Handel’s Has a New Ice Cream Flavor Fans Are Already Calling an ‘All-Time Favorite’

Growing up, my family always had ice cream stocked in the freezer. My main problem? It was almost always plain vanilla, thanks to my sister, who happened to be a bit picky. Looking back, I don’t blame my parents for going with a simple flavor that everyone would enjoy. But now that I’ve moved out, let’s just say my freezer is certainly less vanilla.

With plenty of frozen desserts available at grocery stores, I never hesitate to try something new—and believe me, there’s always something new. I’ve branched out from our go-to Breyers to try flavors from Trader Joe’s, Ben & Jerry’s, and even Snoop Dogg’s personal line.

And when it comes to visiting local ice cream shops, I’m always down for a trip to get the inside scoop. One place that recently came across my radar is Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream. If you aren’t familiar with Handel’s, the scoop shop originated in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1945. Years later, it has expanded to have over 150 franchise locations across 15 states, with more to come. 

In celebration of its 80th anniversary, the ice cream parlor has been releasing new flavors all year. From Frosted Animal Cookie scoops to Sticky Fingers (which features peanut butter ice cream, a caramel ripple, brownie pieces, and chocolate truffles), the creativity results in some truly delicious desserts. The latest addition dropped earlier this month, and I got a chance to try it out first. 

Handel’s New Knot Your Average Dough Ice Cream

In true Handel’s fashion, the new flavor has a very creative name. Knot Your Average Dough features a base of creamy cookie dough ice cream. You’ll also find ribbons of salted pretzel ripples, and of course, chunks of cookie dough.

Handel’s fans were quick to express their excitement over the new flavor, leaving a slew of comments on the Facebook announcement. “I would eat that every day for breakfast if I lived in Ohio,” one commenter shared. Another had positive things to say after trying the ice cream, “The pretzel ripple! Wow! Absolutely delicious flavor!”

I Got an Early Taste—Here’s My Honest Review

I received two quarts of the new flavor and couldn’t wait to dig in. After unpacking the boxes, I let the quart thaw for a few minutes since it was rock solid. Then I dug in. The ice cream is a great balance of salty and sweet. You get the classic richness from the hunks of cookie dough and smooth ice cream, plus a surprising texture from the pretzel swirl, which I loved.

There was also a perfect ratio of mix-ins to ice cream. I didn’t feel like I had to dig around the ice cream for bits of cookie dough or pretzel, nor was I just eating entire spoonfuls of them.

Fans on Instagram are already begging for this “all-time favorite” to get a permanent spot on the Handel’s menu: “Please don’t get rid of this flavor. I’ve never tasted anything so good in my life,” one declared. Another asked, “So what steps do I need to take to get this made into a permanent flavor? Not sure I can live without it.”

All in all, Knot Your Average Dough was aptly named, as it stayed true to the classic cookie dough ice cream while elevating the flavor with a pretzel swirl. It’s definitely something I’d recommend ordering at the ice cream shop, if you’re lucky enough to have a Handel’s nearby. Visit Handel’s website to find the closest location and give the new scoop a try.