Calories per serving at a glance
All the figures here come from USDA FoodData Central, in its SR Legacy records published April 1, 2019. FoodData Central lists a gram weight for 1/2 cup of each ice cream. We multiplied that weight by the calories per 100 grams to get the calories per portion. The 2/3 cup figures are also our arithmetic: 2/3 cup is 4/3 of a 1/2 cup.
| Ice cream (FoodData Central) | 1/2 cup weight | Calories per 1/2 cup | 2/3 cup weight | Calories per 2/3 cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla | 66 g | about 137 | about 88 g | about 182 |
| Vanilla, light | 76 g | about 137 | about 101 g | about 182 |
| Vanilla, rich | 107 g | about 266 | about 143 g | about 355 |
| French vanilla, soft serve | 86 g | about 191 | about 115 g | about 255 |
| Chocolate | 66 g | about 143 | about 88 g | about 190 |
| Chocolate, soft serve | 86 g | about 191 | about 115 g | about 255 |
| Strawberry | 66 g | about 127 | about 88 g | about 169 |
| Chocolate, rich | not listed (1 cup = 148 g) | not listed | about 99 g | about 248 |
Two records have no cup measure. Light chocolate is listed only as “1 serving” of 68 g, which is about 127 calories. The fat free vanilla and light soft serve records come with a per-100 gram figure only, so they appear in the next section.
Why the label says 2/3 cup
The FDA sets a reference amount for each food. For ice cream it is now 2/3 cup, up from the old 1/2 cup. Each maker converts that amount into the serving size printed on its own Nutrition Facts panel. Ice cream cones are a different case: the FDA has them labeled as 1 unit.
So when you compare an older carton with a newer one, check the serving size line first. A carton that lists 1/2 cup will show lower numbers than one that lists 2/3 cup, even if the ice cream inside is the same.
Why rich ice cream weighs more per cup
FoodData Central gives a 1/2 cup of rich vanilla a weight of 107 grams, while the same volume of regular vanilla weighs 66 grams. Our reading is that denser ice cream, with less air whipped in, packs more grams into each cup. That is why rich vanilla jumps so far ahead per serving.
As a cross-check, we use a planning figure of 0.55 grams per milliliter for standard ice cream at 100% overrun. The University of Guelph Ice Cream Technology e-Book explains how overrun works. At that density, 2/3 cup (about 158 milliliters) weighs about 87 grams by our arithmetic, which is close to FoodData Central’s 88 grams for regular vanilla.
Nutrition facts per 100 grams
Per 100 grams is the fairest way to compare recipes, because it takes the air out of the picture. These values are FoodData Central’s.
| Ice cream | Calories | Fat | Saturated fat | Sugars | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla, light, soft serve | 126 | 2.6 g | 1.63 g | 18.7 g | 4.9 g |
| Vanilla, fat free | 138 | 0 g | not listed | 6.3 g | 4.48 g |
| Vanilla, light | 180 | 4.83 g | 2.93 g | 22.1 g | 4.78 g |
| Chocolate, light | 187 | 7.19 g | 4.38 g | 24.7 g | 5 g |
| Strawberry | 192 | 8.4 g | 5.19 g | not listed | 3.2 g |
| Vanilla | 207 | 11.0 g | 6.79 g | 21.2 g | 3.5 g |
| Chocolate | 216 | 11 g | 6.8 g | 25.4 g | 3.8 g |
| French vanilla, soft serve | 222 | 13.0 g | 7.48 g | 21.2 g | 4.1 g |
| Vanilla, rich | 249 | 16.2 g | 10.3 g | 20.6 g | 3.5 g |
| Chocolate, rich | 251 | 16.98 g | 10.38 g | 17.4 g | 4.72 g |
A few more numbers from the same records:
- Cholesterol: 44 mg for vanilla, 92 mg for rich vanilla, 91 mg for French vanilla soft serve, 0 mg for fat free vanilla.
- Sodium: from 57 mg (rich chocolate) to 97 mg (fat free vanilla).
- Other vanilla records: low carbohydrate vanilla has 216 calories, and light vanilla with no sugar added has 169.
Why light can match regular per cup
Light vanilla has fewer calories per 100 grams than regular vanilla (180 against 207). But FoodData Central lists a heavier 1/2 cup for light (76 grams against 66). By our arithmetic the two land on the same 137 calories per 1/2 cup and 182 per 2/3 cup. If you count calories by the scoop, compare the per-serving line on the label, not only the word “light.”
What the words on the carton mean
Federal rules (21 CFR 135) set a floor for anything sold as ice cream. It needs at least 10% milkfat and must weigh at least 4.5 pounds per gallon. Frozen custard also needs egg yolk solids. Sherbet has only 1% to 2% milkfat.
The fat claims come from 21 CFR 101.62:
- Low fat: 3 grams of fat or less per reference amount.
- Reduced fat: at least 25% less fat than a reference food.
- Light: the Guelph e-Book treats this as a market term, with light mixes at 6% to 8% fat and low-fat mixes at 3% to 5%.
For full-fat ice cream, the Guelph e-Book sorts the market by fat level. Standard runs 10% to 12% fat, premium 12% to 15%, and super-premium 15% to 18%.
Homemade ice cream
Homemade full-cream recipes can run higher than store cartons. The Cuisinart ICE-21 booklet gives its simple vanilla 222 calories per 1/2 cup, with 18 grams of fat. The ICE-30BC booklet lists 255 calories per 1/2 cup, with 20 grams of fat. A 1980 home-freezer guide hosted in the Guelph e-Book gives regular vanilla 230 calories per 100 grams, and a low-calorie version made with whole milk 125 calories.
Allergens
The FDA lists milk as a major allergen. Depending on the flavor, ice cream can also contain eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat or soy, which are major allergens too. Read the ingredient list on every carton.
FAQ
How many calories are in a scoop of ice cream?
It depends on how much the scoop holds. Use the See the scoop chart button to find your scoop’s volume, then match it to the per-cup figures above.
What is the official ice cream serving size?
The FDA reference amount is 2/3 cup. It used to be 1/2 cup, so older labels may show smaller servings.
Which ice cream has the fewest calories per 100 grams?
In these FoodData Central records it is light vanilla soft serve at 126 calories. Fat free vanilla is next at 138.
Is light ice cream always lower in calories per serving?
Not always. By our arithmetic, FoodData Central’s light and regular vanilla both come to about 182 calories per 2/3 cup.
Can I plan servings for a group?
The Open the Scoop Planner button takes you to our planner. The calculators run in your browser, and the numbers you type are not sent to our server.