Calling all lactose lovers: Two of our favorite dairy-laden treats are joining forces to blow your mind. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is getting the ice cream treatment thanks to bespoke Brooklyn-based brand Van Leeuwen. Before the cheesy new flavor drops tomorrow – July 14 at 11am EST – I got my hands on a pint for a seriously scientific taste test.
To answer your first question, yes, this stuff tastes eerily similar to a bowl of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese – and when you look at the ingredient list, it makes perfect sense. The limited-edition flavor is infused with actual Kraft cheese sauce mix, that orange-hued powder that comes nestled inside every blue box. That iconic flavoring is made palatable thanks to cream, milk, sugar and egg yolks – the only other ingredients in each pint.
I'm genuinely pleased to find that Van Leeuwen didn't drown out or water down the cheese mix; rather, the ice cream experts wholeheartedly lean into the bizarre, sweet-savory flavor mashup. Each bite is subtly cheesy with satisfying notes of soft brown butter and chewy caramel – a flavor combination made mainstream by Chicago popcorn pioneer Garrett. (They're the ones responsible for the iconic Chicago Mix, a 50-50 mix of cheddar and caramel popcorns that just works – trust me.)
Could I eat an entire bowl of Van Leeuwen's Kraft Macaroni and Cheese ice cream? I'd rather not. But when administered by the spoonful – straight from the pint, standing over the freezer, as one does – this stuff hits all the right notes. Better yet, try pairing it with a slice of apple pie for a mind-altering experience.
If I've piqued your interest enough to try this rule-breaking ice cream flavor, you'll have to act fast. The limited-edition collaboration is sticking around while supplies last, starting at 11am EST on Wednesday, July 14. You can get it by the pint online ($12) or find it at a Van Leeuwen shop in New York City, LA or Houston.
Go ahead and spoil your dinner – just so long as it isn't a Kraft dinner. That'd be a bit excessive.