If you want to enjoy ice cream while sticking to a lower-calorie plan, here are my top picks for satisfying low-calorie treats.
Ice cream is a timeless dessert: nostalgic from childhood summers and celebrated in shops everywhere. When you’re working toward weight or health goals, you don’t necessarily have to give up ice cream — you just need to choose options that fit your plan.
That said, having a full carton of rich ice cream at home can make it easy to overdo it. To help you find lower-calorie choices that actually taste good, I gathered a group to test many of the lower-calorie ice creams on the market.
Kids were included because they’re honest taste-testers and know how ice cream should taste. If they like it, you can usually serve the same dessert to the whole family without complaints.
Low Calorie Ice Cream Defined
What qualifies as “low calorie”? According to general food labeling guidance, “low calorie” can mean 40 calories or less per serving. For practical shopping and comparison, I used my own threshold: I tested ice creams that are under 200 calories per serving. Some brands try to make serving sizes very small to look lower-calorie; I used typical serving amounts (about 2/3 cup or a standard bar) so the comparisons are realistic.
Ratings used a five-star system and I noted favorites to help you quickly find the style you prefer. The key takeaway: you don’t have to give up sweet treats. Choosing lower-calorie options and enjoying them in moderation makes dessert compatible with most health goals. If portion control is a struggle, bars and individually wrapped treats help limit overindulging.
Top Dairy-Based Low Calorie Ice Cream Picks
1) Creamies
Creamies are a west-coast ice cream bar with a firm, fudgesicle-like texture. Flavors include root beer float, banana, cookies and cream, and classic chocolate. Their denser texture means they last longer in your mouth than some airy, low-calorie bars.
- Where to find Creamies: Most grocery stores west of Colorado (not widely available in California).
- Calories and macros: 1 bar, 120 calories, 4.5g fat, 21g carbs, 3g protein.
2) Yasso Frozen Yogurt Bars
Yasso bars deliver a creamy texture and bold flavors that often taste like traditional ice cream. The sea salt caramel was a standout, earning rave reviews from kids. Mint chocolate chip is also solid, while some flavors (like brownie) can be less satisfying if they turn out icy.
- Where to find Yasso: Available at some Costco locations, Target, Walmart and many grocery stores.
- Calories and macros: 1 bar, 100 calories, 2g fat, 16g carbs, 5g protein.
3) Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich
Skinny Cow has been a long-time lower-calorie option. The classic ice cream sandwich combines a slightly icy ice cream with soft cookies for a satisfying contrast. Vanilla performed better than chocolate in our tests because the chocolate version lacked a strong contrast between cookie and ice cream.
- Where to find Skinny Cow: Walmart, Smith’s, Target.
- Calories and macros: 1 sandwich, 160 calories, 3.5g fat, 28g carbs, 4g protein.
4) Jonny Pops
Jonny Pops stand out for simple ingredient lists and bright, authentic flavors. Fruit-forward options like strawberry taste like fresh fruit and cream, and kids loved them. Flavors range from mint chocolate to unique fruit blends like pineapple coconut.
- Where to find Jonny Pops: Found at many Targets, Sprouts, and some Whole Foods stores.
- Calories and macros: 1 bar, 100 calories, 6g fat, 12g carbs, 0g protein.
5) Halo Top
Halo Top is one of the lowest-calorie pint options and surprisingly tasty. It mimics traditional ice cream texture without leaving a heavy aftertaste. The strawberry tasted lighter; other flavors may be bolder.
- Where to find Halo Top: Widely available at grocery stores, Walmart, and Target.
- Calories and macros: 2/3 cup, 90 calories, 2g fat, 19g carbs, 6g protein.
6) Kroger Frozen Yogurt
Kroger’s store-brand frozen yogurt tastes remarkably like regular ice cream and offers a few classic flavors. It’s a budget-friendly choice often priced well below name brands, making it a solid option if you want good taste without spending much.
- Where to find Kroger Frozen Yogurt: At Kroger family stores such as Smith’s, King Soopers, or Ralphs.
- Calories and macros: 2/3 cup, 170 calories, 3g fat, 33g carbs, 4g protein.
7) Dreyer’s/Edy’s Slow Churned Ice Cream
Dreyer’s (Edy’s) Slow Churned provides a texture and flavor closest to full-fat ice cream while cutting fat and calories. Their wide flavor selection makes this a great starter pick for anyone hesitant about lower-calorie varieties — most people wouldn’t notice the difference.
- Where to find Dreyer’s 1/2 Fat: Widely available at grocery stores, Walmart, and Target.
- Calories and macros: 2/3 cup, 160 calories, 4g fat, 27g carbs, 4g protein.
Non-Dairy Options
8) KIND Frozen Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
KIND frozen bars are decadent and surprisingly satisfying for a non-dairy treat. With a nutty chocolate coating and rich peanut butter center, they’re small but filling and work well when you want an indulgent, dairy-free option.
- Where to find KIND bars: Available at some grocery stores and Target.
- Calories and macros: 1 bar, 180 calories, 13g fat, 16g carbs, 4g protein.
9) Cado Avocado Frozen Dessert
Cado’s avocado-based frozen desserts deliver a creamy, bittersweet chocolate option that some find delightfully rich. Texture is smooth and satisfying, though the intense chocolate can leave an aftertaste that isn’t for everyone. This was the only dairy-free option we found under 200 calories per serving.
- Where to find Cado: Select grocery stores like Smith’s and Target.
- Calories and macros: 1/2 cup, 170 calories, 12g fat, 18g carbs, 1g protein.
10) Halo Top Fruit Bars
Halo Top fruit pops are a great lighter choice when you want something fruity rather than creamy. The lime bar impressed with bright tart-sweet balance. Sweetened with sugar and stevia, these bars avoid the strong stevia aftertaste some products have and come in a familiar size so you don’t feel shortchanged.
- Where to find Halo Top fruit bars: Most grocery stores, Walmart, and Target.
- Calories and macros: 1 bar, 35 calories, 0g fat, 15g carbs, 0g protein.
11) Outshine Fruit Bars
Outshine fruit bars are classic fruit pops available in many flavors like lime, tangerine, strawberry, peach, and watermelon. Ingredients are simple — mostly fruit, water and sugar — and variety packs make it easy to switch flavors.
- Where to find Outshine: Widely available at grocery stores.
- Calories and macros: 1 bar, 70 calories, 0g fat, 15g carbs, 0g protein.
12) Tru Fru Chocolate Raspberries
For a bite-sized fruit-and-chocolate treat, Tru Fru chocolate raspberries are ideal. Each berry is individually dipped in white and dark chocolate, so you can enjoy a small portion or a few pieces as a dessert. Other options include cherries, strawberries in milk chocolate, blueberries, and pineapple with white chocolate.
- Where to find Tru Fru: Some grocery stores, Target, and Costco.
- Calories and macros: 3 pieces, 90 calories, 5g fat, 11g carbs, 1g protein.
Now that you know some approachable lower-calorie choices, try one and see what you like. Which of these would you try first, and are there other low-calorie ice creams you recommend?
