One of my favorite weird things about often-frozen Minnesota is how easy it is to find great local ice cream. So I was skepical when my Philly-livin’ sister told me I might like a new flavor she found at Target, Peanut Butter World. I doubted her all the more when I saw its base is milk chocolate. I have no use for milk chocolate. Why on earth would someone ever choose it when dark chocolate is affordable and plentiful? And peanut butter plus chocolate? Snore. It’s old news that they’re two great things that go great together. Then I actually tasted the Peanut Butter World. It won over not only me, but my whole family. I feel guilty about cheating on my favorite local ice creams, but the heart wants what it wants. And so does the tummy. I wouldn’t say we invent reasons to go to Target when we run out, but I won’t deny it either.
Peanut Butter World is one of four exclusive-to-Target flavors. It uses fair-trade chocolate and milk from cows not treated with growth hormones. The official description is Milk Chocolate Ice Cream with Peanut Buttery Swirls and Chocolate Cookie Swirls. The not-too-sweet milk chocolate base is generously ribboned with a salty, supple peanut butter swirl and a crunchy, darker chocolate crumbled cookie ribbon. The cookie crunch texture balances the softness of the ice cream, plus gives a darker chocolate taste to the milk chocolate. The peanut butter swirl’s saltiness complements the ice cream’s sweetness, and is not gooey, but pleasingly substantial.
Alas, this awesome combination of flavors and textures has a whopping 340 calories per 1/2 cup serving. For portion control, I added a new item to our pantry: a Zeroll ice cream scoop. We’ve had bad luck with scoops over the years. The Kitchen Aid release mechanism broke. The Cuisinart’s metal coating eroded. The plastic one wasn’t tough enough for ice cream, though it’s dandy for scooping cookie dough and pancake batter. Our new original-aluminum Zeroll 2-ounce scoop has no moving parts, produces lovely round scoops, and fits easily into a pint. The only drawback is it can’t go in the dishwasher because of the heat-conducting fluid in its handle. The measured scoop is good for me; I have never yet come to the bottom of a bowl of Peanut Butter World and not wanted more. The Zeroll keeps me honest, and ensures the pint doesn’t become a single-serving container.
Fair warning: Peanut Butter World has addictive properties and way more sugar, fat and calories than is healthful. I rationalize it by claiming moderation. Pick your own excuse, and your own scoop, but definitely pick up a pint the next time you go to Target.
Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Butter World
available exclusively at Target stores
Zeroll Ice Cream scoops
zeroll.com
