Best Sugar Free Popsicles (and Low Sugar Popsicles, Too)

By Gwynedd Stuart | May 18, 2023

Credit: Merc / Target / Instacart / Vons

The best sugar free popsicles and no sugar added popsicles are just as fruity and refreshing as the kind that stained your mouth and gave you a sugar high when you were a kid. While so many low sugar and no sugar beverages can taste overwhelmingly like artificial sweeteners (unless we’re talking about the best seltzer), I’m pleased to report that popsicles do a way better job of not tasting weird.

For this taste test, we rounded up both no sugar added (so, some sugar) popsicles, as well as sugar free popsicles. Spoiler: Our favorite of them all is actually totally sugar free. This is excellent news for people who have to cut sugar out of their diets for health reasons and people who are just casually watching their carbs. It’s heating up outside. Summer is on its way. These are the best sugar free popsicles and low sugar popsicles to stock your freezer with all season long.

(And if you’re looking for the best popsicles with real sugar, we ranked those, too.)

Best for Biters

Outshine No Sugar Added Black Cherry, Strawberry Kiwi & Mixed Berry

Target

I’m no food scientist, but I’d always assumed that corn syrup gave popsicles their toothsome bite. Yes, I’m a popsicle biter—sue me! These Outshine No Sugar Added popsicles don’t contain corn syrup, but they still have that nice, smooth bite—they’re not icy at all! We tried two Outshine variety packs: Black Cherry, Strawberry Kiwi & Mixed Berry, as well as Strawberry, Tangerine & Raspberry. Overall, the former is the better choice. I generally love an orange popsicle, but the Tangerine tasted a little funny and carroty to me. And you just gotta have Black Cherry as an option—it’s so sweet, juicy, and delicious. While these do contain sugar, they’re very low sugar—only 2 grams per bar!

Credit: Merc / Target

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Fruit Juice Flavor

Goodpop Watermelon Agave

Instacart

Okay, at 9 grams a bar, these Goodpop Watermelon Agave bars are higher in sugar than many of the other no sugar added popsicles we tried. But they’re still a far cry from other popsicles. For instance, Helados Mexico Watermelon fruit bars contain 23 grams of sugar per bar! So, these aren’t exactly sugar free, but they’re still very low. All of Good Pop’s bars taste like frozen juice. Like, your mom brought home a can of Minute Maid concentrate and some popsicle molds and you guys made your own juice bars on a day during summer vacation. They’re all pretty good— we tried Cherry n’ Lemonade and their Orange, Cherry, Grape variety pack—but the Watermelon Agave is the best. Watermelon just works so well as a frozen fruit bar and these low sugar popsicles are a great example of that.

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Popsicle Sugar Free Tropicals

I frequently ask my colleague Jordan Myrick to try things I especially love and this was one of the products that made them do a little dance. These sugar free Capital P Popsicles are icier than Outshine bars—not ideal for biters—but the flavors just taste so darn good! In this variety pack you get Hawaiian Pineapple, Tropical Orange, and Caribbean Punch. All of them are great, but the Caribbean Punch is the best by far. Lots of guava. A vacation on a stick. The biggest feat is that these don’t taste like artificial sweeteners. And at 15 cals and, I repeat, zero grams of sugar, you can house as many as you want on a sweaty day. Turns out the best low sugar popsicles are actually sugar free popsicles.

Credit: Merc / Vons

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Other products we tried: Popsicle Sugar Free Orange, Cherry, Grape; Fudgsicle No Sugar Added; Outshine No Sugar Added Strawberry, Tangerine & Raspberry; Goodpop Orange, Cherry, Grape; Goodpop Cherry n’ Lemonade; Budget Saver Monster Pops

About the Author

Gwynedd Stuart

Gwynedd Stuart, Sporked’s managing editor, is an L.A.-based writer and editor who spends way, way too much time at the grocery store. She’s never met an Old El Paso taco or mozzarella stick she didn’t like.

Choosing Healthy Popsicles – Feed Them Wisely

Popsicles are a favorite summer treat with many brands offering healthy looking fruit options. However, how healthy are popsicles? And what are the healthiest popsicle brands?

This comprehensive guide details what to look for and what to avoid when choosing frozen fruit pops.

The healthiest popsicles have:

• Real fruit as the first ingredient
• Minimal added sugar
• No gums or thickeners
• No artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or colors

Ideally, fruit should be the first ingredient in a fruit pop.  However, most commercially available fruit popsicles tend to have long ingredient lists.  

What to look for when choosing a healthy popsicle

1. Fruit is the first ingredient in healthy popsicles

Fruit should be the first ingredient in healthy fruit popsicles. Whole fruit is a nutrient dense and naturally sweet snack.

How do you know if a fruit flavored popsicle contains real fruit?  Read the ingredient list.  Fruit, sometimes in the form of a puree, should be the first ingredient.

You can also look for fiber on the Nutrition Facts label.   Real, whole fruit contains fiber. In general, the more fiber a popsicle contains, the more whole fruit in the treat.

However, some popsicle brands contain added fiber, so fiber is not always a good proxy for the amount of whole fruit a popsicle contains.

Recommendation: Only buy popsicles where fruit is the first ingredient.

2. Healthy popsicles have minimal added sugar

A little added sugar is okay in a healthy diet. However, the typical American eats almost a half cup of added sugar each day and this excess sugar consumption is making us overweight and chronically ill.

Corn syrup, tapioca syrup, and cane sugar are all forms of added sugar that are common ingredients in fruit popsicles. 

Apple and pear juice concentrate sound healthy, right?  Think again!  The FDA considers fruit juice concentrates to be a form of added sugar. (1)  

However, companies don’t have to list fruit juice concentrates as added sugar if they include enough water to dilute the concentrate to juice.

Recommendation:  When choosing a frozen treat, look for one with minimal added sugar. Most fruit popsicles contain 12 grams or more of added sugar. That is a tablespoon of sugar and almost half of the daily recommended amount of added sugar for a child.

