Edy's / Dreyer's Slow Churned Salted Caramel Pretzel

[new for 2013, available May - August] So Edy's ( Dreyer's ) is rocking a set of summer flavors this year that are available now through the end of summer. We've got German Chocolate Cake Spectacular and Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel, both in regular and slow churned versions. Then we've got Take the Cake slow churned ice cream versus Three Stripes your out grand ice cream. So that's three of each or six total options. The light versions rock more of a monotone color pattern while the grand versions are, well, more grand in their coloring. It's a neat little design touch that's fun to notice, but anyway, let's check out of first offering.

yeah, no excuse for the bad picture, sorry

This is slow churned sunny Salted Caramel Pretzel ice cream. That's right, don't forget Edy's has listened to consumers and ditched frozen dairy desserts from their line up on top of improving their regular formulas. This one is vanilla light ice cream with a salted caramel swirl and pretzel pieces. They had me at caramel pretzel.

Ok, here's our latest pretzel friend scooped down about a half inch. The caramel swirl is starting to show in several spots but I'm not seeing a ton of pretzels. I'm so use to big pretzel hunks sticking out that this one is kind of surprising to look at.

So, this is a "1/2 the fat" light ice cream, so it is soft and melting fairly quickly, but it's still respectable. I need to stress again that I'm proud of Edy's for going back to light ice cream.... but that doesn't necessarily make it a winner. No no, that responsibility is left up to the very nice caramel flavoring. It's got a nice strong flavor that doesn't come off as cheap or imitation. I mean, it's like shockingly good. It's the sweet, robust flavored star of this treat.

The swirl is nice, but deep down you know I came here for the pretzels. The thing is, Edy's has taken an unexpected route with them. At no point will you get a huge chunk of pretzel. Instead these small bits hide in the ice cream, and I think they are hiding in the swirl too. It's weird because you try the swirl and you get this salty wallop of flavoring, often accompanied by a crunch. You start going "well, is the salt in the swirl, or is it a really salty pretzel bit in there". We've blown thrown this container and I'm still not sure what's what.

The point is this one works and was no match for the family. It's got a fine texture with a base that comes off as nice. You can't be sure if it's flavored vanilla or just covered up, but either way, it works, and that's what matters. This one has easily convinced me to the try the grand version, so look for us to try that later in the summer.

On Second Scoop: Ok, I need to snag the last serving of this one before my wife polishes this one off on me. I guess that's a ringing endorsement right there for the salty and sweet crowd. It's the ooey gooey abundant caramel swirl sprinkled with pretzel bits that brings that affect. My hope is to see this caramel swirl in other flavors... oh wait, their might be a similar swirl (with coconut) in the german chocolate cake spectacular. I guess we'll have to test that one too then!

Verdict?  family approved
Buy Again?  yup (try the grand version next)