Halo Top has become one of the most popular low-calorie ice cream brands on the market. Many health-conscious ice cream lovers have turned to Halo Top for a guilt-free frozen dessert option. But an important question remains – is Halo Top gluten free and dairy free? Let’s take a closer look at what’s really in a pint of Halo Top.
Is Halo Top Gluten Free?
The good news is that most flavors of Halo Top are certified gluten free by the Gluten Intolerance Group. This means Halo Top has been tested to contain less than 10ppm of gluten. This is well below the FDA threshold of less than 20ppm for foods to be labeled gluten free.
According to their website, all Halo Top flavors are considered gluten-free except for these varieties:
- Peanut Butter Cup
- Candy Bar
- Chocolate Almond Crunch
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- S’mores
- Chocolate Covered Banana
- Pancakes & Waffles
- Birthday Cake
- Cinnamon Roll
- Red Velvet
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (Discontinued)
The reason these flavors are not certified gluten free is because they contain cookie pieces or other ingredients that contain gluten. All other Halo Top flavors are gluten-free friendly.
Is Halo Top Dairy Free?
No, Halo Top ice cream is not dairy-free. All Halo Top products contain milk and cream, which are dairy ingredients. Some flavors also contain egg yolks as well.
However, Halo Top does offer a line of non-dairy options made with a coconut milk base. These are labeled as non-dairy or dairy-free. Flavors include:
- Peanut Butter Swirl
- Chocolate
- Vanilla Bean
- Oatmeal Cookie
- Caramel Macchiato
So if you need a non-dairy frozen dessert, be sure to look for these coconut milk-based Halo Top flavors. They are made without milk, cream, or any other dairy ingredients.
Halo Top Ingredients
Let’s take a deeper look into what’s used to make Halo Top’s signature light and creamy texture with fewer calories than regular ice cream.
Base Ingredients
The base of Halo Top is made with skim milk and cream. Skim milk has some or all of the fat removed, while cream contains higher fat content. This combination provides a creamy texture while keeping calories in check.
For the non-dairy flavors, a coconut milk base is used in place of dairy milk and cream.
Sweeteners
In lieu of high calorie sugar, Halo Top uses alternative lower-calorie sweeteners to reduce calories. These include:
- Erythritol
- Stevia
- Monk fruit extract
These natural, non-nutritive sweeteners provide sweetness with fewer calories than regular sugar.
Thickeners and Stabilizers
To replicate the smooth, creamy mouthfeel of ice cream, Halo Top contains gums and other ingredients to thicken and stabilize the product. These include:
- Organic locust bean gum
- Guar gum
- Xanthan gum
- Konjac
- Carob bean gum
- Carrageenan
Without these thickeners, the product would be too icy and unstable.
Protein Sources
Some Halo Top flavors contain added protein from sources like skim milk powder, egg yolks, whey protein isolate, and milk protein isolate. This boosts the protein content.
Nutritional Profile of Halo Top
Here is a comparison of the nutrition facts between Halo Top and regular ice cream:
Nutrition Facts | Halo Top (1/2 cup) | Regular Ice Cream (1/2 cup) |
---|---|---|
Calories | 60-70 | 137 |
Total Fat | 2-3g | 8g |
Saturated Fat | 2g | 5g |
Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
Cholesterol | 15-20mg | 44mg |
Sodium | 40-70mg | 61mg |
Total Carbohydrates | 11-16g | 17g |
Dietary Fiber | 0-2g | 0g |
Total Sugars | 9-12g | 15g |
Added Sugars | 0g | 14g |
Protein | 2-6g | 3g |
As you can see, Halo Top provides all the pleasure of ice cream but with significantly fewer calories, fat, and sugar than regular ice cream. The use of low-calorie sweeteners and protein sources allows Halo Top to create a lighter alternative.
Benefits of Halo Top
Here are some of the benefits that make Halo Top a popular reduced-calorie ice cream:
Low in Calories and Fat
Halo Top has a fraction of the calories and fat of regular ice cream. For example, one serving (1/2 cup) of vanilla Halo Top has 70 calories and 2g of fat, versus 137 calories and 8g of fat in regular vanilla ice cream.
High in Protein
Many Halo Top flavors contain extra protein from dairy proteins, egg yolks, or supplemental protein powders. This gives you more protein than regular ice cream.
