Ben & Jerry's Mission to Marzipan Ice Cream Review

[New for 2009, now discontinued] As one of the best main stream brands of ice cream on the market, if not the best, I really need to get more Ben & Jerry's on the website. I apologize for the fact that they came out with -3- new regular flavors this year and I'm now just getting to the second one (the first being Chocolate Macadamia in April). Maybe I can start getting one B&J flavor a week (I already have a limited edition sample in the freezer for next week).

Today's sample is going to be Ben & Jerry's new Mission to Marzipan ice cream. Our curious little friend has the description of "Sweet Cream Ice Cream with Almond Cookies & a Marzipan Swirl". I'll be honest, I have absolutely no idea what Marzipan is. Actually, I'm not sure I've ever had almond cookies either.

Ok, let's get a close up before we dig in. Hmmm, interesting. We see good size cookie chunks and little pockets of that marzipan swirl they were talking about. Technically they shouldn't say swirl, a better word would be ....hmmm ....ummmm ....yeah, I was always better at math than I was at english. It looks intriguing none the less and I'm ready to dig in, though looking at this ice cream is making my brain flash back to Vanilla Honey Granola Yovation.

On my first bite, I got a distinct oatmeal cookie vibe to the whole thing. I know they are almond cookies, but they are mild and the combo with the ice cream makes me think of oatmeal cookies. I dig in and am confused. I have a few more bites and realize that I don't think I like Marzipan. It's odd. At first I thought it was some kind of weird almond extract vibe, but like I said, the almond cookie bits are mild. Ok, off to the internet to investigate Marzipan. I want to say I know what it is, but I just can't remember.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Marzipan is basically just a mixture of sugar and almond meal. That's why my brain is registering funky almond extract ...and that's why I have heard of Marzipan before. It's the stuff they shape into those funky fruit shaped candies. I think I've tried them, though it would have been on a very rare occasion. So that's cool and all, but did I mention I don't really like this ice cream?

Now I've already second scooped this bad boy and while it is excellent quality, and the marzipan-free bites are nice, I just don't see myself jumping on the marzipan bandwagon anytime soon. I know it's made with all natural ingredients, but the only way I can describe the marzipan flavor is "chemically". It's just got that weird design to it that messes with my taste buds and makes them unhappy.

I'll probably try a few more bites here and there, but I'm not real sure I'll bother to finish this one. Sure I might try fishing out the cookie bits ...or maybe I can get my daughter to eat it if I shove it in a nice tasty waffle cone.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1/2 cup (102g) Servings Per Container 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 260	from Fat 120
	% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g	20%
- Sat Fat 8g	40%
- Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 60mg	20%
Sodium 115mg	5%
Total Carbohydrate 32g	11%
- Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
- Sugars 25g
Protein 4g
Vitamin A 10%	Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 15%	Iron 4%