There is no limit to how much you can love ice cream (I know I do, and I love eating ice cream even in winter!). And whenever someone – it’s rare – says they don’t like ice cream, they surely get a weird look, “like are you serious?” Right?
Loving ice cream and having your preferred flavors are all good, but how do you eat your ice cream? Do you perhaps have a favorite bowl? or are you like one of those people who just rip off the tub lid and in goes the spoon?
Or maybe that’s why you are here, reading this article—looking for your new favorite bowl to enjoy your ice cream in?
You are at the right place. We even make a case for why you need an ice cream bowl (or a set when friends and family come over) and then look at how you choose a great ice cream bowl (because not every bowl is made equal). We then also dive into the top 10 best ice cream bowls.
Spoiler alert if you are in a hurry: Our top pick is the Sweese 101.401 Porcelain Bowls. It comes in a set of 4 and is available in 7 colors. It also has the volume capacity for a nice serving of ice cream while leaving space to add your favorite sauce and toppings. Now all you need is a spoon.
Why You Need an Ice Cream Bowl (or a Set)
Eating ice cream should be like a ritual with the right ice cream bowl and spoon. No, not the ones you use to eat cereal, soup, and instant noodles out of. I mean a specific bowl that is for ice cream (and dessert) only. Sure, having ice cream is a great snack, but why only snack when your choice of the bowl can make it feel like a culinary treat?
Some bowls help you keep the ice cream chilled, so you don’t have a melted puddle for which you need a straw, and some spoons also help you take smaller bites, savoring the creaminess of the ice cream.
Buyers Guide: What Do You Need to Know Before Buying Ice Cream Bowls
Before you just choose any bowl and think it is worthy of being called an ice cream bowl, check out the top considerations you should keep in mind while browsing on your favorite e-commerce platform (like Amazon):
Who’s It For?
When you choose an ice cream bowl, you should keep in mind who it is for. If it is mainly for kids, you want something more durable, so it doesn’t break if the bowl accidentally slips out of little hands.
This brings us to the next point: little hands. The bowl should be small enough for your kids to comfortably grip or hold it while they scoop spoonfuls of ice cream.
For adults, ice cream bowls can be bigger (unless you strongly adhere to portion control). The bowls can also be made of a more delicate material, like porcelain, for example.
Part of the “who’s it for” consideration is how many bowls you need. If you regularly entertain – whether it is family, friends, or birthday parties – you would most likely rather buy a set of 6 or 12 ice cream bowls. If you live by yourself, or it is just you and your partner, then buying 1 or 2 individual bowls won’t break your wallet.
Size
The size of the bowl is an important consideration. How much ice cream do you normally scoop out? Do you add sauce? And what about toppings?
The size (and shape) of the bowl should be large enough so your scoop (or scoops) of ice cream, sauce, and toppings can comfortably fit in. You surely don’t want to make a mess while carrying your bowl to the sofa or while you dig your spoon in.
Ability to Keep Ice Cream Chilled
An ice cream bowl needs to be freezer-safe. This means that you should be able to put the bowl into your freezer for a few minutes (or longer) to keep the bowl chilled and your ice cream from melting right away or soon when the weather gets hot.
Some ice cream bowls are double-walled insulated, so they keep the icy-cold of your ice cream inside the bowl. This coldness won’t transfer to the outside, so your hands are safe.
Design
Ice cream bowls come in various sizes, shapes, designs, and colors. You should choose something you like and that fits in with your decor or even a bowl that takes you back to your childhood and makes eating ice cream an adventure again.
Accessories
Some ice cream bowls also come with spoons, so this is like a 2-for-1 deal.
Our Criteria for Choosing the Best Ice Cream Bowl
We only ever choose the best of the best, and that is what your favorite ice cream (and you!) deserves. Here are the aspects we looked at to choose the best ice cream bowls:
Functionality and Size
We chose ice cream bowls that come in various sizes, from as small as a 5 ounce capacity up to 10 ounces. Thus, you can decide how much ice cream your bowl should hold, whether you are into portion control or super-sizing it.
