Coldstone Creamery is known for its delicious and indulgent ice cream creations, but many customers wonder if they offer any lower sugar or sugar-free options. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what sugar-free and lower sugar choices are available at Coldstone Creamery.
Quick Answer
Yes, Coldstone Creamery does offer some sugar-free ice cream and mix-in options for customers looking to reduce their sugar intake. However, the choices are limited compared to their full, regular menu.
Lower Sugar Ice Cream Options
For the ice cream itself, Coldstone Creamery has two lower sugar options:
- Fat Free, No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream
- No Sugar Added Strawberry Ice Cream
The Fat Free, No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream has 0g of sugar per 4 fl. oz serving. It’s sweetened with sugar substitutes like Splenda and acesulfame potassium. The No Sugar Added Strawberry Ice Cream has 5g of sugar per 4 fl. oz serving, with the natural sugar occurring from the strawberry base.
While these have less sugar than regular ice cream, they may still contain sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners. Those looking to completely avoid sugar will need to skip these options.
Sugar-Free Mix-In Options
Coldstone also offers some sugar-free mix-in options, including:
- No Sugar Added Blueberries
- No Sugar Added Strawberries
- No Sugar Added Pineapple
- Sugar Free Caramel
- Sugar Free Brownie Bites
- Sugar Free Cookie Dough
Using a combination of the sugar-free ice creams and mix-ins allows customers to create a lower sugar or sugar-free creation. However, the options are still fairly limited compared to the full menu.
Are the Options Completely Sugar Free?
While Coldstone labels these options as “sugar free” or “no sugar added,” they are not completely free of all sugars and sweeteners:
- The sugar-free mix-ins like fruit still contain natural occurring sugars.
- The ice creams and other mix-ins use sugar substitutes like Splenda to provide sweetness.
So while significantly lower in sugar, those on specific diets like keto may still need to limit how much of these “sugar free” options they consume.
Low Sugar Signature Creations
Coldstone allows full customization of ice cream creations. By combining the low sugar ice creams with sugar-free mix-ins, customers can create lower sugar signature creations.
Some examples include:
- Strawberries & Cream: No Sugar Added Strawberry Ice Cream with Sugar Free Strawberries
- Caramel Delight: Fat Free, No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream with Sugar Free Caramel and Sugar Free Brownie Bites
- Fruit Symphony: Fat Free, No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream with mix of No Sugar Added Blueberries, Strawberries, and Pineapple
The possibilities are endless for lower sugar creations, but it does require custom ordering.
Sugar-Free Ice Cream Bars
Coldstone Creamery also offers pre-packaged ice cream bars and sandwiches. Currently, the only sugar-free option is the No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich made with sugar-free cookies.
Keto Friendly Options
While Coldstone doesn’t specifically market their products as keto-friendly, some of the sugar-free options can fit into a keto diet when consumed in moderation.
The best options are:
- Fat Free, No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream
- No Sugar Added Fruit Mix-Ins
- Sugar Free Caramel or Brownie Bites
However, those on keto will still need to watch portion sizes and account for sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners. The keto diet strictly limits total daily carb intake.
Nutritional Information
Coldstone provides complete nutritional info for all menu items on their website. This allows customers to view the exact carb, sugar, and calorie counts of any creation they are considering.
Some key details on the sugar-free options:
- Fat Free, No Sugar Added Vanilla: 45 calories and 9g net carbs per 4 fl. oz
- No Sugar Added Strawberry: 80 calories and 15g net carbs per 4 fl. oz
- Sugar Free Fruit Mix-Ins: 5-15 calories and 2-4g net carbs per 0.5 fl. oz
- Sugar Free Caramel: 15 calories and 9g net carbs per 2 fl. oz
This look at the detailed nutrition info allows customers to make informed choices that fit their diet.
Sugar-Free Toppings
Coldstone doesn’t offer any sugar-free syrups or traditional ice cream toppings like fudge or sprinkles. All of their sauces and drizzles contain regular sugar.
So those looking for sugar-free sundae toppings will need to avoid the traditional options and stick with the sugar-free mix-ins.
Sugar-Free Shake Options
Coldstone allows customers to turn any of their ice cream creations into a shake. This means their sugar-free ice creams and mix-ins can also be made into a sugar-free shake.
Some examples of shakes made with sugar-free ingredients include:
- Strawberry Shortcake Shake: No Sugar Added Strawberry Ice Cream with Sugar Free Strawberries
- Vanilla Caramel Shake: Fat Free, No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream with Sugar Free Caramel
- Fruit Shake: Fat Free, No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream with mix of sugar-free fruits
One thing to note is that Coldstone’s shake base does contain some sugar, so shakes made with sugar-free ingredients will have slightly more sugar than eating the creation alone.
Availability of Sugar-Free Options
The availability of sugar-free options can vary by location. Unfortunately, not all Coldstone Creamery stores carry the No Sugar Added ice creams and mix-ins.
Your best bet is to call ahead to your local store and check if they offer the sugar-free options you are looking for. Let them know of any custom order you want to place using sugar-free ingredients.
You can also check Coldstone’s store locator online and contact the specific location directly to confirm sugar-free product availability.
Tips for Ordering Sugar-Free at Coldstone
Here are some tips for ordering sugar-free items at Coldstone Creamery:
- Review the nutritional info online first to plan your creation
- Ask if they carry the No Sugar Added ice creams and mix-ins
- Specify that you want the sugar-free version of any mix-ins
- Be aware added shakes and toppings may add sugar
- Order the smallest size possible to limit carbs
- Expect to pay extra for custom orders
With some advance planning and custom ordering, those looking to reduce sugar can still enjoy Coldstone’s famous ice cream creations.
Should You Consume Sugar-Free Items From Coldstone?
The sugar-free options from Coldstone allow customers to enjoy their delicious ice cream with less guilt. But there are some important health considerations around sugar-free items:
- Sugar substitutes are highly processed and artificial
- Blood sugar and insulin response may still be triggered
- Can cause digestive issues in some people
- May increase cravings for more sweet foods
- Higher carbs can still affect ketosis
Enjoying sugar-free treats from Coldstone occasionally as part of an overall healthy diet is likely fine for most people. But those with specific health conditions or on keto should be cautious and limit intake of all sweets, even when sugar-free.
Sugar-Free Menu Outlook
As consumer demand grows, Coldstone may expand their selection of sugar-free and low sugar options in the future. More ice cream bases, mix-ins, and toppings that are either sugar-free or use natural sugar substitutes will give customers more choices.
We may see more keto friendly options promoted on the menu as well. Coldstone acknowledges customer requests for low sugar, so be sure to inquire about sugar-free choices at your local store.
Conclusion
Coldstone Creamery does offer some sugar-free ice cream choices and mix-in options for customers looking to reduce sugar in their treats. However, the selection is still fairly limited compared to their full menu.
By custom ordering with sugar-free ingredients, you can create lower sugar versions of Coldstone’s famous ice cream creations. But availability varies by location, so check with your store ahead of time.
While not completely sugar or carb free, Coldstone’s sugar-free choices allow customers to enjoy an occasional treat while still watching their sugar and carbohydrate intake.
