When summer weather approaches, Americans like nothing better than to indulge in a sweet, creamy ice cream cone. Nearly nine out of every ten U.S. households have some kind of frozen dessert in their freezers at this very moment. The average American will have ice cream 28.5 times this year. With their variety of flavors and packaging options, frozen ice cream cups are sure to stay an American favorite.
A Treat for the Heat
Ice cream, popsicles, and other frozen treats are all popular choices for when the weather gets muggy, but which reigns supreme? Popsicles are favorites among children with their bright colors and fruity flavors. Many popsicles however are sweetened with corn syrup and contain artificial colors or flavors, making many parents reconsider their children’s choice of sweets. Ice cream bars are popular alternatives to cups and cones with a variety of coatings, toppings, and candy treats found throughout. Traditionalist agree that ice cream is and has been a staple of American summer times with nearly 1.5 billion gallons of the frozen treat being made each year in the United States.
Ice Cream Verses Gelato
Thanks to television and advertising, more Americans are learning about gelato cups, the Italian counterpart to ice cream. Although some think that gelato is simply Italian for ice cream, in truth they are two separate dairy treats with ice cream generally containing up to 50% air from the churning process compared to only 25-30% for gelato. Additionally, gelato contains 3 to 8% milkfat to give it a richer, thicker texture. No matter if you’ve settled on paper gelato cups or plastic ice cream cups, either can keep you cool and happy when the weather gets hot.
A Flavor for Everyone
Many companies have taken to the recent trend of making custom ice cream cups for individual servings. With plastic tasting spoon in hand, anyone can dig into the hundreds of flavors available to find their favorite. According to the International Ice Cream Association, the most popular flavor among consumers is still vanilla which claims the love of 28% of ice cream eaters. If you have a mass group of ice cream lovers to feed, why not get something for everybody with custom ice cream cups?
