Ice cream isn't just a summer fling—it's a year-round lifestyle. And to celebrate National Ice Cream Month (and Day) this July, we churned through a year’s worth of ice cream orders with DoorDash— and the results are as cool as a double scoop on a summer afternoon.*
Top Flavors Worth Melting For
Whether you’re team classic or indulging in the latest creation, these are the most-ordered flavors nationwide – and clearly, those guys up in Vermont have a real talent for dreaming up some bestsellers.
The Scoop on America’s Favorite Flavors
We took a peek into America’s DoorDash carts to see what folks are scooping coast to coast—and let’s just say, some states have very strong flavor loyalties.
The Undisputed Champion: Half Baked: A mix of brownie batter and cookie dough goodness, Half Baked is the regional champion across 17 states, from New York and California to Florida and Kansas.
Cookies ’N Cream: A Crowd-Pleaser: Crunchy cookie bits and creamy vibes? Say less. Cookies ‘N Cream dominates in the South and Midwest—#1 in seven states including Texas, Illinois, Georgia, Wisconsin and more.
The Slice You Scoop: Strawberry Cheesecake made a name for itself in three states, Nevada, Arizona, and Indiana, making it clear that this creamy dessert works just as well with a spoon as it does with a fork.
Keeping It Classy With Vanilla: In Alabama, Mississippi, Hawaii and Tennessee, nothing beats the creamy comfort of the timeless classic: vanilla.
Quirky Favorites Making A Statement: Some states love to keep it interesting. Phish Food wins in Vermont and Maine, while Arkansas goes big with Rocky Road Triple Fudge Brownie, Kentucky prefers Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip, and over in Michigan the colorful Scooperman is making waves.
The Fastest-Growing Flavors of 2024
Funny enough, while the top flavor nationwide is packed with cookie dough and brownies, the fastest-growing flavors are surprisingly the opposite. From timeless classics to feel-good indulgences, these are the flavors that saw the biggest growth– showing that ice cream cravings can evolve without losing their sweet side.
The Rise of Gluten-Free Indulgence: It's clear: gluten-free is no longer just a dietary restriction, it’s become a dessert desire. Gluten-free versions of flavors like Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Pineapple Coconut, Dulce De Leche, and Mint Chip each saw major growth of over 1,000% year-over-year, showing that indulgence can be gluten-free too.
Vanilla’s Comeback: Some things are classic for a reason. Orders for vanilla jumped over 1,000% year-over-year, showing that simple flavors are craveable as ever.
What’s Bubbling Up With Ice Cream
When it comes to ice cream, people aren’t stopping at just one treat. We dug into the data to find out what shoppers most often toss into their carts alongside a pint of ice cream and one thing stood out loud and clear: ice cream sodas are still floating around. Cola was the #1 most-ordered item alongside ice cream.
Unexpected Duos: What Shoppers Pair With Their Pints
Lately, the pairings have become extra creative. Cottage cheese showed up more than usual alongside traditional ice cream, suggesting that shoppers were experimenting with viral wellness trends (hello, protein ice cream). And for some, the perfect combo isn’t sweet and salty—it’s spicy and icy, with shoppers cooling down Takis and taquitos with a scoop of something cold and creamy.
A Chill Breakdown: Who’s Ordering the Most
To crown the most ice cream-obsessed states, we dove into where people are scooping up the most sweet treats per person. And based on ice cream orders, adjusted for population (thanks, U.S. Census!), we uncovered that Delaware scooped its way to the top, with Rhode Island and Maryland close behind —proving that small states can have giant sweet tooths.
We All Screamed For Ice Cream
June 17 wasn’t just hot - it was a national ice cream emergency hot. We uncovered that the biggest ice cream cravings of 2024 hit during the week of June 17, right as a heat wave had everyone reaching for something cold (and sweet).
A Cherry on Top
DoorDash is offering $5 off 2 Ben & Jerry’s pints on grocery and convenience orders from July 17–23 for National Ice Cream Day!** It’s the perfect excuse to stock up –and that’s just one of the many deals available during our Summer of DashPass - full deals here.
*Methodology: Based on ice cream DoorDash orders from January 1 - December 31, 2024.
**Terms and conditions apply, see in app for details and further terms and conditions here
