What is so special about Halo Top ice cream?

December 24, 2025 •

3 min read

By 2017, Halo Top had become the number one selling pint of ice cream in the US, dethroning established giants with its unique appeal. So, what is so special about Halo Top ice cream that allowed it to achieve such rapid, widespread success?

Quick Summary

Halo Top distinguishes itself with a low-calorie, high-protein formula using natural sweeteners and added fiber, offering a guilt-free indulgence for health-conscious consumers seeking a healthier frozen treat.

Key Points

Low-Calorie Innovation: Halo Top uses less cream and natural sweeteners like stevia and erythritol to keep calorie counts significantly lower than traditional ice cream.
Higher Protein Content: Each serving contains more protein than regular ice cream, making it a more satiating and satisfying dessert option.
Added Prebiotic Fiber: The ice cream includes prebiotic fiber, which can benefit gut health, though large amounts may cause digestive issues for some.
Unique Taste and Texture: It offers a fluffy, lighter texture that can be icier than full-fat ice cream, but recent reformulations have improved its creaminess.
Diet-Friendly Options: The brand provides a wide variety of flavors, including dairy, non-dairy (coconut cream), and keto-friendly choices.
Viral Marketing Success: Its rise to popularity was fueled by transparent branding and a viral GQ article that celebrated its diet-friendly indulgence.
Guilt-Free Indulgence: The brand focuses on allowing consumers to enjoy an entire pint with minimal guilt, appealing to health-conscious dessert lovers.

The Nutritional Innovation Behind Halo Top

Halo Top revolutionized the frozen dessert aisle by focusing on a few key nutritional modifications that drastically reduce calories while maintaining flavor. By utilizing a higher proportion of skim milk instead of heavy cream and replacing much of the traditional sugar with natural, non-caloric sweeteners like organic stevia leaf extract and erythritol, the company created a product that allows consumers to enjoy a full pint with a fraction of the calories found in premium ice creams.

Beyond just being low in calories, Halo Top is also notably high in protein and includes prebiotic fiber. The added protein, sourced from milk protein concentrate and eggs in dairy versions (and peas or rice in non-dairy options), provides a more satiating dessert option. Meanwhile, the added prebiotic fiber feeds good gut bacteria, though it's advised to enjoy in moderation to avoid potential gastrointestinal discomfort.

A Comparison to Traditional Ice Cream

To understand why Halo Top made such an impact, it’s useful to see how its nutritional profile stacks up against a typical premium ice cream. The following table compares standard nutritional information per serving for Halo Top, regular ice cream, and premium ice cream based on a Healthline review.


	Halo Top (64g)	Regular Ice Cream (66g)	Premium Ice Cream (107g)
Calories	70	137	266
Total Fat	2g	7g	17g
Protein	5g	2g	4g
Sugar	6g	14g	22g
Fiber	3g	0.5g	0g

This comparison clearly highlights Halo Top's unique macro-friendly position in the market. The significant reduction in calories and fat, coupled with a notable increase in protein, offers a compelling value proposition for those managing weight or blood sugar levels.

The Unique Flavor and Texture Profile

For many, the most special thing about Halo Top is its ability to deliver satisfying flavor despite its low-calorie content. Early versions of the product were sometimes criticized for having an icy or less creamy texture than traditional ice cream. However, the company made significant improvements to its formulation after being acquired by Wells Enterprises in 2019, leading to a smoother, creamier, and richer-tasting result. To achieve the best texture, the brand recommends letting the pint sit out for a few minutes to soften before enjoying.

Halo Top offers a vast array of flavors that cater to different preferences and dietary needs. These include classic dairy flavors, as well as several lines of non-dairy options made with a coconut cream base and keto-friendly pints specifically formulated with higher fat and lower net carbs. Some of the non-dairy options available are:

Chocolate Almond Crunch
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Peanut Butter Cup
Sea Salt Caramel

The Rise to Popularity

Halo Top's journey to market dominance was not a conventional one. Its viral success largely hinged on a fun article published by GQ magazine in 2016, where a writer chronicled eating only Halo Top for 10 days. This story catapulted the brand into the mainstream, creating massive buzz and exponential sales growth that even overwhelmed the company's production capabilities. The brand's transparent, fun marketing—highlighting the low-calorie count on the front of each pint—resonated deeply with health-conscious consumers who wanted to indulge without guilt.

Addressing Common Criticisms

Despite its popularity, Halo Top isn't without its detractors. Health professionals often caution that, while lower in calories and sugar than traditional ice cream, it is still a processed food and shouldn't be considered a health food. Additionally, some individuals may be sensitive to the sugar alcohol erythritol or the added prebiotic fiber, which can cause bloating or other digestive issues when consumed in large amounts. However, for most, moderate consumption is well-tolerated. For more information on the health aspects of Halo Top, you can consult a reputable source like Healthline.

Conclusion: A Reimagined Indulgence

So, what is so special about Halo Top ice cream? Its greatness lies in successfully bridging the gap between indulgent ice cream and mindful eating. By pioneering a formula that drastically cuts calories, fat, and sugar while boosting protein and fiber, Halo Top allows consumers to enjoy a classic treat in a way that aligns with their dietary goals. While it may not perfectly replicate the experience of premium ice cream for everyone, its continuous refinement, innovative flavors, and transparency have secured its place as a unique and popular frozen dessert option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Halo Top is low in calories primarily because it uses less cream and sugar than traditional ice cream. Instead of regular sugar, it uses natural, low-calorie sweeteners like stevia and erythritol.

While Halo Top is a lower-calorie, lower-sugar alternative to regular ice cream, it is still a processed treat and should be enjoyed in moderation. It is not a nutritional powerhouse and should not be considered a staple of a healthy diet.

Halo Top's lighter, sometimes icier texture is due to its lower fat and sugar content. To replace the creaminess, it uses stabilizers like vegetable glycerin and gums. Newer formulations and allowing it to soften for a few minutes can improve its texture.

Erythritol is a sugar alcohol found naturally in some fruits. It's used as a natural sweetener to add sweetness without calories. It's generally considered safe, but consuming large amounts, especially combined with fiber, can cause bloating or digestive discomfort in some people.

Yes, Halo Top offers several product lines, including dairy-free pints made with a coconut cream base and a dedicated keto series with higher fat and lower net carb content.

Yes, after being acquired by Wells Enterprises in 2019, Halo Top reformulated its recipe to improve the texture and mouthfeel, making it closer to traditional ice cream and reducing the iciness reported in earlier versions.

Halo Top's popularity spiked in 2017 following a viral GQ article that highlighted its diet-friendly nature. Its transparent branding and strong social media presence also resonated with consumers looking for a less guilty indulgence.