Frozen custard

A dense, smooth frozen dessert similar to ice cream but made with egg yolks and churned with very little air.

Frozen custard: A dense, smooth swirl of pale yellow vanilla frozen custard in a cup, glossy and thick
  • Fillings, creams, frostings and sauces

Frozen custard is made from a base of cream, milk, sugar and egg yolks, frozen in machines that churn slowly and work in little air. The low overrun gives it a thick, rich texture, and it is usually served fresh from the machine, slightly warmer than hard-frozen ice cream, so it is soft and creamy.

In the United States, federal standards treat frozen custard, also called French ice cream, as a type of ice cream that must contain a minimum level of egg yolk solids. It is especially associated with custard stands in the Midwest, around Milwaukee in particular, and with East Coast boardwalks.

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. 21 CFR 135.110 - Ice cream and frozen custard, U.S. Government Publishing Office (Code of Federal Regulations)