Ben & Jerry's Truffle Kerfuffle Ice Cream
vanilla ice cream with roasted pecans, fudge chips & a salted chocolate ganache swirl
Oh I love how companies make things "salted" to make it seem fancy. Don't get me wrong, I defended this choice on the Nosh Show in hopes that it's meant to make the pecans stand out a bit more. I'm ok with it as long as it serves a true purpose and is not just a marketing gimmick.
Quite the busy opening shot.
Ok, this review is going to be a bit of a back and forth on a few points, so hold on. I get the name now. I assume that they are going for a truffle flavor overall, and then for whatever reason it's going to be crazy (the kerfuffle part).
(apparently I forgot to attach the other picture here, I will fix later)
The craziness comes from the fact that this pint is chuck full of chips and pecans. Maybe every pint won't be that way, but this one is. It feels like you get a couple of each on every spoonful, and my spoonfuls aren't exactly crazy large.I don't really get the truffle part. Are salted truffles a big thing somewhere? Sure there is plenty of texture here, but it's not a candy like texture, it's much more about crunchy. Maybe the swirl didn't hit me as thick as they intended it to, but I don't get a truffle vibe, though maybe I don't eat enough fancy candy. Who knows.
I think the salt of the salty swirl is the worst part of this pint actually. Instead of adding to the flavor profile, I think it's pulling me out of the moment. It just doesn't fit right. I was just kind of so-so going through this pint and I was going to put it away, but I kept stealing bites and I realized the salty aspect had died down for a little bit. Another puddle of swirl popped up, I took a bite, and then I was done, I didn't need to keep going.
I know a lot of people where down on this flavor but I tried to be positive. Having finished my first sampling, I was definitely a little too optimistic. I get that they wanted the salty swirl to set this apart, to stop it from being every other vanilla with a fudge swirl, but it backfires. It's not a huge backfire, but I know it's enough to stop me from buying this one again. It will sound cliche, but they should have gone with a caramel swirl. The caramel would have bridged the gap between the fudge chips and the pecans in a way that the chocolate can't.
On Second Scoop: Up until the last bite, I was enjoying this more than I did the first time. The last bite just hit me funny, but kind of reinforced a random notion I had. I did not let the ice cream melt at all this time, I ate it straight from the freezer. The swirl was still a solid, fudge-like substance as opposed to the more puddle like substance I was downing on Friday. I don't know if that helped keep things in check a bit better or if I was just more ready for the flavor this time. It wasn't until that last bite that I had flashbacks to the other day. Look, there's no denying that the plentiful texture provided by all the pecans and fudge bits is fun and enjoyable. It's the overall flavor profile that has me at a loss. As with many products on this site, this one will come down to personal preference. If you give it a try, be sure to let us know your thoughts.
History Note: Nestle, under the Wonka brand, once released a Kerfuffle Truffle flavor!
Verdict? very busy
Buy Again? not likely
Is it too salty? Or do you just prefer salted caramel over salted chocolate?
ReplyDeleteIs this the first of the three new flavors to hit freezer shelves? I am really curious about the oatmeal cookie one.
you could say it's too salty I guess, but very specifically in the sense that it just didnt go with everything else.
ReplyDeleteyup, first of three to hit shelves, everyone hoping to be the first to find the other two!
I feel like Ben and Jerrys has just been producing really mediocre ice cream as of late. They need to bring back candy bar pie!
ReplyDeleteI think it's strange that you haven't had more comments on the Ben and Jerry posts. Maybe others are like me - haven't been able to find any of the new stuff yet - and thus don't really have a lot to say.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to try everything (but more excited for Hagaan Dazs). I noticed Tillamook has a couple of interesting new flavors in their pint sizes, as well.
OMFG! I'm freaking out here. Are they for reals bringing Oatmeal Cookie Chunk back?! I just read the description for Oat of this Swirled and it sounds just like OCC!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI had low expectations for the ganache swirl, but I actually ended up loving it. I thought this was a pretty solid flavor, not an instant classic or anything but I enjoyed it.
ReplyDelete@Anon: a lot of people tend to compare the current lineup to their favorite flavor, downside to flavor cycling
ReplyDelete@Anon#2: I was thinking about the lack of comments as well, maybe people still in the winter funk
@D: ha! We shall see how the new cookie swirl stacks up against peoples' memories of the old cookie chunks
@Anon#3: I've heard that a few times now. Nothing wrong with being pleasantly surprised!
ColdStone's chocolate truffle ice cream they've got going now is pretty good
ReplyDeleteI want a sweet flavor with something soft & chewy. They need to bring back a pie flavor. Lemon meringue pie, Key Lime pie....
Pies are dope
Hey Dubba, any plans to review more of Cumbies' flavors or Vice Cream?
Maybe we'll see a pie flavor for the summer? Who knows.
ReplyDeleteMy local Roche Bros is still serving up the original batch of Vice Cream from May. If they ever update, I will definitely pick up more. As for Cumberland farms, I do debate going back to them, but their terrible texture has me scared off. At some point I will probably give in, but for now, my eye is on new 2017 stuff.
I'm hoping I can find the Twinkie ice cream, the newer Halo Top that was released last year, and eventually find more pints of Ben & Jerry's Confetti Cupcake.