3. Healthy Popsicles Avoid Gums and Other Thickeners

Frozen treats often contain gums and other thickeners to prevent ice crystal formation and improve texture.

Gums and thickeners are highly processed and can sometimes cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

Typical gums and other thickeners in fruit popsicles include guar gum, xanthan gum, locust bean gum (also called carob bean gum), cellulose gum, cellulose gel, soluble corn fiber, and modified corn starch.

Guar Gum.  Guar gum is a polysaccharide (polymer of sugar) made from the seeds of the guar plant. It is a soluble fiber that our bodies can not digest. However, gut bacteria can ferment guar gum.  (2)

Xanthan Gum. Like guar gum, Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide made when bacterial ferment glucose and other sugars. Xanthan gum is a soluble fiber that our bodies can not digest. (3)

Locust Bean Gum.  Locust Bean Gum a polysaccharide extracted from the seeds of the Carob Tree. Also called carob bean gum, locust Bean Gum is a soluble dietary fiber that our bodies can not digest. (4)

Soluble Corn Fiber. Also called resistant maltodextrin, soluble corn fiver is a non-digestible soluble fiber made from corn starch. It thickens foods and is a sugar replacement in low sugar foods. (5)

Avoid these gums and thickeners

Cellulose Gum and Cellulose Gel.  Also called carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), cellulose gum is polysaccharide manufactured from cellulose, found in the cellular walls of plants.

The FDA considers CMS a “generally regarded as safe” food additive. However, growing research links CMC to inflammatory conditions, including inflammatory bowl disease. (6)

Modified Corn Starch. Our bodies rapidly digest starch into sugar. As such, all forms of food starch are high Glycemic Index (GI).  Eating predominantly high-GI foods is associated with chronic disease and strongly associated with heart disease. (7,8)

Recommendation: Avoid cellulose gum, cellulose gel, CMC and modified corn starch.

While it is best to avoid foods containing gums and other thickeners, small amounts of guar gum, xanthan gum, and locust bean gum are probably fine unless you experience gastrointestinal discomfort or are following a specific diet.

4. Healthy Popsicles Avoid Artificial Sweeteners

Most no-sugar-added popsicles use artificial sweeteners to achieve low calorie levels. However, these frozen fruit treats are still not a healthy choice even though they contain minimal or no added sugar.

Typical artificial sweeteners in fruit popsicles include sucralose, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium.

Sucralose. Brand name Splenda®. Sucralose is a non-caloric sweetener about 600 times sweeter than table sugar. (9)

Aspartame. Brand names Nutrasweet®, Equal®, and Sugar Twin®. Aspartame is a non-caloric sweetener about 200 times sweeter than table sugar. (9)

Acesulfame Potassium. Brand names Sweet One® and Sunnet®. Acesulfame potassium, also called Ace-K, is a non-caloric sweetener about 200 times sweeter than table sugar. (9)

It is best to avoid artificial sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners still affect our bodies, even though they are essentially calorie free and do not contain any added sugar.

Artificial sweeteners can negatively impact our perception of how foods taste. Vegetables often taste excessively bitter and naturally sweet foods may not taste sweet enough. (8)

More importantly, artificial sweeteners can change microbiome composition, increase appetite, and affect insulin secretion. (10) These changes can result in increased calorie consumption and weight gain.

Are Non-Nutritive Sweeteners Healthy?

Some popsicle brands include natural non-caloric sweeteners. Typical plant derived non-nutritive sweeteners in popsicles include stevia leaf extract, monk fruit extract, and allulose.

Stevia Leaf Extract. Stevia is a non-caloric sweetener made from the Stevia rebaudiana plant, native to South America. The FDA recognizes stevia extracts to be Generally Regarded to Be Safe (GRAS) and permits extracts with at least 95% purity to be used in food. Stevia leaf extract is 200 to 400 times sweeter than table sugar. (9,11)

Monk Fruit Extract. Monk Fruit Extract is a non-caloric sweetener made from the Siraitia grosvenorii plant, native to Southern China. The FDA recognizes monk fruit extract to be Generally Regarded to Be Safe (GRAS). Monk fruit extract is 100 to 250 times sweeter than table sugar. (9)

Allulose. Allulose is a low-calorie sweetener found naturally in some fruit. It has a molecular structure similar to fructose but does not metabolize like sugar. Though considered a carbohydrate, the FDA does not require listing allulose as a sugar on nutrition labels. (12)

Are these naturally non and low-calorie sweeteners healthy? Like artificial sweeteners, most are significantly sweeter than table sugar and likely will affect our taste, making bitter foods like vegetables less palatable.

Also, how these sweeteners affect our microbiome is just now being studied. An initial study indicates stevia extract interferes with gut bacteria communication. (13) Further research is definitely needed.

Recommendation: Avoid foods with artificial sweeteners and only eat natural nutritive sweeteners in moderation.

5. Healthy Popsicles Avoid Artificial Colors and Preservatives

Most popular popsicle brands are now made with natural colors (often from fruit or vegetable juice) and natural preservatives.

In fact, all of the frozen fruit pops we evaluated are free of artificial colors and preservatives!

However, some brands still contain artificial colors and preservatives. So read the ingredient list carefully to avoid these unnecessary ingredients.

Our evaluation of healthy Freezer Pops provides detailed information on artificial colors and artificial preservatives.

Which popular frozen fruit bars are healthy?

We evaluated popular strawberry frozen fruit popsicles based on the following criteria. (14-22)

Criteria used to evaluate Strawberry Popsicles

All information below is for 1 serving, which varies in size. To compare between brands, added sugar is listed in total grams, teaspoons (red spoons), and percent of frozen treat.

Types of added sugar are red.  Types of non-nutritive sweeteners are in red italics.  Thickeners and gums are in italics. Artificial sweeteners are bold.

Examples of healthy popsicles

Unfortunately, none of the frozen strawberry fruit bars we evaluated can be considered truly healthy. All popsicles contain some form of sweetener in addition to fruit.

