Orange County Register

Baskin-Robbins, the world’s largest hand-scooped ice cream shop, is going soft.

The Massachusetts-based ice cream chain plans to give Dairy Queen a run for its money by introducing soft-serve ice cream in 1,000 stores, including all units in California. The official launch is May 19, with a special giveaway promotion on May 21. (see details, below.)

Cost: A single (3 oz.) serving will run about $1.65. Other regions debuting the soft-serve swirls include New York, Chicago, El Paso, Texas, and Nashville, Tenn.

However, several Orange County units are already serving the product now.

Click here, and enter your zip code to find a Baskin-Robbins location. Then, look for the soft-serve icon.

The 5,800-unit Baskin-Robbins chain said it is debuting soft-serve to create a “one-stop” shop for ice cream. In case you’re wondering, Dairy Queen has been serving soft serve (shown, right) for 60 years.

Chocolate dipped cones will be available later this summer. Baskin-Robbins will also sell soft-serve sundaes (standard toppings available) and a new product called the “31 Below.” The latter item is best eaten with a straw, the company said.

Here’s the lowdown: 31 Below blends vanilla soft serve with certain candies and/or toppings: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, Heath, Oreo cookie, Chocolate Oreo cookie, Strawberry Banana and Fudge Brownie. Custom blends will also be available.

I love Dairy Queen’s soft-serve cones and Blizzards, so I wonder how BR’s cones and “blends” will compare.

Freebie alert: On May 21, Baskin-Robbins stores that sell soft-serve cones will give a free, 3-ounce sample to expectant mothers. Dubbed “Bump Day ,” the freebie is good 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 21. One cone, or cup per customer, while supplies last.

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