ReplyDeletestock up while you can on confetti cake, it's exclusive but also limited
ReplyDeleteOkay so I tried this as I had bought it after your review and I have to say I'm glad I did. I did let my pint soften before eating it and from the get go I got a bit of all the components. Combined and softened they are definitely truffle like. The ribbon was gooey and it was great.
ReplyDeleteI just saw salted Carmel almond in the Ben and Jerry's site. From the lid, it is a store exclusive. Any idea where this will be sold?
ReplyDelete@Miked30: hmmm, good question. Could be Target or Walmart, though the non-charity-inspired name makes me think it's Walmart. Technically 7-11 and Walgreens are options too. For some reason 7-11 wouldn't surprise me.
ReplyDelete@Miked30 and @Dubba: I saw Salted Caramel Almond at a Tom Thumb in Texas. Tom Thumb is owned by Safeway/Albertsons.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I wonder if that would mean Shaws/StarMarket for me.
ReplyDeleteWanting to try this but not finding it in Madison, WI anywhere yet. Any ideas what stores get it first?
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ReplyDeleteI found Salted Caramel Almond at my local Safeway in Washington, DC. It was pretty good, but I find a vanilla (or vanilla bean) base inherently boring, and the almonds were chopped too fine to have much of an impact, either in the flavor or the texture of the ice cream. I try just about every flavor at least once, but I have no desire to buy it again.
Oat of this Swirled (Safeway had the three new non-exclusive flavors) was good, but it reminded more of Cinnamon Buns than the late lamented Oatmeal Cookie Chunk (still my favorite Ben & Jerry's flavor of all time). The cookie swirl doesn't come close to the euphoria-inducing magic of those large oatmeal cookie chunks.
Except for the massive pecans, Truffle Kerfuffle didn't wow me. Ultimately it was just another vanilla/chocolate combo, with the salty goo of the swirl offering an interesting diversion, but not enough interest to make me want to buy it again.
I like Urban Bourbon best of the three, probably because it didn't have a vanilla base and because Ben & jerry's finally seems to have mastered the salted caramel swirl. Plus the fudge chunks always add the necessary (in my view) texture.
Last note -- I found a limited batch Chocolate Cherry Garcia at Giant (also in DC). I wasn't going to try it at first because Cherry Garcia isn't one of my top five Ben & Jerry's flavors. But curiosity got the best of me and I'm glad it did. The chocolate base was rich and creamy, and those big fat cherries and fudge chunks (I don't know why they're called flakes) actually seemed more pronounced than in the regular cherry ice cream version. I'll definitely buy it again while it's still on the shelves.
Honestly I was a HUGE fan of this flavor. I think the chocolate salt balances great with the vanilla and there's a good amount of crunch, Maybe too much crunch? It's better than Chocolate Cherry Garcia anyway.
ReplyDeleteI was a huge fan. I love the big chunks and the salted chocolate balances well with the vanilla base. Better than chocolate cherry garcia, that's for sure.
ReplyDelete@Amy: search everywhere! :)
ReplyDelete@ICG: you are apparently good at ice cream hunting!
@Chris: you are definitely not alone in enjoying this flavor. I totally approve of the crunch factor in this one. the salty swirl just doesn't click with me like it has for other people.
I wasn't overly impressed with this flavor - but surprisingly loved Chocolate Cherry Garcia. I'm usually not a cherry ice cream
ReplyDeletefan, but I thought it was excellent. I don't understand all of the negativity about it.
Was waiting for the very moment where I'd BOTH see a sale on Ben and Jerry's flavors, and a store having this in stock. Finally I got lucky on both counts, so bought a pint of Truffle Kerfuffle earlier tonight.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I'm glad they came out with this flavor. It's pretty darn good, best new Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor in a while. Glad as of late they're coming out with new flavors, that aren't just Core flavors(was getting tired of those). Just a few weeks earlier I tried Chocolate Cherry Garcia, and that was about what I thought it'd be. Good, but I'm not sure why Truffle Kerfuffle jumps out to me more. Hope to try their other recent new flavors(i.e. Urban Bourbon, Oat of This Swirled) very soon, as well!
Not to forget the Pint Slices ice cream bars, as well. Just waiting to find a sale on those, but I'm sure I will soon. Not sure why B&J discontinued ice cream bars for years since sometime in the 2000s(I think), and only now are bringing those back as 'Pint Slices'.
I almost forgot to say, funny Candy Bar Pie was mentioned above by another commenter. I wish that flavor would be brought back! I wish I could've tried Confetti Cupcake within a few months of when that was first released, but hadn't seen that flavor anywhere in a while. Sigh, I have no idea where I should look for that flavor. I'll keep looking for it, and crossing fingers against slim hope I could find that flavor somewhere. Even perhaps at stores where their prices are a little more expensive, and B&J flavor turnover is less?
ReplyDeleteI tried this last night. It was the most disappointing Ben & Jerry's flavor ever.
ReplyDeleteIt's called Truffle Kerfluffle, and the ganache is the selling point here, but it's just way to full of pecans to notice anything else. It's just crunchy vanilla and pecans with a bit of chocolate thrown in.
Maybe they just misnamed this one and set my expectations where they shouldn't have been.
I like this flavor. The chunky texture is perfect. I just think it should have "turtle" in the name because it reminds me of those candies a lot more than a truffle.
ReplyDeleteI feel so late discovering this flavor. I really like it. It's one of my current favs slong with Urban Bourbon!!!!
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