Culver’s Cravings

Fresh Frozen Custard vs. Ice Cream: What’s the Difference?

Treat Yourself to Some Sweet Knowledge

When you’re looking for a sweet treat to top off a delicious meal at Culver’s, chances are you’re reaching for your favorite flavor of frozen custard! Fresh Frozen Custard has been a staple on our menu since 1984, and there’s a reason it was (and still is) our dessert of choice! Keep reading for the scoop on what sets Culver’s frozen custard apart and the answer to the age-old question: “Is frozen custard the same as ice cream?” (Spoiler alert, it’s not!)

Side-by-side comparison of ice cream and frozen custard.

We’ll start things off by letting you in on a little secret – a secret ingredient, that is. Frozen custard is made using pasteurized egg yolks, which was a special ingredient initially added by ice cream vendors on Coney Island back in 1919. They found that egg yolk made the mixture smoother, creamier and all-around more delicious. This also made for a treat that stays frozen longer.

Girl holds a dish of Fresh Frozen Custard and smiles.

With this long-lasting freeze, frozen custard can be served at warmer temperatures than ice cream. This means fewer brain freezes and more chances to savor the sweetness – just another reason to select frozen custard when it’s time to decide on dessert.

Group of friends pose with scoops of custard.

For a richer, denser, yummier frozen treat, we chose Fresh Frozen Custard to serve as an option to satisfy our guests’ sweet tooth. To make sure everyone who orders a scoop, shake, malt or Concrete Mixer^® leaves happy, we use only the best milk, including milk that comes from Wisconsin family farms, to craft our top-notch frozen custard.

Family stands in front of red barn.

In our restaurants, we take the milk produced by our trusted family farm partners and slow-churn our Fresh Frozen Custard in small batches all throughout the day. This way, you can always be sure that you’re getting the highest-quality, freshest dessert possible.

A dish of Vanilla Fresh Frozen Custard held up in front of restaurant menu.

Now that we’ve filled you in on why frozen custard is at the heart of Culver’s restaurants, we hope you’ll stop by and join us for a scoop (or two) soon. We believe every day calls for custard, and today is no exception. If you don’t believe us, take our quiz to find out if there’s a chance of frozen custard in your future!

Is it Fresh Frozen Custard o’clock? Start your online order by searching for a restaurant near you.