However, to be realistic, popsicles should have a little added sugar. They are a treat. I have tried to make homemade strawberry fruit bars without added sugar. They were an epic failure, even when made with the sweetest just-picked strawberries.

The healthiest popsicle brands

Realistically, no store-bought popsicles should be eaten daily as a part of a healthy diet. However, a few strawberry fruit bars are perfectly okay for the occasional treat.

The following popsicles are the healthiest store-bought brands. Popsicles are listed in order of least amount of added sugar and other additives to most.

Modern Pop Strawberry Lemonade

Modern Pop Strawberry Lemonade Ingredients: Strawberries, water, organic agave, organic lemon juice

Reasons to consider Modern Pop Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles:

• Strawberries are the first ingredient
• Added sugar makes up only 10% of the fruit pop, the lowest amount of added sugar in all popsicles evaluated
• Free of highly-processed gums and thickeners

Chloe’s Strawberry Pops

Chloe’s Strawberry Pops Ingredients: Strawberry purée (strawberries, lemon juice), water, cane sugar

Reasons to consider Chloe’s Strawberry Popsicles:

• Strawberries are the first ingredient
• Free of highly-processed gums and thickeners

Reasons why you may want to think twice about buying Chloe’s Strawberry Popsicles:

• Each popsicle contains 12 grams (a tablespoon) of added sugar, almost half of the AHA’s daily recommended intake for children.

goodpop Strawberry Fruit Bars

goodpop Strawberry Fruit Bars Ingredients: Strawberries, water, organic cane sugar, organic guar gum

Reasons to consider goodpop Strawberry Fruit Bars:

• Strawberries are the first ingredient

Reasons why you may want to think twice about buying goodpop Strawberry Fruit Bars:

• Each popsicle contains 12 grams (a tablespoon) of added sugar
• Contains guar gum, a highly-processed gums and thickeners

Outshine Strawberry Fruit Bars

Outshine Strawberry Fruit Bars Ingredients: Strawberries, water, cane sugar, citric acid, guar gum, carob bean gum, ascorbic acid, strawberry juice from concentrate (water, strawberry juice concentrate), natural flavor, beet juice color, turmeric oleoresin color

Reasons to consider Outshine Strawberry Fruit Bars:

• Strawberries are the first ingredient

Reasons why you may want to think twice about buying Outshine Strawberry Fruit Bars:

• Each popsicle contains 12 grams (a tablespoon) of added sugar
• Contains guar gum and carob bean gum, highly-processed gums and thickeners

Popsicles to avoid:

Several store-bought popsicles are not healthy options.   They often contain too much added sugar or other additives that are best avoided in a healthy diet.

However, not all popsicles categorized as “avoid” are equal. Some popsicle brands are free of additives, but contain too much added sugar. Other popsicles are free of added sugars but contain highly processed thickeners and other undesirable ingredients.

The following strawberry fruit bars should be avoided or eaten only after thoughtful consideration.  These popsicles are listed in order from least to most undesirable ingredients.

Popsicle Strawberry Fruit Pops

Popsicle Strawberry Fruit Pops Ingredients: water, strawberries, cane sugar, ascorbic acid, natural flavor

Reasons to consider Popsicle Strawberry Fruit Pops:

• Free of highly-processed gums and thickeners
• Low amount of added sugar, though added sugar makes up 16% of the popsicle by weight

Reasons to think twice before buying Popsicle Strawberry Fruit Pops:

• Strawberries are not the first ingredient

Chloe’s No Sugar Added Strawberry Pops

Chloe’s No Sugar Added Strawberry Pops Ingredients: White grape juice from concentrate (water, white grape juice concentrate), strawberry puree, allulose, natural flavors, lemon juice concentrate, monk fruit juice concentrate

Reasons to consider Chloe’s No Sugar Added Strawberry Pops:

• Low amount of total sugars. However, contains fruit juice as first ingredient instead of fruit
• Free of highly-processed gums and thickeners

Reasons to think twice before buying Chloe’s No Sugar Added Strawberry Pops:

• Strawberries are not the first ingredient
• Misleading claim of 0% added sugar. When diluted with water, grape juice concentrate is not labeled as added sugar
• Sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners allulose and monk fruit juice concentrate

Outshine Organic Fruit Bars Strawberry

Outshine Organic Fruit Bars Strawberry Ingredients: water, organic strawberries, organic cane sugar, citric acid, organic fruit and vegetable color, organic guar gum, organic carob bean gum, ascorbic acid, natural flavor

Reasons to think twice about buying Outshine Organic Fruit Bars Strawberry:

• Strawberries are not the first ingredient
• 20% of each popsicle is sugar
• Contains guar gum and carob bean gum, highly-processed gums and thickeners

Enlightened Strawberry + Chill Fruit Infusions

Enlightened Strawberry + Chill Fruit Infusions Ingredients: Water, strawberries, non-GMO soluble corn fiber, tapioca syrup, vegetable glycerin, lemon juice concentrate, natural flavors, elderberry juice for color, cane sugar, guar gum, carob bean gum, monk fruit extract, xanthan gum, botanical chill blend (lavender, chamomile, lemon balm)

Reasons to think twice about buying Enlightened Strawberry + Chill Fruit Infusions:

• Strawberries are not the first ingredient
• Contains soluble corn fiber, guar gum, carob bean gum and xanthan gum
• Contains glycerin, a sugar alcohol. Also called glycerol, glycerin is 75% as sweet as sugar. Glycerin does not count as “added sugar” on the FDA label requirements
• Sweetened with non-nutritive sweetener monk fruit extract

Halo Top Strawberry Fruit Pops

Halo Top Strawberry Fruit Pops Ingredients: Water, soluble corn fiber, strawberries, sugar, strawberry puree, strawberry juice concentrate, citric acid, salt, malic acid, stevia leaf extract, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, carob bean gum, guar gum, beet extract for color, annatto extract for color

Reasons to think twice about buying Halo Top Strawberry Fruit Pops:

