Everything You Need to Know About Frozen Custard: Why is it a Must-try?
Frozen custard is a dessert lover’s dream come true. The thick and smooth mixture of milk, cream, sweetener, and egg yolks with a wide range of flavors has to be one of the most indulgent dessert recipes out there.
The extra fat from egg yolk is why frozen custard is different from ice cream. Be it a sunny summer day or a chilly winter evening, frozen custard’s rich and velvety appeal is truly irresistible. From the youngest to the oldest, everyone enjoys its tongue-coating rich texture and variety of flavors.
The Origins of Frozen Custard: A Brief History
Every great dessert has an origin story, and frozen custard is no exception. In 1919, two ice cream vendors, Archie and Elton Kohr added egg yolks to ice cream to create a smoother texture and help it stay cold longer. It was a hit from day one in Coney Island, New York, where the Kohr brothers experimented with this idea for the first time. The 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago introduced frozen custard to a wider audience, and by 1940, frozen custard stands were common in the Midwest and East. And now the world knows about it.
What Makes Frozen Custard Unique?
Now that we know where it all started, let’s delve into what makes frozen custard so special. And how it’s different than an ice cream.
Creaminess Enhanced by Egg Yolks
Egg yolks are rich in fat, which when emulsified with a little milk and cream gives Frozen custards their thick and creamy texture. That’s one reason, why regular ice creams are more watery than frozen custards.
Dense and Smooth Texture
The churning process used to make frozen custard is less intensive than what’s used to make similar desserts like ice cream. Hence, frozen custards have less incorporated air, the reason for them being denser and smoother.
Served at Warmer Temperatures
Frozen custard is not as cold as traditional ice cream when served, which surprisingly enhances its flavor and mouthfeel. Icy coldness can dull the palate and make it harder to fully appreciate the nuances of the flavors. Whereas, a slightly higher temperature allows the flavors to become more pronounced, offering a more satisfying taste.
How is Frozen Custard Made
We’ve already given hints of the recipe for a frozen custard. Let’s summarise.
Key Ingredients
Simplicity rules here! The simple yet essential ingredients to make frozen custard are: whole milk, cream (most preferably heavy cream), sugar or your preferred sweetener, egg yolks, and a pinch of salt to bind everything together. Choose any added flavor, like vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, mint, etc.
Very few people try making ice cream or frozen custard at home, but if you’re an enthusiast, start by learning how to make vanilla frozen custard at home. It is the simplest of all custards and once you get the basics right, it’s easier to jump to the tougher ones.
The Churning Process
Usually, frozen custards are slowly churned for 20-30 minutes. This is to ensure a higher density of the mixture with less amount of air in it. The custard turns out to be smooth and buttery.
Freshness and Temperature
Frozen custard is served at a slightly warmer temperature than ice cream, which compliments its flavor profile. Thanks to its higher egg yolk content, it is prevented from melting too quickly, allowing the rich custard flavor to be fully appreciated even at a warmer temperature (room temperature to be exact!)
Why Frozen Custard is a Must-Try Dessert
With a better understanding of how frozen custard is made, it’s easy to see why it’s such a standout dessert. Isn’t it?
Unmatched Creaminess
The luxurious mouthfeel of frozen custard is a treat like no other. Each tongue-coating spoonful of frozen custard offers a rich, creamy experience that lingers long after the last bite.
Versatility in Flavors and Toppings
Frozen custard is an empty canvas that can take any form based on your preference. No partiality! The variety of flavors and toppings you can play with is endless. Starting from simple vanilla to complex combinations like cappuccino brownie custards, you can choose whatever sweet dish you love and turn that into custard. How cool is that!
Perfect for Every Occasion
You can never go wrong with frozen custards. Whether you’re celebrating a special event or satisfying a casual craving, frozen custard fits seamlessly into any occasion. It can be made simple or packed with flavors for that extra indulgence.
The Nutritional Side of Frozen Custard
Compared to other dessert options, due to its egg yolk and milk content, with no added vegetable oil, frozen custards are relatively nutrient-dense.
Rich in Flavor, Mindful Indulgence
This high-in-calcium and protein dessert won’t substitute your Greek yogurt salad, but surely is a better option than flour and oil-based options. Mindful indulgence in this flavorful dessert is okay in our book.
A Dessert Worth the Calories
Some things are risky but worth it. Trying frozen custard is one of them. We don’t promise that you won’t fall in love and go gaga over this dessert. But if you can keep your taste buds in check, you must try it once in your life. It is so satisfying and filling!
BurgerFi’s Frozen Custard: A Must-Try Experience
At this point, you might be wondering where to find the perfect frozen custard. Well, we serve what you deserve! Thick, creamy, indulgent, and full of experiments, we have a wide range of offers for your craving at BurgerFi.
Signature Custard Flavors
Let’s start with the classics. BurgerFi’s classic Vanilla Frozen Custard as a creamy base layered with your favorite toppings should be your first try if you’ve never tasted frozen custards before.
Decadent Toppings and Mix-ins
With limited-time flavors like Salted Caramel Pretzels and Pumpkin Pie, along with other options like Cookies & Cream with Oreo®, Strawberry, Coffee Mocha, and M&M’S®, you can have your own time living in the dreamland of frozen custards.
Crunchy, colorful candies to munch on, fresh fruit toppings like strawberry for a refreshing twist, or a custard treat infused with rich coffee flavors — you can choose whatever your heart desires. There’s a perfect custard waiting for you!
Custard-Based Shakes
BurgerFi’s custard shakes take indulgence to another level. Hard to believe? Try these yourself:
- Salted Caramel Pretzel: A mix of sweet and salty flavors to hit your bliss point!
- Our Limited Time Pumpkin Pie: Autumn delight in a shake. It gives authentic pumpkin pie flavors.
- Birthday Cake: Celebration in a cup with cake pieces and sprinkles. You’ll remember your childhood days for sure!
Along with these lavish servings, we have regular favorites like Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Cookies + Cream with Oreo®, and Coffee Mocha custard shakes to keep pleasing the crowd.
Freestyle Floats with Custard
You can’t miss out on this if trying different food combinations is your love. At BurgerFi, we offer customizable Freestyle Float options that use frozen custard and Coca-Cola Freestyle sodas to create over 165+ unique flavors. We recommend you try a Root Beer Float with Barq’s Root Beer or a Creamsicle Float with Fanta Orange, we promise you won’t regret it!
Tips for Enjoying Frozen Custard to the Fullest
As much of a standalone treat as a cup of frozen custard is, if paired rightly with other food items on our menu, it becomes all the more delicious.
Pairing with Your Favorite Foods
For a balanced approach, pair sweet custards with savory foods like burgers, fries, and more. Or, go another route to satisfy your sweet craving with freestyle floats or custard shakes. If you want to counter the indulgence of custard, you can have a classic burger. But if indulgence is your motto of the meal, go for gourmet burgers like BBQ and chef burgers.
Customizing Your Treat
We can only suggest what we’ve seen people enjoy. That doesn’t mean we are not open to your unique takes on custards. The beauty of frozen custard lies in its versatility. We highly encourage you to experiment with toppings and mix-ins to create a unique dessert that perfectly suits your taste buds. Order now!
