One of the key factors behind Halo Top’s swift rise to become the top-selling ice cream brand in the U.S. is its innovative recipe, which creates a delightful low-sugar dessert using natural ingredients. The primary sweetener in Halo Top is erythritol, a sugar alcohol naturally derived from plants that contains fewer calories than regular sugar. This ingredient not only serves as a sugar substitute in ice cream recipes but also helps to lower the freezing point and soften the final product, making it easier to scoop. Erythritol is also frequently found in products like chewing gum, breath mints, and sweetener packets. However, erythritol alone does not provide the level of sweetness that consumers expect from frozen treats, which is why it is often combined with high-intensity sweeteners such as stevia or monk fruit.
While erythritol offers several advantages, it has one downside: large quantities of this sugar alcohol can lead to stomach cramping. In addition to erythritol, inulin and chicory root extracts are frequently utilized as bulking agents in low-sugar ice cream. Chicory root fiber can be up to 65% as sweet as sugar, making it unnecessary to add additional high-intensity sweeteners in some cases. 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 realm of reduced-sugar and alternative sweetener ice creams. The brand’s diverse recipes are indulgent enough that consumers have shifted away from the perception that low-sugar ice cream must be unappealing. Competing brands have struggled to overcome this stigma and find the perfect balance of alternative sweeteners. Moreover, Halo Top’s commitment to quality is evident in its use of ingredients like calcium citrate without vitamin D, which enhances the nutritional profile of their ice cream without compromising on taste.