Uses Natural Sweeteners
Halo Top is sweetened using non-nutritive natural sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit instead of lots of added sugar.
Contains Fiber
Some varieties have added fiber to support gut health.
Lactose-Free Options Available
The non-dairy coconut milk flavors are lactose-free, making Halo Top accessible to those with dairy sensitivities.
Gluten-Free Options
Most flavors are certified gluten-free, excluding those with cookie dough or candy pieces.
Less Sugar Than Regular Ice Cream
Halo Top contains about 25-50% less sugar per serving compared to regular ice cream.
More Volume for Fewer Calories
Since it’s lower in fat and calories, you can eat more Halo Top for the same number of calories as a small serving of regular ice cream.
Downsides of Halo Top
While Halo Top does an impressive job of lightening up ice cream, there are a few downsides to be aware of:
Higher Cost
Halo Top is priced higher than generic store brand ice creams. Expect to pay $4-6 per pint.
Highly Processed
To create the smooth, scoopable texture with fewer calories, Halo Top goes through more processing and uses gums and stabilizers.
Higher in Sugar Alcohols
Sugar alcohols like erythritol are used to replace sugar, which may cause digestive upset in some people.
Not as Nutritious
Since it’s designed to be low-calorie, Halo Top is not as nutritionally dense as whole food options like Greek yogurt.
Can Spike Blood Sugar
The sugar alcohols and other carbs can still spike blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
Texture and Taste Differences
Due to less fat, the texture is lighter and icier. The flavors tend to be less rich than premium ice cream as well.
Halo Top Flavor Rankings
With dozens of flavors to choose from, which Halo Top pints are the tastiest? Here is a ranking of Halo Top flavors from best to worst:
1. Peanut Butter Cup
Rich peanut butter swirled with chocolate, just like the iconic candy. Fans say this is the most indulgent Halo Top flavor.
2. S’mores
Gooey marshmallow and graham cracker pieces in a chocolate base make this taste just like a campfire treat.
3. Pancakes and Waffles
An authentic buttermilk and maple syrup flavor dotted with fluffy waffle pieces.
4. Candy Bar
Nuts, caramel, and chocolate candy pieces provide crunch and texture.
5. Birthday Cake
Celebratory sprinkles and cake batter flavor make this a party in a pint.
6. Chocolate Almond Crunch
Ribbons of chocolate and crunchy almonds satisfy any sweet craving.
7. Red Velvet
On-trend red velvet cake flavor with pieces of cake baked right in.
8. Cookie Dough
Finally, you can enjoy raw cookie dough without risking salmonella!
9. Sea Salt Caramel
Buttery caramel swirl and sea salt flakes offer the ideal salty-sweet combo.
10. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
The chocolate version of Halo Top’s popular cookie dough flavor.
11. Lemon Cake Pop
Bright lemon complemented by pieces of cake and frosting.
12. Caramel Macchiato
Coffee ice cream swirled with gooey caramel, just like the Starbucks drink.
13. Oatmeal Cookie
Wholesome oatmeal flavor studded with cookies.
14. Chocolate
Rich, fudgy chocolate base flavor.
15. Coconut 7 Layer Bar
Shredded coconut provides tropical flavor and chewy texture.
16. Strawberry Cheesecake
Creamy cheesecake ice cream with strawberry sauce.
17. Vanilla Bean
Classic vanilla taste but lighter than regular ice cream.
18. Mint Chip
Peppermint ice cream swirled with dark chocolate chips.
19. Berry Swirl
Raspberry and blueberry sauces create a fruit explosion.
20. Chocolate Mocha Chip
The chocolate and coffee combo provides great flavor but can taste overly artificial.
21. Banana Pudding
Banana flavor can come across as too artificial tasting.
22. Black Cherry
The black cherry taste can be overpowering.
Conclusion
Halo Top provides a smart option for lighter ice cream with fewer calories, less sugar, and more protein. While not completely guilt-free, it can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
The vast majority of Halo Top flavors are gluten-free, but they do contain dairy. For the lactose intolerant, the non-dairy coconut milk-based options are fantastic. But overall, Halo Top allows ice cream lovers to satisfy their sweet tooth cravings and still stick to their health goals.