• Strawberries are not the first ingredient
• Contains soluble corn fiber, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, carob bean gum and guar gum
• Sweetened with non-nutritive sweetener stevia leaf extract

Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Strawberry Fruit Bars

Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Strawberry Fruit Bars Ingredients: Strawberries, water, cane sugar, guar gum, carob bean gum, citric acid

Reasons to avoid Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Strawberry Fruit Bars:

• Each popsicle contains 20 grams of added sugar, 100% of the AHA’s daily recommended maximum intake of added sugar for children
• Contains guar gum and carob bean gum, highly-processed gums and thickeners

Kroger Strawberry Fruit Bars

Kroger Strawberry Fruit Bars Ingredients: Water, strawberries, strawberry puree, sugar, cellulose gum, modified corn starch, natural flavor, citric acid, guar gum, locust bean gum, ascorbic acid, beet juice extract and turmeric (for color)

Reasons to avoid Kroger Strawberry Fruit Bars:

• Each popsicle contains 19 grams of added sugar, almost 100% of the AHA’s daily recommended maximum intake of added sugar for children
• Contains cellulose guar gum and locust bean gum, highly-processed gums and thickeners
• Thickened with modified food starch. Starches rapidly convert to glucose during digestion

Popsicle Simply Strawberry

Popsicle Simply Strawberry Ingredients: Water, cane sugar, citric acid, beet juice, guar gum, natural flavor, ascorbic acid, annato extract and tumeric oleoresin (for color)

Reasons to avoid Popsicle Simply Strawberry:

• This popsicle is simply sugar water with flavoring. It contains no fruit!
• Contains guar gum, a highly-processed thickeners

Outshine No Sugar Added Strawberry

Outshine No Sugar Added Strawberry Ingredients: Water, strawberries, sorbitol, maltodextrin*, glycerin, grape juice from concentrate*, polydextrose, citric acid, ascorbic acid, guar gum, sucralose, strawberry juice from concentrate, carob bean gum, natural flavor, acesulfame potassium, beet juice color, turmeric oleoresin color

Reasons to avoid Outshine No Sugar Added Strawberry:

• Misleading claim of 0% added sugar. When diluted with water, grape juice concentrate is not labeled added sugar
• Sweetened with artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium
• Contains guar gum and carob bean gum, highly-processed gums and thickeners
• Sweetened with sorbitol and glycerin, types of sugar alcohol. Neither count as “added sugar” on the FDA label requirements. Sorbitol can cause digestive distress
• Sweetened maltodextrin, a polysaccharide that turns into sugar when digested.

Popsicle Red Classics Strawberry

Popsicle Red Classics Strawberry Ingredients: Water, glycerin, maltodextrin, citric acid, vegetable juice, guar gum, natural and artificial flavor, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, ascorbic acid, tumeric oleoresin, cherry juice concentrate, locust bean gum

Reasons to avoid Popsicle Red Classics Strawberry:

• Sweetened with artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium
• Sweetened with glycerin, a sugar alcohol
• Contains maltodextrin, a polysaccharide that turns into sugar when digested
• Contains locust bean gum, a highly-processed gums and thickeners

Conclusions about choosing a healthy popsicle

When it comes to finding a healthy-ish strawberry fruit bar, simple ingredients are best.   Look for a popsicle with minimal sweetener that avoids highly processed ingredients.

If you have the time, you can always make your own homemade strawberry popsicles.

Check out these other product evaluations:

• Which freezer pops are healthy?
• Choosing a healthy almond milk
• Are plant-based burgers healthy?
• Is oat milk healthy?
• Choosing healthy crackers and snacks
• What popular breakfast cereals are healthy?

Pin article for later:

References:

1. Definition of Added Sugar, FDA Federal Register, May 2016, § 101.9(c)(6)(iii) (link)
2. Re-evaluation of guar gum as a food additive, EFSA Website, (link)
3. Evaluation of xanthan gum as a food additive, EFSA Website, (link)
4. Re-evaluation of locust bean gum as a Food Additive, EFSA Website, (link)
5. Resistant maltodextrin related health claims, EFSA Website (link)
6. The Role of Carrageenan and Carboxymethylcellulose in the Development of Intestinal Inflammation, Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2017, 5: 96 (link)
7. Whole Grains and Fiber, American Heart Association Website (link)
8. Always Hungry? Conquer Cravings, Retrain Your Fat Cells & Lose Weight Permanently, David Ludwig, MD, PhD (link)
9. Additional Information about High-Intensity Sweeteners Permitted for Use in Food in the United States, FDA Website (link)
10. The Association Between Artificial Sweeteners and Obesity, Current Gastroenterology Reports, December 2017, 19:64 (link)
11. Safety of a proposed amendment of the specifications for steviol glycosides (E 960) as a food additive: to expand the list of steviol glycosides to all those identified in the leaves of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni, EFSA Website (link)
12. The Declaration of Allulose and Calories from Allulose on Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels: Guidance for Industry, FDA Website (link)
13. Is the sugar substitute stevia bad for our health? Medical News Today Website (link)
14. Modern Pop Website (link)
15. Chloe’s Fruit Website (link)
16. goodpops Website (link)
17. Outshine Snacks Website (link)
18. Popsicle Website (link)
19. Enlightened Website (link)
20. Halo Top Website (link)
21. Whole Foods Market Website (link)
22. Kroger Website (link)

Top 9 Sugar-Free (and Low-Sugar) Ice Creams – Drink-Drink

We include foods that we think are good for our readers. If you make a purchase through the links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here is our process.

Best Low Sugar Ice Cream at a Glance

• Best Keto: Rebel Keto Ice Cream
• Best Low Calorie: Clarified Ice Cream
• Most Popular: Halo Top Ice Cream
• Best Dairy Free: SO Delicious Coconutmilk Frozen Dessert
• Best for Classic Flavors: Keto Pint Ice Cream
• Best without sugar alcohols: Arctic Zero Frozen Desserts
• Best Ice Cream Sandwiches: Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches
• Best Homemade: Homemade Banana Ice Cream, Homemade Coconut Milk Ice Cream

It’s hard to beat a cool, sweet, creamy scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day or any other time of the year.

