Ho, ho, ho; Millie Christmas, folks! That’s right, Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream just released their holiday flavors, and they’re even better than Buddy the Elf’s spaghetti and syrup concoction.
This year, Millies’ holiday collection features your classic Christmas elements with a twist. The assortment includes Gingerbread, Cranberry Crumble, Cinnamon Praline, and Pumpkin Roll ice cream with a dairy-free option of Peppermint Bark gelato. Unfortunately, my mother and I were unable to taste every option due to the lack of room in our stomachs, so we had to pick the flavors that sounded most appealing.
The first flavor I’ll be reviewing, which was my least favorite despite how good it tasted, is Gingerbread. It’s your classic brown sugar ice cream, but the twist here is that there are crushed Biscoff cookies packed inside of it. Upon the first bite, it takes a second for the flavor to kick in, but when it does, it hits hard and fast. The first thing my tongue tasted was sweet cinnamon combined with a nice crunchy texture from the cookies. After swallowing, though, the aftertaste kicked in, and I experienced a bit of a spicy kick. Not to say that it was unexpected, but it was a bit of a delayed reaction. For me, the overall taste was a bit too strong, but if you like gingerbread, this flavor is for you. I’ll give it a 6/10.
Imagine walking into the mall with an empty stomach; the smell of warm, cinnamon roasted nuts tempts you as it wafts through the room. Cinnamon Praline is that moment in ice cream form.
I typically hate pecans and any type of nuts other than cashews, but when I say that this is one of the greatest ice creams I’ve ever tasted, I mean it. Similar to Gingerbread, this ice cream was very sweet but in a different way. It tasted like cinnamon but also had a bit of a caramel flavor to it from the candied pecans. The pecans were delicious and added little jolts of flavor to the ice cream. I did notice that some of the nuts were a bit soggier than crunchy, but their amazing taste overshadowed that. Overall, this flavor was perfect and felt like heaven when it melted in your mouth. It has earned itself a 9/10.
Finally, we have the Cranberry Crumble ice cream. This delectable treat is made of brown-butter streusel and includes ribbons of cranberry curd. It takes a second for the flavor to kick in on the first bite, but it’s generally a light, enjoyable dessert. This ice cream has a hint of orange in it, which provides a nice contrast from the sweetness of the cranberry and the crunchiness of the streusel.
My mom, who ordered the flavor, said, “It tastes like a delicious holiday cake. I should have gotten a second scoop.”
Considering her feedback, it’s only fair that this flavor receives an 8.5/10.
Based on how impressed we were with the three flavors we tried, we’re already planning another trip to sample the remaining two flavors. Millie’s is a true Pittsburgh gem that I’d recommend to anyone looking for quality ice cream with unique flavors. Overall, Millie’s holiday collection is an 8.5/10.
If You Go:
Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream
*Hours vary based on location. Find Millie’s closest to you on their website:
IG: @millies