Mental Floss

Kraft Mac and Cheese Ice Cream Is Now a Thing

Ellen Gutoskey|
Don't knock it 'til you try it.
Don't knock it 'til you try it. | Business Wire

Lunchtime rolls around and you find yourself urgently craving your childhood favorite: Kraft macaroni and cheese. But with the midday summer sun rendering your A/C unit practically useless, you can’t fathom turning the stove on—let alone eating a hot meal. If only there were Kraft-flavored ice cream, you think.

Now, as CNET reports, there is. In honor of National Mac and Cheese Day, July 14, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Kraft have teamed up to create a pint of macaroni and cheese ice cream that we’ll all be screaming for (or at least about).

“As big fans of Van Leeuwen, we knew they’d be the perfect partner to create this ice cream with us. Not only does it taste delicious, but it’s also made with high quality ingredients and contains no artificial flavors, preservatives, or dyes just like our Kraft Macaroni & Cheese,” Kraft senior associate brand manager Emily Violett said in a press release.

And according to Eater’s Amy McCarthy, who scarfed down half a pint before thinking twice, “delicious” isn’t inaccurate. “The cheese powder combines with Van Leeuwen’s rich base, made with milk, cream, and sugar, to produce a buttery flavor that’s only slightly cheesy,” she wrote. “It doesn’t exactly evoke a bowl of macaroni and cheese in terms of texture, thankfully, but the flavor is strikingly similar.”

McCarthy also pointed out that mac and cheese already has key ingredients in common with ice cream—milk, cream, and even sugar—and mixing savory flavors with sweet ones is a tried-and-true combo. Furthermore, mac and cheese is hardly the most unusual ice cream flavor to ever hit the market. That distinction should probably be saved for horse flesh.

If you’re intrigued enough to try Kraft ice cream for yourself, you can order a pint ($12) through Van Leeuwen’s website starting at 11 a.m. EST today, July 14. It’s only available while supplies last, so you should act fast. If you live near one of Van Leeuwen’s shops in New York City, Los Angeles, or Houston, you can pick some up in person. New Yorkers also have the option to sample it for free at the Van Leeuwen ice cream truck in Union Square from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, today only.

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