Although a small amount of ice cream can be part of a balanced diet, this dessert is often high in added sugar. In fact, some flavors contain up to three times the recommended daily amount of added sugar per serving.

This is one of the reasons why sugar-free products are becoming more and more popular.

These desserts are based on natural or artificial sweeteners that dramatically reduce sugar and calories.

These sweeteners may have their drawbacks such as digestive symptoms such as gas or bloating when consumed in large amounts. However, sugar-free ice cream can be a great treat if you control your intake (1, 2).

Here are 9 of the best sugar-free and low-sugar ice creams.

How we chose the best sugar free and low sugar ice cream

There are many types of ice cream to choose from, even if you are looking for low sugar ice cream. To find the best of the best, here’s what we looked at:

• Nutrition Profile: We stuck with low-sugar and no-sugar options. We also looked at the total nutrient content, including the amount of protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrates.
• Texture & Flavor: We have reviewed customer reviews and only included ice creams with rave reviews.
• Ingredients: We’ve reviewed the ingredient list for each ice cream, selecting only those that contain high quality ingredients. We have chosen those that do not contain a lot of artificial ingredients or high amounts of sugar alcohols.
• Brand Reputation: Our list includes a variety of ice creams from renowned brands with a solid reputation for quality and taste.

Pricing Guide

Prices below are per pint of ice cream. Note about online shopping

Some sellers offer ice cream for online shopping. This can be a convenient option if same day delivery is guaranteed. Online ordering may not be available in all regions, so you may need to search for products locally.

drink-drink selects the best low-sugar and sugar-free ice cream

The best keto

Rebel ice cream

• Cost: $
• Popular flavors: 900 09 peanut butter, mint chips, chocolate
• Base: cream
• Sweeteners: erythritol, monk fruit

Rebel Creamery manufactures a robust line of 14 ice creams without added sugar.

They are designed for a low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diet, but you don’t have to be keto to enjoy these treats.

Made from whole ingredients such as cream and eggs, these products retain the texture and flavor of regular ice cream. They are sweetened with sugar alcohols and monk fruit. Monk Fruit, a zero-calorie vegetable sweetener, is one of the most popular alternatives to sugar.

Be aware that this product contains more fat and calories than other low sugar brands.

Each 2/3 cup (91 grams) Rebel Mint Ice Cream provides (3):

• Calories: 210
• Fat: 21 grams
• Protein: 3 grams
• Carbs: 16 grams
• fiber: 4 grams
• Added sugar: 0 grams
• Sugar alcohols: 11 grams

• people who are looking for a low-sugar treat that tastes no different from the real
• people on a keto diet

Who should skip this

• people who want to avoid high fat content
• people who want to avoid sugar alcohols

Best low calorie 9007 5

Clarified ice cream

• Cost: $$
• Popular Flavors: Keto PB Cookies and Brownie Dough, Keto Caramel Chocolate Double Dough, Keto Chocolate Peanut Butter
• Base: skimmed milk (light versions) or heavy cream (keto versions)
• Sweeteners: sugar, tapioca syrup, erythritol, allulose, arhat, xylitol (variants available from Whole Foods)

9003 9

Enlightened manufactures popular low-calorie ice cream. While not completely sugar-free, they are sweetened with a combination of sugar, sugar alcohols, and natural sweeteners like monk fruit.

They come in a variety of flavors, many of which contain protein and fiber, two nutrients that help balance blood sugar levels and keep you feeling full (4, 5, 6, 7).

“Light” versions of Enlightened products are very low in fat, which reduces calories but makes them less creamy than other varieties.

Keto versions are creamier and higher in fat and calories.

2/3 cup (100 grams) serving of Enlightened Light Cookies & Ice Cream contains (8):

• Calories: 120
• Fat: 3.5 grams

90 007 Protein: 6 grams

• Carbohydrates : 28 grams
• fiber: 8 grams
• Added sugar: 3 grams
• Sugar alcohols: 4 grams

Who should this scoop

• keto dieters (keto versions)
• people looking for a low fat option (light versions)

Who should miss this

• people looking for a sugar free option
• people looking for a low carb option

Most Popular

Halo Top Ice Cream

• Cost: $
• Popular Flavors: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Sea Salt Caramel, Birthday Cake
• Base: skimmed milk ( dairy versions) or coconut milk (non-dairy versions)
• Sweeteners: sugar, erythritol, stevia, corn syrup

Since its debut in 2012, Halo Top has become a household name in the light ice cream world.

This creamery produces a huge amount of dairy and non-dairy ice cream, all of which are low in calories, sugar and fat.

Although the products are not completely sugar-free, they use a combination of organic cane sugar, sugar alcohols and stevia.

Most flavors don’t contain more than 6 grams of sugar per 1/2 cup (64 grams) serving, while regular ice cream can contain up to 3 times that (9).

What’s more, Halo Top contains nutrients such as protein and fiber that can help balance blood sugar levels.

Be aware that due to the low fat content, this ice cream is not as creamy as you might expect.

2/3 cup (88 grams) serving of this brand’s chocolate chip mocha ice cream contains (10):

• Calories: 110
• Fat: 3 grams

90 007 Protein: 7 grams

• Carbohydrates: 19 grams
• fiber: 2 grams
• Sugar added: 4 grams
• Sugar alcohols: 8 grams

Who should scoop this up

• people who are looking for a low calorie option

Who should skip this

• people who need a creamy consistency
• people who are looking for a sugar-free option

Best Dairy Free

SO Delicious Coconutmilk Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert, No Added Sugar

• Cost: $
• Popular Flavors: vanilla pod, mint, chocolate, pecan butter
• Base: coconut milk
• Sweetener: erythritol, monk fruit

SO Delicious, a brand known for its creamy alternatives dairy products, produces everything from dairy-free ice cream to coffee creamer.