We also chose ice cream bowls that are easy to clean and freezer safe, so you can chill the bowl to keep your frozen treat chilled for longer.
Style
In terms of style, we went with variety since the best ice cream bowl for you is, after all, a matter of personal preference. Some of our top picks are available in a range of colors. We also chose funky patterned bowls and classy geometric ones that suit any kitchen.
Customer Reviews
We made sure to only choose products with a 4+ star rating and 100+ reviews. This ensures that the products have been purchased by quite a lot of people and have been favorably reviewed.
Durability
Ice cream bowls should be durable, and while some of our options are made from porcelain, they are scratch and chip-resistant. Other bowls are made from stainless steel and melamine, so you’ll be eating ice cream out of these bowls for years to come.
The 10 Best Ice Cream Bowls
Finally, time to get into the best ice cream bowls. Here are our top picks:
Sweese 103.402 Porcelain Bowls
The Sweese 101.401 Porcelain Bowls come in a set of 4 bowls. You can choose between 7 plain colors, depending on your decor, style, and preference. Your color options include black, gray, navy, orange, turquoise, white, and yellow. These bowls hold ten fluid ounces.
The manufacturer has your safety in mind as these porcelain ice cream bowls are lead-free, oven safe, dishwasher safe, microwave safe, and freezer safe. The last one is vital if these are your ice cream bowls of choice. To help keep your ice cream from melting before you’ve dished up the 4th bowl, you can place the bowls in your freezer for a few minutes (or a bit longer on a really hot day).
If you have kids, these bowls are ideal. They are the right size for little kid hands. And with these ice cream bowls being easy to stack and clean, together with being chip-resistant, you’ll be eating your ice cream in style.
Pros:
- Perfect for adults and kids
- Stylish and charming with the Sweese curved lines, adding a modern touch to your ice cream party
- Capacity: 10 ounces
- Space-saving with the stackable design
- Freezer safe to help keep your ice cream chilled
Cons:
- The bottom of the bowl can scratch if you use metal spoons
- Some reviewers mention the color they order doesn’t quite match the color shades of the product on the sales page
Eating your ice cream should be an event. With these modern, charming oval-shaped curved top bowls, you can’t go wrong.
Dowan Small Bowls
The DOWAN Small Bowls come in a set of 6, and with a maximum capacity of 10 ounces, these cute bowls are ideal for eating ice cream. FDA-certified and lead-free, these bowls are safe to use in the freezer (yay!), dishwasher (another yay!), microwave, and oven.
The set of 6 comes with bowls that are each a different color – some outers are red with a white pattern and inner black or turquoise, while others are navy, turquoise, or orange with intriguing inners.
Measuring 4.5 inches in diameter, these porcelain bowls are ideal for adults and kids alike because they are easy to hold.
Pros:
- Funky colored bowls that are color-matched based on global trends
- Lightweight and durable
- Capacity: 10 ounces
- It comes packaged in EPE foams to ensure the bowls arrive safely at your doorstep
- A reviewer summed it up nicely: These bowls spark joy
Cons:
- Not chip-resistant
- It may be too small if you enjoy super-sized scoopings of ice cream, sauce, and toppings
The mix-match color and pattern designs of these funky bowls will make you smile while you enjoy spoonful after spoonful of your favorite ice cream.
Delling Geometric Porcelain Ramekins/Dessert Bowls
The Delling Geometric Porcelain Ramekins/Dessert Bowls have a serving capacity of 8 ounces. When you buy this product, you get a set of 6 geometric bowls that have a diamond-like texture. These bowls are available in 2 colors options.
There’s white and what the manufacturer calls “colorful,” which are shades of blue – from dark blue to white. It reminds me of the ocean and a hot summer’s day, making these ramekins the perfect addition to my kitchen when I want to enjoy some of my favorite ice cream (which is double chocolate chip mint).
