Skyline Chili Ice Cream is a Real Thing and it Just Might be Really Good

Peanut Butter and Jelly. Coffee and Donuts. Biscuits and Gravy. Peas and Carrots. Chili and Ice Cream? Two Cincinnati staples are collaborating to bring Skyline Chili Ice Cream to life.

We first learned of this unique possibility when Kroger temporarily listed the item for sale on its website in October. Graeter’s announced that Skyline Spice Ice Cream will be available to the general public starting Monday, Jan. 27.

“Speculation about our unconventional partnership started a social media frenzy,” Grater’s President and CEO Richard Graeter said in a statement. “We spent months perfecting the recipe and are extremely happy to confirm the rumors are true — and that the flavor will surprise you.”

You can enjoy a 5-ounce scoop at all Skyline Chili locations. It’s being served up from the tub at Graeter’s shops. You can also buy it by the pint at Kroger locations in Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Louisville, or have Skyline Spice Ice Cream shipped directly to you from wherever you are across the country.

Making the Case for Skyline Spice Ice Cream

“Chili flavored ice cream” does not sound appetizing in any setting. Are you going to dump a scoop of vanilla in your bowl to cool the chili down? Absolutely not. It doesn’t matter if you’re one of the many Skyline fanatics in the Midwest, those two things just don’t go together.

However, the thing that makes many hate Skyline chili actually might make Skyline Chili Ice Cream work.

What separates Cincinnati chili from the rest of the varieties across the country is the cinnamon in the chili sauce. That ingredient may not work for some people with beans, cheese, noodles, and ground beef, but cinnamon with chili? Now we’re talking. The Skyline chili ice cream combines this cinnamon flavor with French pot ice cream from Graeter’s and throws in some oyster crackers for a crunchy texture.

Remove chili from the equation. If I offered you a cinnamon crunch ice cream from Graeter’s you’d be willing to give it a whirl.

I’m not making any promises that Skyline Spice Ice Cream from Graeter’s is a sure-fire winner, but keep an open mind. The Skyline chili ice cream actually might be delicious.

Got thoughts? Continue the conversation on KSBoard, the KSR Message Board.