Introductions:
Round Uno: Visuals
Lids are off... can you guess which one of these scares me?
Round Dos: Initial Hit
Yeah, I'm letting Ben & Jerry's throw the first swing here and it's... subtle, but yeah, I taste cotton candy, the lightest of fluffed sugar flavoring. Even the cotton candy aroma is subtle. I expected a more adult oriented version and I think I got it. The candy sprinkles are very soft, squishable, and kind of like the sugar crumble crust on a nice cold apple pie.
Alright Friendly's, let's see what you got! Here comes the right hook and... Oh man, that's hideous, I'm down on the mat... 1... 2... Oh, it tastes like blue cotton candy alright... 3... 4... I was so not ready for that blow to the gut... 5... 6... back on my feet... the ring is spinning... whew...
Round Tres: The Long Haul
The Ben & Jerry's continues onward, never landing any massive blows while the Friendly's just keeps punching. It's a strong flavor, but there is a certain something that keeps your attention.
My daughter mentions the Friendly's is popping which I don't... wait, no, I hear my bowl popping! Not a lot, just a little. She says it's driving her crazy as she tries to eat it, so I let the ice cream sit on my tongue for a second... ha, it is popping! Quite a lot actually. Both me and my wife were just kind of happily crunching along but it takes a kid to point out the obvious sometimes. Ahhh, to be an old fuddy duddy.
If Jones made a cotton candy soda (which I'm surprised they don't), then it would taste like Friendly's version. There's just that bit of carbonated pop to it. Actually, to be more precise, it kind of tastes like someone mixed a blue freeze-pop with some vanilla ice cream... or maybe mixed a blue raspberry icee with soft serve.
Score Tally
Alright, the judges are collaborating... well, after judge #3 stops eating tostitos to get rid of the cotton candy aftertaste. Ok, let's go. The youngest judge prefers the sweeter, more potent Friendly's ice cream... if only they would ditch the pop candy. The second judge also prefers the stronger flavor of the Friendly's (and the visuals don't hurt). The final judge (me) is still kind of confused. I'm having trouble getting into the overpowering Friendly's, but at the same time the Ben & Jerry's is a timid flavor. If only the B&J had some cotton candy grit... or maybe a cotton candy swirl? I wish there was more here... though technically when I mix the two together, I get a more middle of the road flavor that could appeal to more people.
Final Judgement: The votes are in, Friendly's wins!
Can I ask where you found the Friendly's ? I'm on the east coast and can not find it !
ReplyDeletegiant stores :)
DeleteAww its comes out around July and of June I'm love so much omg and when fall comes it goes off shelfs.but if u have a friendly around all year.because I went threw withdrawal from not having in winter but yes lol I love it
DeleteSame here lol
DeleteI've seen it at several locations like Stop & Shop and Market Basket, maybe Shaws too. Just keep searching!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to add that I am 28 and addicted to the friendlies cotton candy Ice cream! Good to know ben and jerries makes one, I've got to try it! Im worried about the day they stop making my fave flavor!
ReplyDelete32 year old also addicted to the friendlys cotton candy! I am so sad they stopped selling the ice cream for the year! I got 2-3 things of them every 2 days. Needless to say, I gained about 20 pounds in the summer! It’s bitter sweet, I love the way it tastes, it’s literally everything I wanted. I ate it for breakfast lunch and dinner! I am so sad they’re not selling it! I find these little dinky “one serving” Sunday and it’s not the same, it’s not satisfying. Ugh I miss my ice cream : (
DeleteWhy are all the best flavors of ice cream always just "seasonal" ☹
DeleteIt's not seasonal anymore they carry it all the time now
DeleteI’m 37 and ADDICTED to this flavor. My local stop & shop has it. Every so often it goes on sale for $3.50/ea and it flies off of the shelves. When I get lucky enough to spot some I buy as many as I can!
DeleteBlue bell makes cotton candy ice cream popsicles which ate just like fudge bars but with cotton candy soft serve I think they are the middle ground your looking for they are my favorite second only to the now retired :( dairy Queen cotton candy blizzard lol
ReplyDeleteI just tried the Friendly's version of this ice cream and felt the need to look it up online, and here I am!This ice cream is great! I'm a middle aged man and didn't really mean to gauge it, but this ice cream certainly has the cotton candy flavor and those "pop rocks" brought me back to my childhood days! A bit sweet, almost sherbert-like, but gosh was it good! And the poppin' was a bit of a suprise/bonus!
