worth it.
Each bar consists of a white creme base, flavored like its respective ice cream inspiration, with a crunchy mix-in. They are sectioned into triangles, each imprinted with an ice cream cone shape, which adds a much-appreciated touch of thematic whimsy. Each bar has a certain creamy, rich, vanilla-tinged essence that characterizes ice cream while delivering a full flavor that isn’t too sweet.
First, I tried Strawberries ‘N’ Creme, which consists of strawberry-flavored creme and strawberry-flavored flakes. I don’t always love berry-flavored creme, which can sometimes have an artificial flavor or off-putting tang, but this pretty pink bar gets it just right. The balance of strawberry and vanilla flavors replicates the taste of strawberry ice cream almost perfectly. The “flakes” are tiny, crispy, and dense with realistic strawberry flavor. Their texture is something like a wee sugar sprinkle, but the flavor ensures that they are more than just decoration.
Cookies ‘N’ Mint is mint-flavored white creme with crunchy chocolate cookie pieces. (It is also not to be confused with the identically-named, now-discontinued milk chocolate variety, for which I would commit unspeakable crimes to have back on shelves.) I love chocolate and mint in any form, so this bar was a delicious homage to one of my favorite ice cream flavors. The mint is strong (a few notches below Peppermint Patty filling), but there is still a hint of vanilla. Sometimes, the mint hides the chocolate flavor of the cookie pieces. The crunchy pieces are so plentiful, though, that it is hard to notice.
Last, the Salted Caramel variety includes salted caramel-flavored creme with toffee pieces. The creme here is just as delicious as the others, but it has a buttery, nutty quality that reminds me more of butter pecan ice cream than salted caramel. Paired with the creaminess of the confection, there aren’t enough sweet-and-salty punches to make the bar taste true to its intended flavor. The toffee pieces add the heartiest crunch of all varieties but don’t offer a contrast in flavor. I’d classify Salted Caramel as the least successful of the bunch, but I still enjoyed it enough to buy another bar.
The Hershey’s Ice Cream Shoppe bars are a delicious limited offering, deserving of a trip to Walgreens with a “The cone is melting!” kind of urgency. If you can’t find them in person, at least two will remain available online. While the Salted Caramel bar is not available through the Hershey’s store as of this writing, you can find three additional varieties there: Birthday Cake, Cotton Candy, and Chocolate Hazelnut.
Hershey, if you’re reading, there is enough room at the Walgreens’ register for a few more flavors. I’ll take a scoop of each!
Purchased Price: $1.50 each
Size: 1.38 oz (39 g) bar
Purchased at: Walgreens
Rating: 9 out of 10 (Strawberries ‘N’ Creme), 9 out of 10 (Cookies ‘N’ Mint), 8 out of 10 (Salted Caramel)
Nutrition Facts: (1 bar) Strawberries ‘N’ Creme – 210 calories, 11 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 35 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 21 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Cookies ‘N’ Mint – 200 calories, 11 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 45 milligrams of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 20 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Salted Caramel – 200 calories, 11 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 40 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 21 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.