Sugar-free pints and ice cream bars use coconut milk, making them ideal for anyone on a dairy-free or vegan diet.

Instead of sugar, they are sweetened with sugar spirits and monk fruit. Their fiber content also helps you feel full.

SO Delicious doesn’t have as many flavors as other leading brands. The sugar free ice cream range includes vanilla, mint chips, chocolate and nut butter.

Each 2/3 cup (113 g) SO Delicious Frozen Vanilla Bean Dessert contains (11):

• Calories: 130
• Fat: 9 grams
• Protein: 2 grams
• Carbohydrates: 24 grams
• fiber: 10 grams
• Added sugar: 0 grams
• Sugar alcohols: 4 grams

Who should scoop it up

• people who are looking for a dairy-free option
• people who are looking for a sugar-free option

who should miss it

• people who don’t like coconut
• people looking for many flavor options

Best for classic flavors

Keto Pint Ice Cream

• Cost: $$ $
• Popular flavor s: cake batter, triple chocolate brownie, strawberry
• Base: cream
• Sweeteners: erythritol, stevia, arhat

New on the sugar-free ice cream market is Keto Pint.

This brand offers a range of low carb ice creams made with whole ingredients including cream, eggs and whole milk.

The brand uses a combination of sugar substitutes such as monk fruit, stevia and sugar alcohols. In addition, most of the six flavors contain decent amounts of protein and fiber.

As the name suggests, Keto Pint makes keto-friendly products, which means the products are higher in fat than most other low sugar brands. Although they are especially creamy, you should look elsewhere if you are looking for low fat ice cream.

2/3 cup (100 g) serving of Keto Pint Strawberry Ice Cream contains (12):

• Calories: 180
• Fat: 17 grams
• 9 0008 Protein: 4 grams
• Carbohydrates: 14 grams
• fiber: 3 grams
• Added sugar: 0 grams
• Sugar alcohols: 8 grams

Who should scoop this up

• keto dieters
• people looking for classic ice cream flavors

who should miss this

• people looking for a low fat option
• people looking for an inexpensive option

Better without sugar alcohols

90 074 Frozen desserts Arctic Zero

• Cost: $$$
• Flavors: cookie shake, chocolate peanut butter, mint
• Base: water
• Sweeteners: Allulose, Monk Sugar, Cane Sugar

Arctic Zero specializes in low-calorie, low-fat, low-sugar frozen desserts, including pints of non-dairy ice cream.

Although Arctic Zero products are not completely sugar-free, they contain much less sugar than traditional ice cream. Almost all of the brand’s products use organic cane sugar, allulose, and sometimes other natural sweeteners such as stevia or monk fruit.

They are also high in fiber and free of sugar alcohols, which may be particularly attractive to those who are intolerant to these sweeteners.

Like many low-fat frozen desserts, Arctic Zero products do not have the creamy, smooth texture of high-fat ice cream.

2/3 cup (83 grams) serving of Arctic Zero Classic Vanilla contains (13):

• Calories: 50
• Fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 2 grams
• Carbohydrates: 11 grams
• fiber: 3 grams
• Sugar added: 8 grams
• Sugar alcohols: 0 grams

Who should scoop this up

• people with intolerance to sugar alcohols
• people looking for a non-dairy option
• people looking for a low calorie option

Who should skip this

• people who prefer a creamier texture

Best Ice Cream Sandwiches

Skinny Cow No Sugar Ice Cream Sandwiches

• Cost: $
• Popular flavors: vanilla
• Base: sour milk
• Sweetener: sorbitol, sucralose, acesulfame potassium

90s.

The brand has recently expanded its product line with sugar-free ice cream sandwiches that contain fiber and protein and have a surprisingly creamy texture due to their low fat and sugar content.

However, the ingredients are not as high quality as many competing products. These sandwiches include several food additives and are based on sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners.

You can find Skinny Cow products at numerous grocery stores and supermarkets in the United States.

Each Sugar Free Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich (65 grams) contains (14):

• Calories: 130
• Fat: 2 grams
• Bel ok: 4 grams
• Carbs: 27 grams
• fiber: 3 grams
• Added sugar: 0 grams
• Sugar alcohols: 2 grams

Who should scoop it up 90 075

• people are looking for a low sugar ice cream sandwich

Who should miss this

• people who prefer to avoid artificial sweeteners

Homemade Best

Homemade Banana Ice Cream

Frozen ripe bananas can be made easy and delicious low sugar ice cream at home.

Popularly referred to as “good cream”, popsicles require only a few ingredients and a food processor or blender. To do this, you just need to mix in a frozen ripe banana, some dairy or non-dairy milk, and any additional flavors you want.

Given that bananas are naturally sweet, you do not need to add sweeteners. However, you can add drops of stevia or monk fruit to boost the sweetness to your liking.

You can mix vanilla paste, cocoa powder or other frozen fruits such as mangoes, peaches or raspberries for a different taste. You can also add sugar-free nut butter or seed butter to give the dish a protein and rich, creamy texture.

Nutrient content depends on your specific ingredients, but a serving of 1 small banana (100 grams) and 2 oz (60 ml) unsweetened almond milk provides approximately (15, 16):

• Calories: 100
• Fat: 1 gram
• Protein: 1 gram
• Carbs: 90 009 24 grams
• fiber: 2. 8 grams
• Sugar: 13 grams (all natural, no additives)

Although homemade banana-based ice cream does not contain added sugar, the natural sugar in fruit contributes to overall carbohydrate intake. So, if you’re watching your carb intake or blood sugar levels, you should eat smaller meals or choose a different ice cream.

Homemade Coconut Ice Cream

If you’re looking for homemade ice cream with no added sugar and low carbs, try full fat coconut milk as a base.

For a classic vanilla taste, mix coconut milk with vanilla extract, a pinch of salt and your favorite sugar-free sweetener – stevia, arhat and sugar alcohols. Other sugar-free ingredients such as nut butter, matcha, and cocoa powder are great for additional supplements.

