These are the top 10 ice cream flavors in America, according to Instacart

The grocery platform’s latest data reveals the country’s most-ordered ice cream flavors, plus the regional favorites filling freezers across the U.S.

Key points

• Vanilla remains America’s favorite ice cream flavor, appearing in 21% of Instacart ice cream orders in 2025 and ranking as the top flavor in every state and Washington, D.C.
• Regional preferences reveal distinct flavor trends, with butter pecan leading in the South, coffee over-indexing in New England, mint chocolate chip standing out in the Mid-Atlantic, and Rocky Road proving especially popular in the West.
• Classic flavors continue to dominate, but the rankings are shifting, with cookie dough climbing to the No. 3 spot in 2025 and chocolate fudge/brownie entering the top five.

There’s no shortage of childlike wonder in the ice cream aisle. From better-for-you pints to mix-in maximalism and vegan options, there has never been more variety. According to new data, however, nothing quite beats the classics.

Vanilla still tops shopping lists as America’s favorite ice cream flavor, per a new report from delivery platform Instacart. Approximately 21% of all ice cream orders in 2025 included vanilla, making it the top purchase in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. That’s thanks to a winning combination of universality and predictability, Instacart trends analyst Alex Orellana tells Food & Wine.

“It’s easy to dismiss it as a default, but vanilla is the great social equalizer of the freezer aisle,” he explains. “When you’re serving a crowd, it’s the one flavor most people won’t object to. It’s also the best canvas for a sundae, à la mode complement, or ice cream float base. In a world full of new flavors and limited-edition pints, sometimes people just want something that delivers exactly what they expect.”

Chocolate and Häagen-Dazs also rank highly

Chocolate ranks second by order volume, capturing nearly 8% of all ice cream purchases. In terms of brand loyalty, Minnesota-based Häagen-Dazs is the preferred brand among Instacart users, capturing the highest order share of any brand last year. 

Related: We Tasted 11 Brands of Vanilla Ice Cream — and Our Top Pick Is an Absolute Classic

We’d tend to agree: Häagen Dazs’ vanilla bean pint earned our editors’ overwhelming approval in Food & Wine’s recent taste test, thanks to a short ingredient list and versatile flavor profile. Ben & Jerry’s vanilla ice cream ranked the No. 2 spot.

How America’s favorite ice cream flavors are changing

Compared with Instacart’s 2024 data, vanilla and chocolate remained America’s two most-ordered ice cream flavors. Vanilla’s share of orders, however, fell by 6 percentage points, dropping from 27% in 2024 to 21% in 2025. The rest of the rankings saw more movement: Cookie dough gained some ground among Instacart users this year (rising from No. 6 to No. 3), while Chocolate Fudge entered the top five. 

Related: These Are America's Most-Bookmarked Ice Cream Shops, According to Yelp

Instacart’s dataset pulls from all domestic Instacart orders placed in 2025. As Instacart typically delivers grocery store essentials, this isn’t a gauge of how adventurous Americans feel on a day out to a local parlor. Instead, it’s a look at the flavors people stock for backyard parties and late-night movie marathons.

The Top 10 Ice Cream Flavors in the U.S., According to Instacart

1. Vanilla
2. Chocolate
3. Cookie dough
4. Cookies & cream
5. Chocolate fudge/brownie
6. Peanut butter
7. Mint chocolate chip
8. Coffee
9. Strawberry
10. Cherry

Ice cream flavor preferences vary by region

Americans’ preferences for flavors and brands are as diverse as the landscape itself. 

In the Plains, Instacart users are most likely to order Blue Bunny ice cream. In Wisconsin, peanut butter cup Moose Tracks stands out as a favorite, while cherry is more popular in Colorado and Wyoming than it is nationally. New England favors regional brand Friendly’s, while both the Blue Bell brand and butter pecan flavor dominate the South.  

“Butter Pecan feels like an extension of that culinary identity because it’s rich, a little nostalgic, and deeply familiar,” he says. “Beyond that, the data shows us some fascinating regional patterns, like coffee dominating New England and Rocky Road taking over the West (compared to the national average).”

States in the Mid-Atlantic prefer mint chocolate chip, while Tennessee shoppers are most likely to order cheesecake-flavored ice cream. “The data reinforces the idea that ice cream is comfort food, and people reach for the flavors that feel like home.”

Nostalgia has shaped food trends for years, and Instacart’s data suggests the freezer aisle is no exception.

Read the original article on Food & Wine