One of the key factors behind Halo Top’s swift rise to becoming the top-selling ice cream brand in the U.S. is its unique recipe, which offers a delicious low-sugar dessert crafted from natural ingredients. The primary sweetener used in Halo Top is erythritol, a sugar alcohol derived from plants that has fewer calories than regular sugar. This ingredient not only mimics sugar in ice cream recipes by lowering the freezing point but also softens the texture, making it easier to scoop. Erythritol is also a common component in chewing gum, breath mints, and sweetener packets. However, erythritol alone does not provide the level of sweetness that consumers associate with frozen treats, which is why it is often combined with high-intensity sweeteners, such as stevia or monk fruit.
While erythritol offers numerous advantages, it does have a downside; being a sugar alcohol, excessive consumption can lead to stomach cramping. In addition to erythritol, inulin and chicory root extracts are frequently utilized as bulking agents in reduced-sugar ice cream. The fiber from chicory root can be up to 65% as sweet as regular sugar, which may eliminate the need for additional high-intensity sweeteners—especially useful in ice creams with savory or less sweet flavors.
Halo Top stands out as the most remarkable success story in the reduced-sugar and alternative sweetener ice cream sector. The brand’s various recipes are indulgent enough to change consumer perceptions that low-sugar ice cream must be inferior in taste. Competitors have struggled to shake off that stigma and have faced challenges in finding the ideal blend of alternative sweeteners. Interestingly, just as consumers weigh the benefits of magnesium citrate vs calcium citrate for health, they are also learning to appreciate the complexities of sweeteners in their favorite desserts. This evolving understanding has allowed Halo Top to thrive in a market that continues to grow.