Freeze the mixture in blender-friendly batches, let it thaw a bit, then blend until smooth and creamy.

1/2 cup serving (113 grams) without additional ingredients provides approximately (17):

• Calories: 223
• Fat: 24 grams
• Protein: 2 grams
• Carbs: 3 grams
• fiber: 0 grams
• Sugar: 1. 5 grams

Although it has no added sugar and is very low in carbs, this particular ice cream contains more fat and calories than many other options. So, if you’re on a low-fat diet or trying to cut down on your calorie intake, this might not be the best choice.

How to choose the best

The right sugar-free or low-sugar ice cream depends on your dietary goals and personal tastes.

Blood sugar balance

If you want to improve blood sugar regulation, focus on total carbohydrate content. Regardless of the source, carbohydrates can help raise blood sugar levels.

So look for low carb sugar free ice cream.

It may also be wise to buy foods rich in protein and fiber, as these nutrients can help minimize potential blood sugar spikes (6, 7).

Calorie intake

If you are counting calories, choose the lowest calorie ice cream. These options are usually lower in fat, as fat contains more calories per gram than other macronutrients.

However, if you prefer the fatter versions due to their creaminess, you can still eat them. You just need to watch your portion sizes to stay within the calorie range.

Nutrients

If your focus is on food quality, be sure to pay close attention to the ingredients.

In some cases, regular ice cream may contain more nutrient-dense whole foods than sugar-free alternatives.

Many light or low sugar ice creams contain a variety of additives such as preservatives, gums, artificial colors and stabilizers to create a similar appearance and texture to regular ice cream.

Although these ingredients are unlikely to cause side effects, especially in small amounts, some people still want to avoid them.

In particular, sensitive individuals may experience allergic reactions or unpleasant digestive symptoms after supplementation (18).

For example, excessive consumption of sugar alcohols such as xylitol or gums such as xanthan gum can increase gas and bloating in some people. People can also experience allergic reactions to artificial colors (1, 19, 20).

If you know you are sensitive to any of these ingredients, stay away from products with additives.

Homemade varieties are almost always the best choice for wholesome, high quality ingredients because you have complete control over the ingredients and the level of sweetness.

Brand Comparison

9076 3 Arctic Zero

9078 1 Keto PB Cookies and Brownie Dough, Keto Caramel Chocolate Double Dough, Keto Chocolate -peanut butter

Rebel	Enlightened	Halo Top	So Delicious	Keto Pinta	Skinny cow
Price	$	$$	$	$	$ $ $	$ $ $	$
Popular flavors	peanut butter, mint chips, chocolate	chocolate chip cookie dough, sea salt caramel, birthday cake	vanilla bean, mint chips, chocolate, pecan butter	cake dough, triple chocolate brownie, strawberry	cookie shake, chocolate peanut butter, mint flavor	vanilla
calculus	cream	skimmed milk (light versions) or heavy cream (keto versions)	skimmed milk (dairy versions) or Coconut milk (non -daisy versions)	Coconut milk	Cream	Water	Dried milk
sweeteners	ERITRIT, MONE FROUK	sugar, tapioca syrup, erythritol, allulose, monk fruit, xylitol (variants available from Whole Foods)	sugar, erythritol, stevia, corn syrup	erythritol, monk fruit	erythritol, stevia, monk fruit	allulose, arhat, reed sugar	sorbitol, sucralose, acesulfame potassium
Sugar content (per serving)	0 grams	3 grams	4 grams	2 grams 90 782	1 gram	8 gram	4 grams

FAQ

Is sugar-free ice cream a good choice for people with diabetes?

Low-sugar and sugar-free ice cream is a good option for people with diabetes who want to enjoy a sweet treat that won’t affect blood sugar levels as much as regular ice cream.

Are artificial sweeteners healthy?

Data on artificial sweeteners is mixed. Many of them are considered safe to consume (21).

However, some people may experience side effects from certain types of sweeteners.

Are there any ingredients to avoid when choosing sugar-free ice cream?

It depends on your goals, diet and individual needs. For example, you can look for dairy-free ice cream if you’re on a vegan diet, or low-carb ice cream if you’re on a keto diet.

In addition, some people may experience digestive side effects from sugar alcohols. If this is your case, look for an option sweetened with stevia or monk fruit.

Bottom line

Ice cream is a favorite classic dessert, but it has a lot of sugar.

If you don’t want to give up this dessert but are trying to cut back on sugar, consider one of the sugar free or low sugar ice creams on this list.

It is also easy to make your own, using fruits such as coconut or banana as a base.

5 low carb ice cream alternatives to satisfy your sweet tooth

Few products have their own section in the grocery store, but ice cream is so popular it takes up half the aisle. After all, what could be better than a sweet, creamy, cold cup of your favorite flavor?

If you are an ice cream lover, you may not want to start a low carb or ketogenic diet. Eliminating ice cream from your diet can seem intimidating, if not impossible.

But there are plenty of low-carb ice cream alternatives that can satiate your sugar cravings, helping you stay in ketosis and achieve your goals.

Contents

Why isn’t ice cream low carb or keto friendly?

Ice cream is best known as a sweet frozen product made from dairy products. The main ingredients of classic ice cream (or custard) are milk, granulated sugar and cream. Other flavors are often added to these ingredients, creating a wide variety that can be found at the grocery store.

Calories and macronutrients will vary depending on the type and flavor of ice cream. A serving of vanilla ice cream contains approximately 137 calories, 7 grams of fat, 2 grams of protein, and 16 grams of protein. net carbs, while a serving of Moose Tracks ice cream (containing peanut butter and chocolate chips) has a total of 210 calories, including 13 grams of fat, 3 grams of protein, and 20 grams of net carbs.

Ice cream is not considered keto friendly due to the added sugar. These sugars increase blood glucose, lower blood ketones, and prevent the body from burning fat stores.

