A mix-in is a type of
dessert
Dessert is a course (food), course that concludes a meal; the course consists of sweet foods, such as cake, biscuit, ice cream, and possibly a beverage, such as dessert wine or liqueur. Some cultures sweeten foods that are more commonly umami, ...
made of
ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert typically made from milk or cream that has been flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as Chocolate, cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit, such as strawberries or peaches. Food ...
and another
flavoring
A flavoring (or flavouring), also known as flavor (or flavour) or flavorant, is a food additive that is used to improve the taste or smell of food. It changes the perceptual impression of food as determined primarily by the chemoreceptors of ...
such as candy. Mix-in desserts are traditionally sold in an
ice cream parlor and are made at the time of ordering. Popular examples of this dessert include
Dairy Queen
International Dairy Queen, Inc. (DQ) is an American multinational fast food chain founded in 1940 and currently headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota. The first Dairy Queen was owned and operated by Sherb Noble and first opened on June 22, ...
's Blizzard and
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation, doing business as McDonald's, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational fast food chain store, chain. As of 2024, it is the second largest by number of locations in the world, behind only the Chinese ch ...
McFlurry.
Product description
A mix-in is a type of dessert made with
ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert typically made from milk or cream that has been flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as Chocolate, cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit, such as strawberries or peaches. Food ...
and another product that is either blended or folded in.
History
The concept of mixing in additional flavors at the time of ordering was created in North Dakota in the 1930's. The last known Whirla-Whip machine from that era is still in use at Dakota Drug in Stanlet, North Dakota. Steve Herrell used this concept in 1973, when Mr. Herrell founded
Steve's Ice Cream, near Boston, where they would crush
Heath Bar
The Heath bar is a candy bar made of toffee, almonds, and milk chocolate, first manufactured by the Heath Brothers Confectionery in 1928. The Heath bar has been manufactured and distributed by Hershey since its acquisition of the Leaf Interna ...
s and other candies or confections and mix them into ice cream. Another term for the concept is "smoosh-ins". His system spread across the industry from his store, and became the model for many other ice cream businesses and desserts.
References
See also
*
Amy's Ice Creams Texas based company founded by former Steve's employee
*
Cold Stone Creamery
*
Dairy Queen
International Dairy Queen, Inc. (DQ) is an American multinational fast food chain founded in 1940 and currently headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota. The first Dairy Queen was owned and operated by Sherb Noble and first opened on June 22, ...
{{Ice cream
Ice cream