Unboxed: 5 creative plant-based frozen treats

A newly released report from SPINS on the frozen treat trend supports what we’ve been seeing happen in the frozen section in recent months: an explosion of plant-based frozen treats that appeal to consumers’ desire for healthier ways to indulge in this classic dessert category.

Whether it's creamy ice creams made with emerging plant-based milk alternatives such as coconut, cashew and oat milk, or brands that embrace their plant-forward identity by basing their products on superfoods such as avocado, greens, fruit and seeds, these products have shifted from being thought of as mere dairy alternatives to taking on their own identity as delicious, better-for-you frozen desserts.

This is true to such an extent that, according to SPINS, the category of plant-based ice creams and novelties (including frozen bars and other formats) has grown 15.5% over the past year to reach $276.7 million. And while this growth has slowed somewhat with respect to the previous year, new brands and formats continue to make their debuts featuring innovative flavors, ingredients and approaches to this delectable category.

Here are a few of the frozen, plant-based palate pleasers that have caught our eye so far, and we can only expect the list to grow at this year’s Natural Products Expo East.