What is the unhealthiest Ben and Jerry's flavor?

October 6, 2025 •

3 min read

According to nutritional data, some ice cream pints can contain as many calories as multiple fast-food meals. But specifically, what is the unhealthiest Ben and Jerry's flavor, and what makes it so decadent?

Quick Summary

This article breaks down the Ben and Jerry's flavors with the highest calorie, sugar, and saturated fat content. It highlights the top contenders for the title of 'unhealthiest' based on standard serving sizes and full-pint consumption.

Key Points

Top Contenders: Chubby Hubby and Peanut Butter Cup often rank highest in calories and fat due to their dense mix-ins.
Serving Size Matters: The nutritional information on the pint is based on a small 2/3 cup serving, which can be misleading for those who eat the whole pint.
Rich Ingredients: Flavors with multiple decadent additions like fudge-covered pretzels, cookie dough, and swirls are generally the least healthy.
Moo-Phoria Options: For a lighter choice, Ben and Jerry's offers the 'Moo-Phoria' line, though these should still be enjoyed in moderation.
Metric of 'Unhealthiness': The title of "unhealthiest" can be based on different factors, including overall calories, saturated fat, or sugar content.
Enjoy in Moderation: All Ben and Jerry's flavors are best treated as an occasional indulgence rather than a regular part of your diet.

Decoding the 'Unhealthiest' Ice Cream

Determining the unhealthiest ice cream is not as simple as picking a single winner. The answer often depends on what metric you prioritize: total calories, saturated fat, or sugar content. Many factors contribute to the unhealthiness of a pint, including rich mix-ins like fudge-covered pretzels, peanut butter swirls, and high-fat chunks.

The Top Contenders

Several Ben and Jerry's flavors consistently rank high in nutritional comparisons. These flavors are typically packed with multiple indulgent ingredients, which drive up their calorie and fat counts. It is crucial to remember that portion sizes listed on nutrition labels (typically 2/3 cup) can be misleading, as many people consume a full pint in a single sitting.

Ben and Jerry's Peanut Butter Cup

According to some reports, Peanut Butter Cup is a leading contender for the unhealthiest Ben and Jerry's flavor, particularly when considering the entire pint. This flavor features rich peanut butter ice cream with massive peanut butter cup chunks. The combination of high-fat peanut butter and sweet chocolate ensures a high-calorie count, making it a heavy hitter in the nutritional rankings.

Ben and Jerry's Chubby Hubby

Chubby Hubby is another flavor that frequently appears on lists of the most decadent ice creams. It combines vanilla malt ice cream with fudge-covered peanut butter-filled pretzels and ribbons of fudge and peanut butter. The layers of multiple high-fat and high-sugar components contribute to its high caloric and fat content per serving.

Ben and Jerry's The Tonight Dough

The Tonight Dough, a caramel and chocolate ice cream with cookie dough, chocolate cookie swirls, and fudge brownie pieces, is notoriously high in calories per serving. The sheer number of indulgent mix-ins increases the overall sugar and fat, landing it among the unhealthiest options. For those who enjoy extra toppings and swirls, this flavor is a sweet but nutritionally dense choice.

Comparing the 'Unhealthiest' Flavors

To get a clear picture of how these flavors compare, let's look at their nutritional information based on a standard 2/3 cup serving size.


Flavor	Calories (2/3 cup)	Saturated Fat (g)	Sugar (g)
Peanut Butter Cup	460	14	39
Chubby Hubby	470	14	35
The Tonight Dough	410	13	39
Chunky Monkey	400	14	32

Why are some flavors unhealthier than others?

There are specific ingredients that almost guarantee a higher calorie, fat, and sugar count. These include:

Multiple 'mix-ins': Flavors with a high concentration of swirls, chunks, and cores often contain more calories and sugar.
High-fat ingredients: Peanut butter, nuts, and large fudge pieces significantly increase fat content.
Rich ice cream base: Flavors with a malt base or additional high-fat ingredients will have a higher overall caloric density.

Ultimately, while these decadent flavors are delicious, their high nutritional values mean they are best enjoyed as a rare treat. A key takeaway is to consider not only the serving size on the label but also the reality of how much you typically consume. The true health impact comes from the total amount eaten.

The Healthier-ish Alternatives

For those looking for a slightly less indulgent option, Ben and Jerry's does offer alternatives. Their 'Moo-Phoria' line features lighter options with fewer calories, sugar, and fat. However, it's important to be mindful that "healthier" is a relative term in the ice cream world. For example, a Moo-Phoria pint might still contain more sugar and calories than a small, healthy dessert. The focus should always be on moderation, regardless of the flavor.

Final Thoughts

While Ben and Jerry's is celebrated for its decadent creations, identifying the unhealthiest flavor involves examining multiple nutritional components. Flavors like Chubby Hubby, Peanut Butter Cup, and The Tonight Dough consistently rank among the most calorie-dense and rich options. Enjoying these treats is fine in moderation, but understanding their nutritional impact can help make more informed decisions about your dessert choices.

Conclusion: Navigating the Nutritional Minefield

Ultimately, enjoying Ben and Jerry's is a treat, not a diet staple. The "unhealthiest" flavor is often the one with the highest concentration of high-calorie, high-sugar, and high-fat ingredients. While Chubby Hubby and Peanut Butter Cup are strong contenders, the most important takeaway is to enjoy your favorite flavor responsibly. When it comes to decadent desserts, moderation is always the healthiest approach.

This article contains information gathered from publicly available nutritional data and reports. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always check the product's packaging or the official Ben and Jerry's website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chubby Hubby is consistently cited as one of the highest-calorie Ben and Jerry's flavors, with around 470 calories per 2/3 cup serving.

Flavors with high amounts of peanut butter, fudge, and other fatty mix-ins, such as Peanut Butter Cup and Chubby Hubby, tend to have the highest saturated fat content.

The Tonight Dough is a strong contender for the highest sugar content, with multiple sweet ingredients like cookie dough and caramel.

Ben and Jerry's offers a 'Moo-Phoria' line, which contains fewer calories, fat, and sugar than their traditional flavors. However, they are still dessert and should be consumed in moderation.

A full pint of Chunky Monkey contains approximately 1200 calories, based on a 2/3 cup serving having 400 calories and 3 servings per container.

Not necessarily. While non-dairy options can be a good alternative for those with dietary restrictions, many still contain similar amounts of sugar and fat. It is best to check the nutritional information for each specific flavor.

The serving size (usually 2/3 cup) is a standardized measurement. However, many people consume the entire pint in one sitting, so it's important to multiply the nutritional facts by the number of servings per container to get the full picture.