The Scoop on Our Three Vanilla Ice Cream Flavors

Ever wondered what makes our different vanilla ice creams, well, different?

Kathryn Moorhead, part of the Tillamook Research & Development team, filled us in on some of the nuances between our Old Fashioned Vanilla, Vanilla Bean, and French Vanilla—and how to pair them.

Q: What makes each flavor unique?

A: The Vanilla Bean is the classic vanilla flavor. It has vanilla bean seeds, and the classic, “plain” vanilla flavor. It is a lighter, more delicate vanilla, and is the vanilla you think of in an ice cream sandwich, ice cream cake, etc. This is the vanilla that I go to most often because I like the complexity of the vanilla. It adds to what you have without covering it up.

Old Fashioned Vanilla is richer with more sweet, creamy flavor notes. In Research & Development land, we say this flavor has more “brown” notes than our other vanillas, which is more caramel/brown butter/bourbon like in flavor. If you could put nostalgia into a flavor, this would be it. “This flavor is great for all of your scoop-shop basics such as milkshakes, sundaes, and root beer floats.”

French Vanilla is a unique flavor; it contains extra eggs, so it is technically a custard. We say this flavor is more decadent, but also a bit sweeter than our others flavors. If you were to make crème brûlée into ice cream, that richness and sweetness is what comes through. It goes well with bold flavors, such as coffee, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, etc.

Q: What’s the secret to the perfect pairing? Is one better for pie or on its own?

A: This is very much based on personal preferences, but I think the Vanilla Bean and Old Fashioned Vanilla are best for pie and sundaes. The vanilla flavor comes out in the ice cream, but also accentuates whatever toppings you choose. When I asked some of the others in Research & Development, someone suggested adding sprinkles and cake pieces to French Vanilla for a cake batter like experience.

Q: What makes you proud of our vanilla flavors?

A: How creamy they are! And that we use vanilla extract in all three flavors.

At the end of the day, there’s no wrong choice when it comes to vanilla ice cream, but hopefully we’ve inspired you to try something different. Looking for inspiration? Check out our ice cream pairings guide for ideas to help satisfy your cravings.