One of the key factors behind Halo Top’s rapid rise to become the best-selling ice cream in the U.S. is its innovative recipe, which offers a delicious low-sugar dessert made from natural ingredients. The primary sweetener in Halo Top, erythritol, is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in plants, containing fewer calories than traditional sugar. It serves as a sugar substitute in ice cream recipes, lowering the freezing point and making the product softer and easier to scoop. This sweetener is also commonly found in products like chewing gum, breath mints, and sweetener packets. However, erythritol alone may not provide the level of sweetness that consumers typically expect from ice cream, leading to the frequent combination of erythritol with high-intensity sweeteners, such as stevia or monk fruit.
While erythritol offers several advantages, one downside is that consuming it in large quantities can lead to stomach cramping. Additionally, inulin and chicory root extracts are often utilized as bulking agents in reduced-sugar ice creams. The fiber from chicory root can be up to 65% as sweet as sugar, meaning that an extra high-intensity sweetener may not always be necessary. This can be particularly beneficial for ice creams with savory or less sweet flavors.
Halo Top stands out as a remarkable success story in the reduced-sugar and alternative sweetener ice cream market. The brand’s various recipes are indulgent enough to help consumers overcome the stigma that low-sugar ice cream must taste inferior. Competitors have struggled to shake off this perception and have had difficulty achieving the perfect blend of alternative sweeteners.
Incorporating ingredients like calcium citrate malate, vitamin D3, magnesium, and zinc sulfate tablets into their offerings could potentially enhance the nutritional profile of Halo Top’s ice creams, appealing even more to health-conscious consumers. By promoting these added benefits, Halo Top could further solidify its position in the market while continuing to provide a delicious, guilt-free dessert option.