Serving up Soft Serve: This Custard Shop in Missouri Won Me Over

My hometown of Springfield, Missouri, isn't the birthplace of Andy's Frozen Custard, but we are home to the headquarters and the most locations (seven in total). Though I have my pick of many ice cream spots in Springfield, I return to Andy's again and again, especially the original Springfield location on East Sunshine. From cooling off on sticky summer nights to celebrating special events with sweet cream, there's something special about the simplicity, the rotating seasonal specials, and the retro vibe that makes Andy's Frozen Custard my family's favorite soft serve.

Now, I know when you think of custard and Missouri, you likely think of Ted Drewes. While Ted Drewes is a St. Louis landmark, that's the problem: There are only two locations, both in St. Louis. Fortunately, no matter where you are in Missouri, you may find an Andy's near you, as there are now 35 locations across the Show Me State. This hometown favorite is doing something right!

Andy’s Frozen Custard is all about simplicity. You won’t find exotic flavors, and you can’t even dine inside at most locations. What you will find is an absolutely heavenly custard. Like traditional soft serve, custard flows from a machine in a twist instead of being scooped like ice cream. Andy’s advertises that its custard is made fresh hourly on hand-built machines, and you can watch this process for yourself through huge windows. It's the perfect way to whet your sweet tooth while you wait.

Unlike traditional soft serve, custard includes eggs and less air, resulting in a beautifully rich, dense cream. Andy’s custard is somehow sweet without being too sweet, making it the perfect complement for the fruits, candies, bakery treats, and other tasty bits you can add. Even though Andy’s has various options for toppings, sundaes, and concretes, eating a simple vanilla cone is a delight in and of itself. 

This is not to say vanilla is the only option. Locals know to watch the marquee at Andy’s Frozen Custard to see which seasonal treat is available. An annual favorite is the Thin Mint Concrete, for which Andy’s purchases thousands of boxes of Girl Scout cookies. And, nothing says summer like the Strawberry Shortcake Sundae, which is made from baked-in-the-shop shortcake and fresh strawberries. No matter what variation I get, the smooth, creamy base shines through.

One of Andy’s unique treats is the Jackhammer. While a traditional concrete includes the toppings swirled into the custard, a Jackhammer has a central core for the topping of your choice. I like to get a cherry concrete Jackhammer with hot fudge in the core to create the perfect dupe of chocolate-covered cherries. My other favorite creation involves balancing salty pretzel bits against a creamy core of caramel. Choose something from the menu, or create your own special concoction! That's part of the fun.

The Andy’s slogan says it all: “Andy's makes it fun to be a kid for awhile.” From the giant rotating ice cream cone out front to the brightly lit retro-style canopy, you know you’re in for a good time at an Andy’s, which is why we have so many memories of taking our sons here for a treat when they were young. Now that they've flown the nest, that doesn't stop my husband and me from making our own visits.

Like old-fashioned mom-and-pop shops, you order at a walk-up window. When it opens, the vanilla smell that wafts out hints at the delicious creaminess of the custard. On warm days, we enjoy our treats on the outdoor patio, while cold days lead us to our car (yes, Andy’s is so good that you will want to eat it all year long—if you didn’t, you’d miss out on the wintertime Cookie Casanova, with custard topping a warm freshly baked chocolate chip cookie). How often are you willing to stand in line, shivering in the cold, waiting for a cool cup of cream?

From its roots in 1986 in the mid-Missouri lake town of Osage Beach, Andy’s Frozen Custard has now grown to over 15 states and counting. Not only do I love their custard, but I also have hometown Springfield pride in this business with local roots in and national branches. Whether you visit one in Springfield, another corner of Missouri, or across the nation, Andy's is likely to win you over, just like it won me over.