Frozen custard on its way to Ocoee

There could be a new place to get a sweet treat in Ocoee if Andy’s Frozen Custard is approved for the plaza at the corner of Maguire Road and West Colonial Drive.

The new center already is home to other eateries — Southern Steer Butcher, Tijuana Flats, Vitality Bowls, Smack Wings - Ocoee and the new Sonny’s BBQ. Pearle Vision, UrgentVet and Dentists of Ocoee also occupy space in the plaza, and The Joint Chiropractic is coming soon as well.

The custard shop currently is going through the approval process with the city of Ocoee. Developers are working on the next phase of the plaza, which will feature an expanded parking lot with landscaping.

The developer of the Andy’s Frozen Custard project is South National Development Company, based in Missouri.

WHAT IS ANDY’S FROZEN CUSTARD?

Andy’s Frozen Custard is a quick-service frozen dessert restaurant, with drive-thru and walk-up service windows. The menu features a variety of treats, from simple vanilla or chocolate cones, to seasonal favorites like Pumpkin Pie Concretes and Strawberry Shortcake Sundaes.

Andy's Frozen Custard has been all about custard since 1986. The tradition started in Osage Beach, Missouri, when John and Carol Kuntz embarked on a new frozen custard endeavor. Their cold treat quickly became a legend at the lake.

The Kuntzes’ son, Andy (and his wife, Dana) worked at the original Springfield location and learned the business from the ground up.

According to the Kuntz family, they have been able to make Andy's Frozen Custard the largest dessert-only franchise in the world.

Frozen custard machines have been updated throughout the years, but the basic ingredient list for custard remains short and sweet: cream, sugar, vanilla extract and a few other trade secrets. Creamier than regular ice cream, frozen custard contains more butterfat and is churned very slowly. Frozen custard is rarely packaged for store shelves but instead made fresh hourly and served immediately to maintain its luxurious creaminess.

Andy’s custard is made with egg yolks. To label something "frozen custard," the Food and Drug Administration requires that, in addition to the basic ingredients of ice cream such as cream, milk and sugar, it also must contain 1.4% pasteurized egg yolk.

The Andy's Frozen Custard chain has locations locally in Sanford and Lakeland, with several others planned. The chain also operates in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

For information on the frozen custard shop, visit eatandys.com