ReplyDeleteThe inevitable day has come. September 10 2013, the friendlys rockin poppin cotton candy ice cream has been discontinued. My wife has been buying it religiously since april. My 4 year old daughter and I go through 2 cartons a week sometimes 3. She went to buy us our weekly quota today and the flavor was replaced by some other limited edition junk. She checked 2 different locations and both were stocked with the new flavor. This is truly a sad day! We have this and now 9/11 tomorrow! I don't know what I'm going to do!
ReplyDeleteIt's back plus you can buy it at the frendly restraunt so just go if u live near one and buy it from the pint bro
Delete@N. Panaro: Sadly, Friendly's version was only out for the summer time. Now it has been replaced by Sundae Nut Football for the fall.
ReplyDelete@NPanaro: if you are desperate, you could always try the cotton candy ice cream from Target, I still see it on the shelves.
ReplyDeleteI just love the Ben & Jerry cotton candy ice cream. It's an addiction of mine! Sad to think they only have out in the summer time. :( I feel that they should keep it on the shelves all year long. They make a better profit from it!!! Yum!
ReplyDeleteHershey's cotton candy ice cream is my crack.
ReplyDeleteIve only had friendlys cotton candy ice cream..not b&js...in the personal size with the marshmallow topping and its the best ice cream ever
ReplyDeleteWhere do u find the Hershey's brand? Our family is trying to get Friendly' s to make it in a cake or roll. Any suggestions in helping with this endeavor would be appreciated. We think this is a excellent flavor for birthdays or any special occasion. Friendly' s Rockin Popping cotton candy is the best and as noted hard to find. I stock up when Stop and Shop has any, they should at least make it in a carton.
ReplyDeletesorry, the Friendly's version was a limited edition flavor. I strongly suggest trying their 2014 ice cream cake flavored ice cream, hopeful it will fill the void in your freezer.
ReplyDeleteAnon,you can find hershey's brand in a lot of convenience stores. As Dubba mentioned, this flavor isn't being produced in large containers anymore. However, they do have a version of it in their sundae-to-go line you might enjoy. http://www.friendlys.com/packaged-ice-cream/sundae-cups/limited-edition-rockin-poppin-cotton-candy-sundae
ReplyDeleteJones does make a cotton candy soda! Or maybe it's bubblegum... But it's blue and hard to find
ReplyDeleteGraeter's Ice Cream out of Ohio makes a crazy good Cotton Candy ice cream... but it's only available in their scoops shops if you live in a city that has one.
ReplyDeleteFor those that like the Friendy's Cotton Candy flavor I seen Giant had it in the 12 serving container over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI went to Walmart and decided to try Ben & Jerry's after reading this post as an established Friendly's Cotton Candy Fan. Hands down, Friendly's is it! Ben & Jerry's has an aftertaste for sure, it lingers, but definitely lacks presence while you eat. Friendly's is full of flavor and tastes authentic, despite the coloring...at least they can back it up lol! I haven't had Cotton Candy flavored ice cream this good since Welch's Farms in my youth at a local ice cream parlor! P.S. I even like the Poppy Rock and miss the marshmallow topping with sprinkles they add in the individual size sundae. You can find Friendly's at most Shoprite Supermarkets on the East Coast.
ReplyDeleteWhere do you find the ben and jerrys cotton candy ice cream what store
Delete@Heather: try Walmart, preferably a super walmart, they might still have it in stock (though Strawberry not so Shortcake is now taking over it's shelf space)
ReplyDeleteThe Hershey's cups are only found at convenience/corner stores in my area (Mass), and Oh MAN. I've been buying them for over 10 years now, Hershey's was the first brand I ever knew of to make cotton candy ice cream. It's my favorite flavor and now that I've got a car after 10 years without one I'm going to go on a Cotton Candy Ice Cream Tour and track down every store that carries any brand making this flavor. I hope to get it online somewhere by the start of summer
ReplyDeleteI also live in mass and try my best to find a friendlys replacement but nothing beats it. Have you found anything??
DeleteI am obsessed with friendly cotton candy ice cream , an the stores only have it during summer time idk why they don't sell it year round . it's amazing
ReplyDeleteFood lion has friendlys cotton candy. My all time favorite besides Hershey cotton candy ice cream.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure about that? It does come back every year but it's only at one time during the year.
ReplyDeleteI’m 27 and ADDICTED
ReplyDelete