In the past, every restaurant used genuine ice cream in their desserts. By 2025, distinguishing which desserts are crafted from superior-quality ice cream, custard, or powdered blends has become challenging. A select few fast-food establishments still offer authentic desserts, including ice cream cones, sundaes, and ice cream cakes. Here are 7 fast-food chains that utilize real ice cream in their desserts instead of artificial mixes.

Culver’s

Culver’s is renowned for its fresh frozen custard made with genuine dairy, farm-fresh milk, cream, skim milk, sugar, corn syrup, and egg yolk, accompanied by stabilizers like guar gum and locust bean gum for its distinctively dense, smooth, and rich texture. “Think of Frozen Custard as the most premium dessert you’ve ever tasted. Luscious and creamy with farm-fresh dairy, it contains less air so it’s denser and richer than ordinary ice cream. And because it’s served at a temperature that won’t freeze your taste buds, you actually experience the flavor longer,” the brand mentions on its website. “We only use real dairy from American family farms, with relationships that go back over 30 years. We slow-turn our Frozen Custard in small batches all day long. That’s why any time you stop in you know you’re getting the freshest Frozen Custard possible, when it’s at its very best.”

Shake Shack

Shake Shack creates shakes and concretes using real frozen custard. “Soft, premium ice cream, made in-house daily only with the good stuff: real cane sugar and cage-free eggs,” the brand states.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers uses rich and creamy fresh custard. “At Freddy’s, rich creamy frozen custard treats are often what entice first-time visitors and keep guests coming back year after year. To delight the palates of patrons across the country, the velvety decadence of this dish is achieved by the perfect combination and processing of frozen custard ingredients,” they say, revealing that all custards are made with milk, egg yolk,s and sugar.

In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out Burger makes its famous shakes blended with real ice cream, not mix. “Made with real ice cream,” it says in a recent Instagram post. “Shake it up and try a new flavor today! Strawberry, Chocolate, or Vanilla – which flavor have you not tried yet?” Followers are obsessed. “I love everything In-N-Out!” wrote one. “Vanilla shake is my favorite!” added another.

Steak ‘n Shake

Steak ‘n Shake is famous for milkshakes made with real ice cream. “Irresistible and thick, made with real ice cream topped with whipped cream and a cherry,” the chain writes on its menu.

Cook Out

Cook Out is also famous for its delicious desserts. In their “Cookout Creamery,” the Southern chain is known for 40+ shake flavors with real ice cream. “Fall is here! Treat yourself to our Pumpkin Pie Shake only here for a limited time,” it recently shared on social media.

Carvel

Carvel, a specialty ice cream chain, is famous for soft-serve and sundaes made from real ice cream, not powdered base.