Cold Stone Creamery is known for its rich, creamy, and indulgent ice cream creations. With mix-ins like candy, cookies, cake, and fruit, it’s easy to go overboard on calories when ordering at Cold Stone. But how many calories are actually in Cold Stone’s ice cream?
The Basics of Cold Stone Ice Cream
Cold Stone Creamery uses an ice cream base that contains 10% butterfat and 14% milkfat. Their ice cream is classified as super-premium. It is very dense and contains less air than regular ice cream.
Cold Stone offers ice cream, yogurt, sorbet, and non-dairy options. They have signature ice cream flavors as well as seasonal and limited edition flavors.
Some of Cold Stone’s most popular signature flavors include:
- Sweet Cream – sweet cream ice cream
- Chocolate Devotion – chocolate ice cream
- Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip – mint chocolate chip ice cream
- Cookie Doughn’t You Want Some – cookie dough ice cream
- Cheesecake Fantasy – cheesecake ice cream
In addition to ice cream, you can choose mix-ins like candy, cookies, brownies, cake, fruit, and nuts. Some popular mix-in combinations include cookie dough, brownie batter, chocolate chips, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and chocolate covered strawberries.
Nutrition Information for Cold Stone Ice Cream
The calorie count of Cold Stone ice cream depends on the flavor and mix-ins you choose. Here are some key nutrition facts about Cold Stone ice cream:
- A 2/3 cup serving (about 1 scoop) of regular ice cream ranges from 140-360 calories.
- Signature ice cream flavors range from 210-350 calories per 2/3 cup serving.
- Non-dairy sorbet contains about 140 calories per 2/3 cup serving.
- Each mix-in adds 50-150+ extra calories.
As you can see, calories add up quickly when you start adding multiple mix-ins. A small Love It size with just 1 mix-in averages around 440 calories. The larger Gotta Have It size with 2 mix-ins contains about 760 calories. Add more mix-ins and you could easily be looking at over 1,000 calories for a large signature Cold Stone creation!
Calories in Specific Cold Stone Ice Cream Flavors
Here is a breakdown of the calories in some of Cold Stone’s most popular signature ice cream flavors in a Like It size (about 3/4 cup):
| Flavor | Calories |
|---|---|
| Sweet Cream | 330 |
| Chocolate Devotion | 350 |
| Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip | 340 |
| Cookie Doughn’t You Want Some | 360 |
| Cheesecake Fantasy | 350 |
As you can see, most signature flavors range from 330-360 calories per 3/4 cup serving. The calories directly correlate with the amount of fat in each flavor. For example, Sweet Cream is lower in fat compared to the chocolate and cookie dough flavors.
Calories in Cold Stone Mix-Ins
Mix-ins can add anywhere from 50-250+ extra calories to your Cold Stone creation. Here are the calories for some popular mix-in choices:
| Mix-In | Calories |
|---|---|
| Cookie dough | 140 |
| Brownie batter | 180 |
| M&Ms | 220 |
| Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups | 180 |
| Chocolate chips | 130 |
| Strawberries | 50 |
| Banana | 70 |
| Walnuts | 180 |
In general, candy, cookies, brownies, and nuts add the most calories. Fruit mix-ins tend to be lower in calories in comparison.
Ways to Reduce Calories at Cold Stone
If you’re looking for ways to enjoy Cold Stone while controlling calories, here are some tips:
Stick to Smaller Sizes
Going for a Like It (about 3/4 cup) versus a Love It (1 1/4 cups) or Gotta Have It (1 3/4 cups) size can save hundreds of calories. The servings are very generously sized, so a Like It is satisfying for most people.
Choose Low-Fat Ice Cream Flavors
Flavors like Sweet Cream and sorbet contain less fat and calories than chocolate, cookie dough, or cheesecake flavors. Getting these lighter flavors allows you to add mix-ins while keeping calories in check.
Limit Mix-Ins
Only choose 1-2 mix-ins instead of 3 or more. Cutting back on high-calorie mix-ins like brownie batter, chocolate chips, and candy can make a big difference.
Share Your Creation
Split your Cold Stone order with a friend to control portions and calories. Their servings are very large, so sharing is a great idea.
Substitute Fruit for Candy
Choose fresh fruit like strawberries and bananas as mix-ins instead of candy, cookies, and brownies to reduce calories and sugar.
Order Low-Fat Yogurt Instead
Cold Stone offers low-fat yogurt flavors with about 100 calories per serving. Pair yogurt with fruit for a lighter treat.
Opt for Kid Sizes
Kid sizes like Wanna Try It and Just a Tad are perfect for portion control. Or create your own mini creation with a cup or cone.
Health Impact of Cold Stone Ice Cream
While an occasional Cold Stone treat is fine, eating it too often can impact your health due to its high calorie, fat, and sugar content.
Some potential health effects of regular Cold Stone ice cream consumption include:
- Weight gain – With up to 1,000+ calories in some signature creations, overdoing Cold Stone can easily lead to weight gain if consumed frequently.
- High blood sugar – Cold Stone ice cream is high in sugar. Too much added sugar can cause blood sugar spikes and crashes.
- High cholesterol – The high saturated fat content of Cold Stone ice cream may raise cholesterol levels.
- Reduced nutritional value – Ice cream often packs in sugar and fat without substantial vitamins, minerals, or fiber.
- Gastrointestinal issues – Some people experience digestive problems like bloating, gas, and diarrhea when overeating ice cream due to lactose intolerance or added sweeteners.
Overall, it’s fine to enjoy Cold Stone ice cream occasionally as a special treat. But limiting intake and carefully controlling portions and mix-ins is key to avoiding excess calories, fat, sugar, and potential health issues.
Healthier Dessert Alternatives to Cold Stone
If you’re looking for healthier dessert options, here are some alternatives to consider instead of Cold Stone ice cream:
- Frozen yogurt – Lower in fat than ice cream, opt for yogurt with fresh fruit.
- Ice pops – Make homemade pops with fresh fruit and yogurt for a nutritious frozen treat.
- Sorbet – Dairy-free and lower in calories than ice cream.
- Smoothies – Blend Greek yogurt, milk, and fruit for a protein-packed drink.
- Nice cream – Blend frozen bananas into a creamy, dairy-free “ice cream.”
- Avocado pudding – Blend avocado, cocoa powder, milk, and sweetener for a decadent chocolate pudding.
- Chia pudding – Mix chia seeds with coconut milk and top with fruit.
- Fresh fruit – Berries, melon, citrus, mangos, etc. make satisfying fresh desserts.
There are lots of ways to enjoy cold, creamy, and indulgent desserts while cutting back on sugar, fat, and calories compared to traditional ice cream. Getting creative with healthy ingredients can help satisfy your sweet tooth in a more nutritious way.
Conclusion
Cold Stone Creamery ice cream can contain anywhere from 140 calories for a small serving of sorbet up to 1,000+ calories for a large signature creation with multiple mix-ins. The calories are highest in flavors like chocolate and cookie dough, as well as with high-calorie mix-ins like candy, brownies, and nuts.
To reduce calories at Cold Stone, opt for smaller sizes, choose low-fat flavors, limit mix-ins, share your order, or build your own mini-creation. An occasional treat is fine, but regular consumption can lead to weight gain and other health issues due to its high calorie, fat, sugar, and low nutritional value.
Overall, being mindful of portions and toppings and keeping Cold Stone as an occasional indulgence is the healthiest approach. There are also many ways to satisfy your sweet tooth with healthier frozen dessert alternatives using ingredients like fruit, yogurt, and avocado.
