Ben & Jerry’s Just Launched a New Flavor with One of Our Favorite Cookie Brands

If I were to make one of those in/out lists (you know the ones that popped up across the internet just prior to our countdown to 2023), number one on the “in” list would be “nostalgia.” A bite that has the power to unlock my fondest memories? I’ll take two, please.

In a way, nostalgia never really goes out of fashion. A restaurant named after the chef’s mother or father (or both!) is probably having its grand opening at this very moment. And if not, surely there’s a brand reviving an old favorite (in one form or another). 

The latter, dear reader, is exactly what you can expect from the latest Ben & Jerry’s flavor — Oatmeal Dream Pie Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert — and in more ways than one! The non-dairy ice cream is both inspired by the decades-old Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies and a throwback to Ben & Jerry’s near-decade-old, now-defunct Oatmeal Cookie Chunk ice cream. The result is a modern-day double scoop of nostalgia. (Although, unlike its muses, the new flavor is certified vegan.)

I got my hands on a pint (okay, a few pints!) in advance and got to give it a try. If I’m being honest, I was worried the oatmeal-mania would be a bit lost on me. I’m more of a chocolate chip cookie fan and, while I often have oats for breakfast or in my desserts, I don’t have a longstanding attachment to the sandwich cookie or original ice cream flavor. But! Oatmeal Dream Pie is just an incredible experience in a pint.

Like many B&J’s creations, the non-dairy ice cream — aptly named, oatmeal crème pie — is a delightful backdrop to the gluten-free oatmeal cookie chunks and silky marshmallow swirls. 

The cookies were created exclusively for Ben & Jerry’s by Partake, an allergen-friendly brand (and repeat Kitchn Essentials winner) with racial inclusivity at its core. “We started chatting with the Ben and Jerry’s team in the summer of 2020,” explains Denise Woodard, founder and CEO of Partake. After several months of collaboration (and too many recipes to count), they had “a delicious, classic oatmeal cookie.”

Lightly spiced, not too molasses- or brown sugar-forward, the cookies straddle the line between crunchy and chewy — no doubt due to their extended stay in a vat of ice cream. Combined with the sweet swirls, it’s a bewitching mix. And one you’ll want to keep an eye out for as it hits shelves in the coming weeks.

“I’ve been having like a spoon or two or three every single night,” says Woodward. When we spoke, she mentioned she sometimes likes to sneak a bite in between meetings and might have one after our call. I know I did.

Find it in stores: Ben & Jerry’s Oatmeal Dream Pie Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert, $6.49 for 1 pint

What new launches are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments.