Indeed, fried chicken ice cream stands out as one of the most surprising desserts to ever captivate food lovers. Initially, when you look at it, you’ll notice it mirrors a crispy fried chicken drumstick perfectly. However, as soon as you take that first bite, your taste buds discover a sweet, creamy ice cream center instead. Consequently, this viral treat has sparked widespread curiosity, leading people to ask: where did it come from, and who invented it?
Therefore, let’s embark on an exciting journey to explore the origins of fried chicken ice cream, understand how it transformed into a global sensation, and furthermore, discover why its popularity continues to soar across the world!
The Origins of Fried Chicken Ice Cream
This illusion dessert tricks the eye while offering a completely different taste experience. The artful blend of sweet ice cream with a crunchy, golden coating creates something fun, delicious, and unexpected.
But where did it all begin?
Who Created Fried Chicken Ice Cream?
✔ Life Raft Treats, a gourmet ice cream company based in Charleston, South Carolina, created the first widely recognized version of Fried Chicken Ice Cream.
The brand’s founder, Cynthia Wong, a six-time James Beard Award-nominated pastry chef, has earned recognition for her creative and playful desserts.
✔ She wanted to make an illusion dessert that would surprise and delight people, leading to the creation of Not Fried Chicken Ice Cream.
✅ Fun Fact: Life Raft Treats specializes in food illusion ice cream treats—other creations include ice cream that looks like steak, sandwiches, and even eggs and bacon!
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How Did It Become a Viral Sensation?
Fried Chicken Ice Cream exploded in popularity due to social media and viral food trends.
✔ TikTok and Instagram users shared videos of themselves biting into what looked like fried chicken, only to reveal creamy ice cream inside.
The realistic look of the dessert made it the perfect prank food—people loved tricking their friends and family.
✔ Food influencers and bloggers helped spread the word, turning it into a must-try novelty dessert.
✅ Tip: If you love sweet-savory contrast desserts, this viral treat is definitely worth trying!
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Why Is It Called “Not Fried Chicken Ice Cream”?
Life Raft Treats sells the most famous version of this dessert under the name “Not Fried Chicken Ice Cream”.
✔ The name helps avoid confusion—making it clear that customers won’t receive actual fried chicken.
It plays into the illusion factor—making people even more curious to try it.
✔ It became the brand’s signature item, drawing customers from all over the country.
✅ Tip: Some versions of this dessert are now popping up under different names, but the concept remains the same!
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How Fried Chicken Ice Cream Became a Global Trend
After its creation by Life Raft Treats, fried chicken ice cream quickly became a viral dessert trend, spreading to ice cream shops, restaurants, and home kitchens worldwide. Thanks to social media, food bloggers, and novelty food lovers, this dessert has gained massive popularity beyond its original location in Charleston, South Carolina.
Let’s explore how it became a worldwide sensation and where you can find or make your own version!
Social Media’s Role in Its Popularity
Fried chicken ice cream’s rise to fame can largely be credited to social media.
✔ TikTok & Instagram Videos – Food influencers and everyday users filmed themselves biting into what looked like fried chicken, only to reveal creamy vanilla ice cream inside.
✔ Food Challenges & Pranks – People loved tricking their friends and family, making it the perfect viral food prank.
YouTube & Blog Reviews – Food critics and dessert lovers reviewed it, praising its realistic appearance and delicious taste.
✔ Celebrity Endorsements – Some well-known chefs and celebrities tried it, further boosting its popularity.
✅ Tip: The shock factor and fun presentation make it perfect for social media, leading to millions of views and shares!
Restaurants and Ice Cream Shops That Offer It
While Life Raft Treats’ version remains the most famous, other restaurants and ice cream shops have started creating their own versions of fried chicken ice cream.
✔ Life Raft Treats (Charleston, SC, USA) – The original home of Not Fried Chicken Ice Cream, available for shipping across the U.S.
✔ Goldbelly (Online Food Marketplace) – Carries handmade versions of the dessert that ship to multiple locations.
Specialty Ice Cream Shops – Some gourmet dessert shops now offer seasonal or limited-time versions due to high demand.
✔ International Food Festivals – Some pop-up events and food festivals feature their own creative takes on the viral treat.
✅ Tip: If you want to try it, check specialty dessert shops in your area or order online from Life Raft Treats or Goldbelly!
Homemade Recipes That Brought It to More People
Since fried chicken ice cream became a viral hit, many food lovers have started making their own versions at home. The best part? It’s actually quite easy to make!
Why People Love Making It at Home
✔ You don’t need an ice cream machine!
It’s fun to surprise guests—perfect for parties and pranks.
✔ You can customize the flavors to make it your own.
✅ Tip: If you can’t find fried chicken ice cream in stores, try making your own version—it’s a fun and delicious project!
How to Make Fried Chicken Ice Cream at Home
If you can’t find fried chicken ice cream near you, making it at home is a great alternative. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to do it!
Ingredients Needed
✔ Vanilla ice cream – The base of your dessert.
✔ White chocolate or caramel – Helps the coating stick.
Crushed cornflakes or cookies – Creates the crispy “fried chicken” look.
✔ Pretzel sticks or biscuit sticks – Acts as the “bone.”
