Why frozen custard is the most quintessentially Milwaukee treat

Alison Dirr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·1 min read

The most quintessentially Milwaukee treat, especially on a hot summer day. (But, let’s be honest: We Midwesterners enjoy a cold cone even when it’s below zero.)

Frozen custard is a step up from your average ice cream because it includes egg yolks that make for a richer texture.

Travel Wisconsin lists Milwaukee as the unofficial “frozen custard capital of the world,” a kind way of saying no visitor should leave the city without trying frozen custard from at least one, if not multiple, locations.

Might we suggest a formal custard tasting?

32. Frozen custard is a step up from your average ice cream because it includes egg yolks that make for a richer texture.
32. Frozen custard is a step up from your average ice cream because it includes egg yolks that make for a richer texture.

Three places to start: Gilles, Leon’s and Kopp’s. Each serves a couple of basic flavors every day, plus a Flavor of the Day that’s often more unique.

Gilles Frozen Custard opened in 1938, making it the oldest operating stand in the city, according to Travel Wisconsin. Find it at 7515 W. Bluemound Road, and don’t be shy about taking a look at the full menu of non-frozen treats.

Leon’s Frozen Custard popped up just a few years later, in 1942, and is still operated by the original family, according to its website. The year-round business at 3131 S. 27th St. bills itself as a “classic 1950s-style family owned drive-in, specializing in frozen custard.”

Kopp’s Frozen Custard: Come for dessert, stay for dinner. With locations in Glendale, Brookfield and Greenfield, you’re never too far from the custard shop that’s also known for its massive burgers.

See the rest of Milwaukee's 100 objects

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why frozen custard is the most quintessentially Milwaukee treat