Ice cream bar, covered with chocolate and nuts
Whole food · Dairy and Egg Products
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a classic frozen treat featuring a creamy ice cream core encased in a hard chocolate shell, often studded with crunchy nuts like almonds or peanuts. The experience is a delightful contrast of textures: the cold, smooth melt of the ice cream against the satisfying snap of the chocolate and the toasty crunch of the nuts. Nutritionally, it's a high-fat, energy-dense indulgence, with the chocolate and nuts contributing significantly to its 25.84g of fat per 100g.
Calorie split: 7% protein · 16% carbs · 77% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love the multi-sensory experience of the crunchy, chocolatey shell giving way to cold, creamy ice cream, a combination that feels both nostalgic and luxurious. It's a universally recognized and convenient dessert, often associated with summer, celebrations, and simple pleasures.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high sugar (10.8g) and fat content can lead to blood-sugar spikes and is not ideal for those managing weight or diabetes. To counteract this, practice strict portion control (stick to one bar) and pair it with a source of protein or fiber (like a handful of almonds or a piece of fruit) to slow sugar absorption and increase satiety. Additionally, it is a common allergen vehicle (nuts, dairy, soy in chocolate), so those with allergies must check labels carefully.
Key benefits
- Quick source of energy from carbohydrates and fats
- Provides calcium from the dairy ice cream base
- Nuts offer a small amount of plant-based protein and healthy fats
- Can be a satisfying treat that supports emotional well-being
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The first commercially successful chocolate-covered ice cream bar, the Eskimo Pie, was patented in 1921 after a teenager in Iowa offered a chocolate-covered ice cream cone to a shop owner as a bet.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 55.1 g |
| Energy | 303 kcal |
| Energy | 1266 kj |
| Protein | 5.6 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 25.8 g |
| Ash | 1.5 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 11.9 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.1 g |
| Total Sugars | 10.8 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 90.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.2 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 37.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 146 mg |
| Potassium, K | 304 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 56.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.81 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.16 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 3.1 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.05 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.23 mg |
| Niacin | 1.2 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.28 mg |
| Folate, total | 14.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 14.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 14.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 38.0 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.49 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 61.0 ug |
| Retinol | 56.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 56.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 281 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.54 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 9.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.20 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 1.7 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 4.0 mg |
| Theobromine | 41.0 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 15.9 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.35 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.26 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.71 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.81 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 4.2 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 2.6 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 4.7 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 2.3 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 6.2 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.24 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 5.9 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.05 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.9 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 1.7 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.16 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 56.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Ice cream sundae cone — USDA does not publish this profile for Ice cream bar.
| Tryptophan | 0.01 g |
| Threonine | 0.02 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.03 g |
| Leucine | 0.06 g |
| Lysine | 0.02 g |
| Methionine | 0.01 g |
| Cystine | 0.02 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.04 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.02 g |
| Valine | 0.04 g |
| Arginine | 0.03 g |
| Histidine | 0.02 g |
| Alanine | 0.03 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.03 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.29 g |
| Glycine | 0.03 g |
| Proline | 0.10 g |
| Serine | 0.04 g |
FAQ
Why is the chocolate shell so hard and crunchy?
The shell is made from 'magic shell' chocolate, which contains coconut oil or other vegetable fats that are liquid at room temperature but solidify instantly when cold, creating a satisfying snap.
Are the nuts a significant source of nutrition?
While nuts add texture and some healthy fats and protein, their quantity in a single bar is relatively small. The primary nutritional impact comes from the ice cream's sugar and the chocolate's fat.
Can I make a healthier version at home?
Yes, you can make a version using lower-sugar ice cream, dark chocolate with a higher cacao percentage, and unsalted nuts. Dipping it yourself also lets you control the thickness of the chocolate layer.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.03 kcal/g · 7% calories from protein · 1.1 g fiber · 10.8 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.18 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.