While these ice cream bowls can stand the heat (they’re microwave and oven-safe), they can also stand the cold, and I don’t just mean the ice cream you serve in them. No, I mean you can place them in your refrigerator and freezer.
Pros:
- Durable
- Easy to clean; dishwasher safe
- Easy to store with the stackable design
- Capacity: 8 ounces
Cons:
- Some reviewers complained that one of the ramekins in their set arrived broken/chipped
Add pizzazz to your kitchen and ice cream eating ritual with these gorgeous geometric ramekins that are easy to clean and freezer-safe.
Greenco Ice Cream Bowls and Spoons
The Greenco Ice Cream Bowls and Spoons are available in a set of 12, so it’s ideal for large families when you invite your friends over and parties. What’s even better is that these bowls are replicas of ice cream cones and the little spoons look like ice cream on a cone. So this product gets extra points!
The outer sides of the bowls are the color of a cone, but the rim and inside are colorful. You get green, purple, pink, and blue bowls and spoons.
Pros:
- Kid-friendly as the bowls and spoons are made from a high-quality, durable, BPA-free, non-toxic plastic that won’t crack, break, or chip
- Capacity: 6-8 ounces
Cons:
- The bowls are quite small at 3.75 inches in diameter, but they are ideal for smaller servings of ice cream
- You can’t buy replacement spoons, and the spoons aren’t very durable
For cuteness and that real ice cream feel, these cone-like bowls and ice cream spoons are perfect for enjoying your ice cream. Pity you can only fit one large scoop or two smaller scoops. But we go to watch the calories, right?
French Bull Melamine Mini Bowls
The French Bull Melamine Mini Bowls has a capacity of 10 ounces, and you get a set of 6 bowls. Each bowl is a different color, making up a little rainbow. The colors of the mini bowls in the set are pink, green, purple, blue, orange, and yellow. There is also the option of choosing the shades of blue set, which starts with a light blue and ends in navy.
Every bowl is also BPA-free, dishwasher safe, as well as scratch and shatter-resistant.
Pros:
- Available in “two” color options: the solid stack of rainbow and the shades of blue
- Durable as the bowls are 100% melamine
- Capacity: 10 ounces
- Ideal for indoor and outdoor use
Cons:
- It can’t be used in the microwave – not that you’d want to with all the ice cream that will be filling this mini bowl
- Don’t cup well when you stack them, so the stack is quite high with all six mini bowls fitted into each other
Sweese Porcelain Bouillon Cups
The Sweese Porcelain Bouillon Cups are made of professional-grade porcelain. It is also lead-free.
With this set of 6, you can easily save space while storing these bowls as they stack well, one onto (or into?) the next. You can also keep these cups in the freezer as they can handle the cold, and the cups can also go into the oven or microwave, should you want to bake or warm up a dessert before topping it with ice cream.
In terms of design, these bouillon cups are narrower at the bottom, and then they flare outward. The middle to top part is, thus, wider than the middle to bottom, making it easy to scoop out your bite of frozen yumminess, whether you’ve added sauce or toppings.
Pros:
- Easy to clean as these cups are dishwasher safe
- Durable and chip-resistant
- Great portion control for ice cream servings
- Capacity: 8 ounces
Cons:
- Some reviewers state that one of the cups in the set were delivered broken; however, customer service sorted this out
- If you are not into portion control, then these cups may be a tad too small
For elegance and cuteness, these bouillon cups are ideal for ice cream on those summer days.
Stainless Steel Double-Wall Vacuum Insulated Bowl
With the Stainless Steel Double-Wall Vacuum Insulated Bowl, you have the option of ordering a pack with one bowl, two bowls, or four bowls. These stainless steel bowls are dishwasher safe.
With the double-wall insulated design, your ice cream stays frozen for longer, plus this design protects your hands from cold ice cream. The design of the bowl also tapers to the bottom, making it easier to hold in your hand while you yum-yum away at your ice cream.