✅ Tip: You can use different ice cream flavors like caramel, cinnamon, or peanut butter for a unique twist!
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Shape the Ice Cream into Drumsticks
✔ Scoop medium-sized portions of ice cream.
✔ Shape them into oval drumstick forms with your hands.
Insert a pretzel stick or biscuit stick as the “bone.”
✔ Freeze for 30 minutes until firm.
2. Prepare the Crispy Coating
✔ Melt white chocolate or caramel in a bowl.
✔ Crush cornflakes or cookies into fine crumbs.
3. Coat the Ice Cream
✔ Dip each ice cream drumstick into the melted chocolate or caramel.
Roll in crushed cornflakes until fully covered.
✔ Freeze for at least 1 hour before serving.
✅ Tip: For extra crunch, double-coat the ice cream by dipping and rolling twice!
Fun Ways to Serve Fried Chicken Ice Cream
To enhance the illusion effect, here are some creative serving ideas:
✔ Place it in a real fried chicken bucket for a realistic fast-food look.
Serve with caramel sauce as a “dipping sauce.”
✔ Dust with cocoa powder or cinnamon to create a more authentic fried appearance.
✅ Tip: This is the perfect dessert for pranking friends or surprising guests at a party!
Fried Chicken Ice Cream became a global trend thanks to social media, viral challenges, and creative food lovers experimenting with unique dessert concepts.
✔ Life Raft Treats made it famous, but many restaurants and home bakers now create their own versions.
Social media helped spread its popularity, with millions of people sharing videos of the surprising dessert.
✔ You can order it from specialty shops or easily make it at home using simple ingredients.
FAQs About Fried Chicken Ice Cream’s Origins
Friedchicken ice cream has gained huge popularity, but many people still wonder who invented it, where it came from, and where to buy it. Below, we answer the most frequently asked questions about the origins of this viral dessert.
Who Invented Fried Chicken Ice Cream?
Friedchicken ice cream was created by Cynthia Wong, the founder of Life Raft Treats, an artisanal ice cream company in Charleston, South Carolina.
✔ Cynthia Wong is a six-time James Beard Award-nominated pastry chef.
✔ She wanted to create a fun, illusion-style dessert that surprised people.
Her version, called “Not FriedChicken Ice Cream,” became the first widely known version of this treat.
✔ Life Raft Treats handmakes each ice cream drumstick with a vanilla ice cream center, a white chocolate coating, and a crushed cornflake crust to mimic friedchicken.
✅ Fun Fact: Cynthia Wong has also created other food illusion desserts, including ice cream that looks like steak, sandwiches, and even eggs and bacon!
Where Did Fried Ice Cream Come From?
While friedchicken ice cream is a modern food illusion, traditional fried ice cream has been around for centuries.
✔ Origins are debated, but some say it first appeared in Asian cuisine, Mexican restaurants, or American fairs.
Chinese-style fried ice cream is often wrapped in dough and flash-fried.
✔ Mexican fried ice cream is coated in cornflakes or cookie crumbs and quickly fried to keep the inside frozen.
✔ Fair-style fried ice cream is a popular deep-fried dessert at carnivals and festivals.
✅ Tip: Friedchicken ice cream is NOT deep-fried—it just mimics the look of real fried chicken using a crispy coating.
Does Walmart Have Not Fried Chicken Ice Cream?
Walmart does not always carry Not FriedChicken Ice Cream, but availability depends on location.
✔ Some Walmart stores occasionally sell Life Raft Treats’ Not FriedChicken Ice Cream in their frozen desserts section.
It’s not a regular Walmart product, so stock may be limited or seasonal.
✔ You can check Walmart’s online store to see if they have it in stock for delivery or pickup.
✔ If it’s unavailable at Walmart, you can order it from Goldbelly or Life Raft Treats’ official website.
✅ Tip: If you can’t find it at Walmart, you can make your own version at home using vanilla ice cream, white chocolate, and crushed cornflakes!
Who Made Not FriedChicken Ice Cream?
Cynthia Wong at Life Raft Treats created the original Not FriedChicken Ice Cream.
✔ Life Raft Treats has built its reputation by creating handcrafted, illusion-style desserts.
The company launched the first Not FriedChicken Ice Cream as a fun, playful dessert to trick people.
✔ After going viral on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, demand skyrocketed.
✔ Now, Life Raft Treats ships its Not FriedChicken Ice Cream across the U.S. via Goldbelly.
✅ Tip: Other ice cream shops have started creating their own versions, but Life Raft Treats remains the most famous and widely recognized brand for friedchicken ice cream.
Conclusion
Friedchicken ice cream may look like a fast-food meal, but its true origins come from gourmet dessert-making and playful creativity.
✔ Cynthia Wong, the founder of Life Raft Treats, created the first widely recognized version.
✔ It was inspired by illusion food trends and social media hype.
Traditional fried ice cream has existed for centuries, but this version mimics fried chicken in look, not preparation.
✔ You can find it online from Goldbelly and Life Raft Treats, and occasionally at Walmart.
✔ If you can’t find it in stores, making it at home is easy and fun!
Friedchicken ice cream continues to be one of the most exciting viral desserts. Whether you buy it or make it yourself, it’s a must-try for anyone who loves creative, fun food! 🍗🍦🔥