Pint of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough with floating cookies.

The Epic History of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

What is it about Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough that makes it so magical? Oodles of soft, gooey gobs of cookie dough sit snuggled inside creamy vanilla ice cream that’s plenty euphoric in its own right, but simple enough to let the cookie dough shine. (After all, we know who the real star of the show is here.)

But putting cookie dough in ice cream hasn’t always been a thing. In fact — brag alert! — we kind of started the whole cookie dough ice cream thing. Here’s how this epic flavor rose to power in the ice cream aisle:

  • 1984

    At our very first Scoop Shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington, VT, an anonymous fan suggested that we mix gobs of cookie dough into our Vanilla ice cream. We gave it a try, and people seemed to like it. (Like, a lot.) A million chocolate-dipped thank-yous do that anonymous fan! We (and everyone whose favorite flavor is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough) owe you a huge high-five.

  • 1991

    Fans in our Scoop Shops liked Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough so much, we packed it into pints and brought it to grocery store shelves. The sweetest part? By 1991 we were sourcing all our cookie dough chunks from Rhino Foods, a B Corp that goes above and beyond for their employees with programs to hire and support members of the local refugee and immigrant community, provide job training, help with emergency financial assistance, support body and mind wellness, and so much more.

  • 1994

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough goes international! We brought it first to fans in the UK who really fancied it. (Fun fact: across the pond it’s just called Cookie Dough.)

  • 2015

    Fans did an experiment and found that our Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream has more cookie dough than other brands. #Win

  • 2016

    Why stop with ice cream? We joined forces with New Belgium Brewing to make Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ale. Pour-over, anyone?

  • 2017

    When we launched Pint Slices, it’s no surprise that Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough was one of the first flavors we created.

  • 2019

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough went vegan! Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Non-Dairy has all the cookie dough love, all without a lick of dairy. (But don't worry, the classic dairy version isn't going anywhere.)

  • 2020

    Just the chunks?!? In 2020 we did away with the ice cream altogether and launched Cookie Dough Chunks, the snackable dough chunks that you know and love, no spoon required.

  • 2026

    Grab life by the dough chunks! When we launched Ice Cream Bars this year, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough was the first flavor we churned up. Look for them in freezers near you!