The Snickers ice cream bar is a popular frozen treat that combines chocolate, peanuts, nougat, and caramel with a vanilla ice cream center. But what gives this ice cream sandwich its signature sweet and salty flavor? The answer lies in the specific ice cream used in Snickers bars.
Ice Cream Flavors
There are many different flavors of ice cream, from classics like vanilla and chocolate to more unique options like rocky road and cookie dough. Ice cream can be categorized into two main types:
| Ice Cream Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Plain / vanilla | Basic ice cream made from milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla extract. No additional flavors added. |
| Flavored | Ice cream with extra flavors added, like chocolate, strawberry, or mint chocolate chip. |
The most popular ice cream flavors include vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cookies and cream, mint chocolate chip, and coffee. But companies are always innovating new and unique flavor combinations as well.
Vanilla Ice Cream
Vanilla ice cream is considered the plain, ‘default’ ice cream flavor. It is made by blending cream, milk, sugar, and vanilla bean extracts together and freezing the mixture. Pure vanilla ice cream has a sweet, creamy base taste with floral, woody vanilla notes. It provides a neutral backdrop that allows other ingredients like chocolate, caramel, or peanut butter to shine. This makes it the perfect choice for an ice cream sandwich like Snickers that contains many competing flavors. Vanilla ice cream’s mild taste doesn’t overpower the rest of the bar.
Snickers Ice Cream Bars
The Snickers bar was invented in 1930 by Mars, Incorporated. The candy bar contains peanuts, nougat, caramel, and chocolate. In 1975, Mars introduced the Snickers ice cream bar, swapping out the traditional candy center with vanilla ice cream. Each ice cream bar consists of:
- A vanilla ice cream center
- Peanut nougat topping
- Caramel topping
- Peanuts
- Milk chocolate coating
The combination of flavors and textures is what makes the Snickers bar so unique and delicious. The creaminess of the vanilla ice cream provides contrast to the crunchy peanuts and chewy caramel. And the vanilla acts as a blank canvas, allowing the other strong flavors to be distinct.
Why Vanilla Ice Cream Works Well
Vanilla ice cream is the perfect choice for the Snickers ice cream bar because:
- It doesn’t compete with the sweet chocolate, caramel, and peanut flavors
- It provides a creamy, neutral base
- It balances out the crunch of the peanuts
- Vanilla enhances the other flavors due to its subtlety
- It’s a universally enjoyed ice cream flavor that appeals to most people
Chocolate, strawberry, or other bold ice cream flavors would overwhelm the other ingredients. Vanilla ice cream allows the caramel, chocolate, and peanuts to shine while cooling things down. The result is a beautifully balanced frozen treat.
The Ice Cream Manufacturing Process
So how exactly is the ice cream made for Snickers bars? The vanilla ice cream center starts with high quality ingredients:
Ingredients
- Cream
- Milk
- Sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Emulsifying agents like egg yolks or corn starch
- Stabilizing agents like gelatin or guar gum
The ingredients are combined and pasteurized to eliminate bacteria. Pasteurization involves heating the mixture to at least 145°F for 30 minutes or 175°F for 25 seconds. This kills pathogens while preserving flavor.
Ice Cream Mix
The dairy ingredients, sugar, and vanilla make up the ice cream mix. Emulsifiers are added to prevent fats from separating. Stabilizers help create a smooth, creamy texture. The mix is aged overnight in large tanks to allow flavors to develop before freezing.
Freezing Process
The ice cream mix is frozen in large batches using industrial ice cream machines. These machines vigorously whip and freeze the mixture to incorporate air (overrun) and prevent ice crystals. Slow, gentle freezing results in smaller ice crystals and smoother mouthfeel.
Packaging
After freezing, the ice cream is packaged into sticks or sent to the Snickers manufacturing facility. There, the ice cream bars are assembled by layering the ice cream with the chocolate, caramel, peanuts, and nougat. Finally, the bars are individually wrapped and packaged for distribution.
Storage
Proper storage is critical for maintaining ice cream quality. The packaged Snickers bars are stored frozen at 0°F until transport. Freezing prevents ice cream meltdown and growth of microbes. The bars are shipped and stored frozen or partially frozen up until purchase for food safety.
Nutrition Facts
Many consumers are interested in the nutrition facts of favorite treats like Snickers ice cream bars. Here is the nutrition information for a standard 2.79oz Snickers ice cream bar:
| Nutrition Facts | Per Bar (51g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 250 |
| Total Fat | 12g |
| Saturated Fat | 6g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 25mg |
| Sodium | 105mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 29g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g |
| Sugars | 24g |
| Protein | 5g |
As you can see, the bars are high in sugar – 24g per serving. The fat content is also significant at 12g due to the chocolate, peanuts, and cream. However, Snickers ice cream bars can be enjoyed occasionally as a sweet treat without too much guilt! Moderation is key.
Conclusion
So what gives the Snickers ice cream bar its distinctive flavor? The answer is good old vanilla ice cream. Vanilla provides the ideal blank canvas for the caramel, nougat, chocolate, and peanuts to blend beautifully. Its mild, creamy taste allows the bolder flavors to shine. Next time you bite into a Snickers bar, appreciate how the vanilla ice cream brings everything together into frozen harmony. Though high in sugar, enjoying this American classic in moderation can be part of a balanced diet.