Publix Buckeyes & Fudge Ice Cream Review
Author’s Note: As always, this review is unsponsored and unbiased. I have no affiliation with Publix. Or the DMV.
Drown your sorrows in a bucket of cholesterol.
I had to renew my driver’s license at the DMV yesterday. And the new photo ID gave me three chins and crazy eyes. There was only one solution: immediate trip to Publix to buy a half gallon of discount ice cream. Drown your sorrows in a bucket of cholesterol.*
(Might even get four chins out of this.)
Publix ice cream flavors
I tried the “Limited Edition” Buckeye Fudge flavor. If you’re new to Publix, their store-brand ice cream game is intense. Not only do they offer a sea of traditional flavors, they seasonally rotate new, more exotic options. So I never feel like I’ve reached the bottom of the barrel.
What is it?
The Buckeye & Fudge flavor has a rich peanut taste that is a tad salty and savory. There are wide ribbons of soft chocolate fudge. And tiny peanut butter buckeye candies, as big as my finger tip.
Texture
The ice cream body is very creamy, almost buttery. Deep peanut taste throughout. It’s silky smooth and fluffy, but not so airy that you feel bamboozled. Not obnoxiously sweet. Eating it made me forget all about the extra chins.
Generous mix-ins
I recently had a carton of Tillamook ice cream with mix-ins that were shockingly sparse. AND uneven. That’s not the case here. There’s a generous (and evenly distributed) quantity of both the buckeye miniatures and the fudge ribbons. Bursting with flavor all the way through. Nary a bland bite!
(For another nutty frozen treat, check out my review of these Pistachio Gelato Bombs.)
Fudge
Speaking of fudge, this stuff has an odd texture. It’s almost gritty and textural. I don’t hate it. Maybe it’s ground peanuts, or something. It just surprised me a little. I love how delicately thin the fudge pieces are, and how they dissolve luxuriously on my tongue. It’s sort of a soft, lacy fudge.
Tiny buckeye candies
The buckeye candies have a crisp milk chocolate coating around a soft peanut butter center. I like the crunchy contrast to the softness of the rest of the ice cream. As tiny as they are, the buckeyes have a concentrated, nutty punch. They’re the sweetest part of this ice cream. But still not sickeningly sweet. I loved how natural they tasted.
(You know what I DIDN’T like? This Rum Nut Bread Pudding from Publix. Here’s my cranky review.)
Ingredients in Publix Buckeye Fudge Ice Cream
In general, I’ve been disappointed by Publix-brand ice cream ingredients. Many of the varieties have artificial colors, artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, and/or preservatives. I was pleased that this Buckeye Fudge flavor has none of those nasties. In fact, I’m relatively happy with this list:
- Milk
- Cream
- Sugar
- Fudge (Peanut Oil, Powdered Sugar, Cocoa [Processed with Alkali], Whey, Salt, Soy Lecithin)
- Peanut Butter Base (Peanuts, Sugar, Peanut Oil, Salt)
- Peanut Butter Buckeyes (Sugar, Peanut Butter [Peanuts, Salt], Coconut Oil, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Nonfat Milk, Milk, Cocoa [Processed with Alkali], Palm Kernel Oil, Peanut Oil, Cocoa, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Natural Flavors)
- Corn Syrup
- Carob Bean Gum
- Guar Gum
I could definitely do without the unnecessary “natural flavor” and corn syrup. But I’m not gonna cry, either. Only extra chins make me cry.
Nutrition Facts
I was also pleased that the Buckeye Fudge variant is high in fat and moderate in sugar. This is how I like my ice cream. In fact, this might be the fattiest ice cream I’ve seen recently. Fat helps me feel satisfied with a smaller portion, and slows down the sugar impact on my body. I’d like to see more flavors like this one!
Anyway. A serving is 2/3 a cup and contains 230 calories. You get 20 grams of fat (9 grams saturated fat) and 5 grams protein. There are 24 grams total carbohydrates, of which 20 grams are sugar (but only 15 grams “added sugar”) and 1 gram is fiber. You get 7% your daily value sodium, and 13% your daily value cholesterol per serving. (*That’s less cholesterol than I expected!)
Price and servings
The half-gallon carton of ice cream costs $6.59 at the regular price. Mine was on sale for $5. Since there are 12 servings per container, each serving costs 55 cents at the regular price. Honestly, I think I got more servings than that. This is very satisfying ice cream that feels “right” as a smaller scoop.
Shelf life
The “best by” date on my container allowed approximately 6 months to consume. This is a paper carton, which isn’t my favorite — they tend to absorb freezer odors if I let them sit too long. More motivation to eat this up!
Dramatic Conclusion
If you love peanut butter flavored desserts that are creamy, salty, and not too sweet, I think you will love this ice cream. If you have some petty sorrows to drown, here is your $5 solution.
The Awesome-o-Meter rates Publix Buckeye Fudge Ice Cream a rare “Speechless.” (But it rates the DMV a solid “Never Again.”)
The End.
(P.S. I swear I only have ONE chin!)
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