I compared the same ice-cream order at Cold Stone and Baskin-Robbins

I ordered the same three items at both chains — vanilla with M&M's in a cup, a chocolate scoop in a cone, and a strawberry milkshake — to see how they compared in flavor, portion, and price. At Baskin-Robbins the shop felt bright and youthful. A single scoop of chocolate on a sugar cone cost $3.59 and appeared to be about 4 ounces; the ice cream was very creamy and rich.

The vanilla cup with M&M's ran $3.59 plus $0.89 for the topping; the portion and the amount of candy were generous, though the vanilla itself tasted mild. A small, 16-ounce strawberry milkshake was $6.19, made quickly with visible flecks of strawberry and a pronounced fruity flavor.

Cold Stone felt more muted but offered an extensive flavor display and the signature granite-stone mix-ins. A single “Like It” chocolate scoop was $6.25 (about 5 ounces by the chain's measure), with an added $1.95 for a cone that left the serving looking top-heavy; the texture was creamy but the chocolate note was modest.

cold stone, baskin-robbins, ice cream, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry milkshake, m&ms, sugar cone, mix-ins, price