Soft serve
A smooth, light ice cream dispensed straight from a machine, served softer and warmer than hard-frozen ice cream.
- Frozen desserts and sweet beverages
- United States
Also called: Mr. Whippy, soft ice cream, soft serve ice cream
Soft serve is made from a mix that is frozen and whipped with air inside the machine and pulled from a spout as it is needed. Because it is served at a higher temperature than scooped ice cream and has plenty of air, it tastes creamy and melts quickly. It usually has less fat than premium ice cream.
It is served in cones, cups and sundaes, often swirled in two flavors. Frozen yogurt and frozen custard are often served the same way. Soft serve is hard to make at home without a dedicated machine.
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Related entries
Sources
Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.
- The Scoop: Getting to Know Ice Cream, Institute of Culinary Education
- Ice cream and frozen custard, Cornell Legal Information Institute (21 CFR 135.110)