Finding a Keto Compatible Ice Cream Brand: Do’s and Don’ts

You have many low carb ice cream recipes you can make at home. But in cases where you don’t want to do the extra work, a store-bought brand might be enough: check out this article to find out the best keto ice cream brands it recommends. However, many labels are nothing more than clever marketing strategies, so try to keep these things in mind:

Don’t always trust food labels

Ice cream labeled “low carb”, “keto friendly” or “ideal for a low carb lifestyle” is misleading at best. These are not regulated terms, so be sure to read the nutrition label. Make sure there are no added fillers, artificial sweeteners, preservatives or colors.

Look for keto-friendly sweeteners

Ice cream flavor sweetened with monk fruit, stevia or Swerve (and nothing else) is safe to consume on a ketogenic diet. Always choose brands that use these products instead of artificial sweeteners. So Delicious offers a Sugar Free Nut Butter Flavor sweetened with monk fruit and erythritol (plus, it’s gluten and dairy free).

Don’t think “dairy free” means “keto compatible”.

Remember that dairy is not the reason you avoid ice cream in a low-carb lifestyle, sugar is. Many products with almond milk, coconut milk, or coconut cream listed as the main ingredient contain sugar. If you look at the nutritional facts about Ben and Jerry’s Dairy-Free Chunky Monkey Flavor, you’ll see that it’s made from almond milk, but has a horrendous 31 grams of carbs and 26 grams of sugar per half-cup serving.

Beware of sugar alcohols

Sugar alcohols do not affect blood sugar, so they are commonly marketed to people on a low carbohydrate diet or people diagnosed with diabetes. Unfortunately, sugar alcohols can cause digestive problems for some people. Erythritol is a sugar alcohol used in many brands, including So Delicious and Halo Top, and is generally recognized as safe. USDA. However, there have been growing complaints of indigestion with other sugar alcohols, including xylitol, mannitol, and sorbitol.

Don’t aim for low-fat or low-fat varieties

If you’re opting for a milk ice cream flavor, your best bet is to look for one made with egg yolks, whole cream, milk, vanilla, or other spices and keto-friendly sweeteners. Try to avoid low-fat foods at all costs, as healthy fats are often replaced with carbohydrates or sugar.

5 Low Carb Alternatives to Ice Cream

While most ice cream flavors provide an adequate dose of fat for a ketogenic diet, they are also high in carbohydrates due to their sugar content. Most commercial brands also lack dietary fiber, making the treat a poor nutritional choice.

Luckily, there are plenty of homemade ice cream recipes that let you enjoy your favorite dessert while keeping the carbs low—there are even dairy-free options.

While dairy can be included in a ketogenic diet, it also raises some potential deficiencies so you may want to limit your intake or stick to dairy-free options on this list.

#1: Death by low carb chocolate ice cream

Photo: Death by low-carb chocolate ice cream.

Chocolate is a classic ice cream flavor and now you can enjoy this low carb version of your favorite ice cream.

Death By Low Carb Chocolate Ice Cream has a list of keto approved ingredients and contrary to the name, it won’t kill you. All you need to make this keto treat is heavy cream, non-dairy milk, cocoa powder, low-carb sweetener, eggs, unsweetened chocolate, and vanilla extract. Chances are you already have all the ingredients on hand. Find the full recipe here.

#2: Low Carb Chocolate Chip Mint Ice Cream

Photo: Low Carb Chocolate Mint Ice Cream.

Is mint ice cream missing from the ketogenic diet? This unique recipe is your ticket to a deliciously low-carb, sugar-free version.

Because it requires cream. beat thickly as a base, it will taste almost indistinguishable from other sugar-filled versions. Just be sure to look for grass-fed (or at least organic) dairy products whenever possible.

In addition to heavy whipping cream, you will need a low-carb sweetener, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, non-dairy milk and unsweetened dark chocolate.

Find the complete recipe here.

#3: Keto No Whip Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

Photo: Keto No Whisk Cookies and Cream Ice Cream.

No refrigerator available? Don’t worry. This low carb dessert doesn’t need anything. While this recipe takes a little more effort to make keto, it’s well worth it.

Since you won’t be using an ice cream maker, you’ll need to make your own condensed milk with coconut milk and a keto-friendly sweetener like stevia or monk fruit for a light and airy texture.

The “cookie” portion of this recipe includes almond flour, cocoa powder, sweetener, egg, and coconut oil. But the ice cream itself is just a mixture of coconut milk and heavy whipped cream.

Although you must prepare these ingredients separately, the end result is a juicy, creamy treat with full ingredients. healthy fat and low carbs.

Find the complete recipe here.

#4: Keto Vanilla Ice Cream

Photo: Keto Vanilla Ice Cream.

Classic vanilla ice cream is the perfect accompaniment to any dessert. And just like the cookie and cream recipe, this keto vanilla ice cream doesn’t require whipping in an ice cream maker.

One thing most low carb or sugar ice cream recipes have in common is whipped cream. If you include dairy in your diet, whipped cream makes a great base for perfect ice cream consistency and contains nutrients such as vitamins A, B, C, E and K, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium.

Find the complete recipe here.

#5: Keto Superfood Nice Cream

You could tell this ice cream has superpowers. And you may be right. The simple ingredient list is filled with nutrients, flavor, and a special secret ingredient: cauliflower. It may sound strange, but its inclusion in this easy-to-make chocolate ice cream makes it a guilt-free dessert.

Rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, cauliflower is anti-inflammatory and improves brain and heart health. Combined with coconut milk, cocoa powder, stevia (or monk fruit) and a pinch of black pepper and pink salt, you can enjoy this “pleasant” cream in about 10 minutes.

Find the complete recipe here.

4 Keto Ice Cream Toppings to Top Your Favorite Dessert

Many people think that going keto means you should cut out your favorite sweets entirely. But these low-carb ice cream alternatives prove that’s not necessarily the case.

Of course, no ice cream is complete without your favorite ingredients. Use these high-fat, low-sugar ice cream toppings and mixes to spruce up your dessert:

• Keto whipped cream with salted caramel.