I'm a self-admitted social media lurker. Like any modern-day adult with too much time on her hands and too many questions in her head, I'm always checking out what's going on over on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook. But my absolute favorite place to lurk is Reddit.There’s just something about the lack of profile pictures, anonymous usernames and slightly clunky layout that makes me nostalgic for the days of AOL chat rooms (cue the dial-up sound). So there I was, doing what I do best—lurking on the r/Costco subreddit—when I stumbled onto a thread that had completely taken off, racking up more than 1,000 comments in a few days.The hot topic? How the fan-favorite Kirkland Signature Ice Cream Bars compares to the Häagen-Dazs version of the treat. As I dug into the thread, I saw people debating everything from chocolate thickness to almond distribution. Some people would see that very detailed discussion and scroll on by, but not me. I knew immediately that I had to to do some on-the-ground research to find out the answer for myself: What's better, the name brand or the Costco copycat/dupe?Cut to me, standing in Costco at 8 p.m. with not one but two boxes in my cart, ready to stage what I’m officially calling Kirkland vs. Häagen Daz: The Great Ice Cream Bar Throwdown of 2025 the next morning. Because if Labor Day weekend is going to be done right, it's going to be done with the best ice cream bar in hand.Related: We Tried 9 Different Ice Cream Sandwiches and the Winner Won By a Landslide?? SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Parade Eats newsletter. ??
How I Tested Kirkland Ice Cream Bars vs. Häagen-Dazs
Here’s how the showdown played out in my house: I inspected the packages first, taking into account the ounces, price, ingredients listings, nutrition facts and even making a mental note about how easy the packaging was to open (points to Häagen-Dazs for that one).Then, I took each ice cream bar out of its respective package and took a closer look, noting any differences before tasting side by side. Here's how each of them fared.Related: I Tried 11 Popular Chocolate Ice Cream Brands and the Winner Was Rich, Creamy and Pretty Much Perfect
Kirkland vs. Häagen-Dazs: Ingredients
Both bars have remarkably similar ingredient lists: vanilla ice cream, milk, chocolate, almonds and sugar. The Kirkland version adds nonfat milk and its nutrition facts come in slightly higher across the board—more fat, calories, carbs and sugar (which makes sense because the bars themselves are a bit bigger). The real difference is on the shell. Kirkland’s nutrition label says "milk chocolate flavored coating" (a fact that perturbed Redditors couldn't let go of) while Häagen-Dazs uses pure milk chocolate. That one detail explains a lot about the taste and texture difference between them that I experienced, but more on that later. Winner: Häagen-Dazs
Right off the bat, Costco has the advantage. Kirkland’s version is $12.09 for 18 bars, while Häagen-Dazs comes in at $15.04 for 15 bars. That means you’re paying less and getting more with Kirkland, which is, of course, one of the main draws of shopping at Costco. Winner: KirklandRelated: I Tried 15 Different Vanilla Ice Cream Brands and the Winner Is a Freezer Aisle Icon
Kirkland vs. Häagen-Dazs: Size
The Kirkland bars are considerably larger (see picture), and that alone made me happy. Not only do I love a Kirkland dupe, but I love a bigger portion of dessert even more. If you’re someone who feels a little cheated when an ice cream bar is gone too soon, Kirkland’s size will win you over instantly. Winner: Kirkland
Kirkland vs. Häagen-Dazs: Taste
Here's where it gets fuzzy. My first bite of each was almost indistinguishable, which sent me down the rabbit hole of dissecting them like a lab experiment, separating shells from ice cream, scooping the ice cream out from the inside with a tiny spoon and tasting each component separately. (I take my job very seriously.)Kirkland’s vanilla ice cream is light in flavor and slightly icy in texture, but in a way that reminded me fondly of all the McDonald’s vanilla cones I ate in my 20s. Häagen-Dazs, on the other hand, is noticeably creamier and velvety, with a richness that makes it feel more indulgent. So if you like nostalgia and lightness, Kirkland hits the spot for sure. But if you want decadent creaminess, Häagen-Dazs is the clear choice. Winner: It's a tie.Related: I Tried 6 Fast Food Vanilla Ice Creams and the Winner Was Abundantly Clear
The Kirkland coating is thinner and has fewer almonds sprinkled on top. It sort of blends into the bar as a whole, which isn’t bad, but it doesn’t stand out either. Häagen-Dazs has a noticeably thicker shell with more generous almond coverage, and the almond chunks themselves are larger. The "snap" on the Häagen-Dazs chocolate coating was a bit better. The overall chocolate quality is just a notch higher too—unsurprising given that it’s real milk chocolate instead of a flavored coating. The Redditors were right.Winner: Häagen-Dazs.
Kirkland Ice Cream Bars vs. Häagen-Dazs: The Final Verdict
My final verdict? I’m calling it a tie. Kirkland wins on nostalgia, value and size, while Häagen-Dazs takes the crown for chocolate and creaminess. Both earned their spot in my freezer, and I think it depends on your personal preference. Kirkland wins on portion size, price and a flavor that feels cozy and familiar. Häagen-Dazs pulls ahead with texture, premium chocolate and a shell that actually makes you pause mid-bite and smile.Really, unless you’re truly loyal to one brand, you’ll likely have a hard time deciding which you like best, like I did. Redditors agree too—some say Häagen-Dazs is worth the splurge, while others are fully committed to Costco’s bargain-friendly dupe. It's a full-on ice cream jungle out there, and people are ready to fight. And in case you are wondering, yes, I did in fact eat ice cream for breakfast while writing this. No regrets.
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