Pros:
- Available in 5 colors: stainless steel silver, coffee brown, white, pink, and green
- Durable as the bowl is made from high-quality brushed 304 stainless steel
- Insulated to keep the cold from the ice cream inside the bowl
- Easy storage if you buy more than one bowl as they are stackable
- Capacity: 24 ounces
Cons:
- Not microwavable in case you want to heat up a dessert before adding your ice cream and toppings
For a simple bowl in which your ice cream stays frozen for longer, you can’t go wrong with this double-wall insulated bowl.
Host Ice Cream Freeze Bowl
The Host Ice Cream Freeze Bowl, Double Walled Insulated Freezer Gel Chiller Kitchen Accessory for Dessert is ideal if you want to place this ice cream bowl in our fridge or freezer.
The double-walled insulated design helps keep the icy cold from the ice cream inside the bowl, so your hands don’t feel like they’ve suddenly turned into the hands of an ice or snowman (or woman).
The magic is actually inside the walls of the bowl that are filled with a proprietary cooling gel. It’s recommended to freeze the bowl for up to 4 hours before scooping and serving ice cream; this ensures your frozen treat stays frozen.
For a comfortable grip, while you cradle the bowl with your favorite ice cream, sauce, and toppings, the bowl is made from 360 silicone. The bowl is BPA-free.
Pros:
- With the cooling gel and the double-walled insulated design, this bowl is sure to keep your ice cream frozen
- Durable
- Easy to hold while you eat your ice cream
Cons:
- Hand wash only
- If you want more bowls, you need to purchase more separately, so it could be pricey if you need 2+ of these bowls
This is a great bowl if you want to keep your ice cream frozen and not slurp up melted ice cream soup.
Plastic Ice Cream Cups with Spoons
The Plastic Ice Cream Cups with Spoons is a 12-piece party pack, so it is ideal for parties or family gatherings. The bowls and spoons come in festive colors; you get three yellow, three orange, three green, and three pink cups and spoons, totaling 12 cups and 12 spoons.
These cups are stackable, so they don’t take up a lot of storage space in your kitchen. The cups and spoons are made from non-toxic, laboratory-tested materials.
The outer part of the cups mimics an ice cream cone, while the spoons mimic ice cream on a cone.
Pros:
- Dishwasher safe, they are easy to clean
- Kid-safe
- Sturdy cups
Cons:
- They are small if you prefer a bigger helping of ice cream
For large families and kids’ birthday parties, this pack of 12 ice cream cups and spoons is sure to be a big hit.
Dessert Ice Cream Cups Bowls with Lids
The Dessert Ice Cream Cups Bowls with Lids by Signore Ware comes in a set of 6. Each 5-ounce bowl or little cup for ice cream also has its own lid. You get two bowls and lids in blue, 2 in pink, and 2 in orange-red.
The bowls and lids are made from BPA-free plastic, so they are safe and eco-friendly. With the bowls being freezer safe, you can pre-scoop ice cream, close the lid, and place it in the freezer, so your little ones (or you) have an ice cream snack ready.
Pros:
- Ideal for the outdoors
- Kid-friendly
- You can pre-prepare ice cream snacks and place the bowl with a lid on in the freezer for later
- Easy to clean; dishwasher safe
- Capacity: 5 ounces
Cons:
- Small servings of ice cream, unless you like portion control
These ice cream cups and lids are ideal if you prefer to portion out ice cream ahead of time, and the funky colors make your ice cream taste all the better too.
Ice Cream Bowl Guide: Final Thoughts
An ice cream bowl is a must in any home, and why should you settle and use the plain bowl you eat cereal out of every morning?
No, an ice cream bowl needs to be special. With some of the options, you can even freeze the bowl before scooping out ice cream. This ensures your ice cream stays icy-cold for longer, so you don’t need to worry about melted ice cream soup (unless you are into that – we don’t judge).
Happy shopping (and enjoy your ice cream in your special bowl). We’re sure it will taste even better!