Cold Stone Creamery: Customizable Premium Ice Cream Creations

The Origins of Cold Stone Creamery

Cold Stone Creamery opened its first ice cream shop in Tempe, Arizona in 1988. The founders were Donald and Susan Sutherland, who wanted to create an ice cream shop that was both fun and inventive. The name "Cold Stone Creamery" refers to the frozen granite stone that the employees use to incorporate mix-ins and create unique ice cream creations right in front of the customers.

Signature Ice Cream Creations

One of the things that sets Cold Stone Creamery apart from other ice cream shops is their signature style. The employees flatten the ice cream on a frozen granite stone and blend in mix-in combinations right in front of your eyes. Some of their most popular signature creations include:

• Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip: Mint ice cream loaded with chocolate chips and Oreo cookies
• Strawberry Blonde: Sweet cream ice cream with graham crackers and strawberries
• Chocolate Devotion: Chocolate ice cream with chocolate chips and brownies

Unique Mix-In Options

Customers can get creative and design their own ice cream treat by choosing from a wide variety of mix-in options. Some mouthwatering options include:

• Candies like M&M's, Reese's Pieces, gummy bears
• Fruits like strawberries, blueberries, bananas, pineapple
• Cakes and cookies like brownies, chocolate chips, Oreo, graham crackers
• Nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecan

The Ice Cream Making Process

Behind the scenes, Cold Stone Creamery puts a lot of care into making high quality ice cream. Each batch is handcrafted in smaller quantities to ensure freshness. They use real ingredients like milk, cream, sugar and egg yolks and avoid artificial flavors or preservatives.

Only the Freshest Ingredients

Cold Stone Creamery sources only the freshest and highest quality ingredients to craft their ice cream. Some of the key ingredients they use include:

• Fresh cream and milk: Adds richness, smooth texture and sweet flavor
• Cane sugar: Sweetens the ice cream in place of high fructose corn syrup often found in cheaper ice creams
• Egg yolks: Gives ice cream a light, creamy texture
• Real chocolate: Uses cocoa beans for pure chocolate flavor in flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Devotion

Small-Batch Production

Cold Stone Creamery produces their ice cream in smaller batches and handcrafts each step. This allows greater quality control compared to mass-produced ice cream. Benefits of small batch production include:

• Better oversight over ingredient quality
• Careful monitoring during freezing and hardening process
• Ability to tweak recipes for optimal flavor
• Less time sitting frozen before serving for fresher ice cream

Why Customers Love Cold Stone Creamery

Ever since the first shop opened in 1988, Cold Stone Creamery has developed a loyal customer following. So what brings ice cream lovers flocking to Cold Stone Creamery?

Inventive Flavor Combinations

Cold Stone Creamery serves up more than just everyday chocolate and vanilla. Customers keep coming back to try fun, inventive flavors like:

• Apple Pie a la Cold Stone: Vanilla ice cream with apples, cinnamon, graham crackers and caramel
• Chocolate Therapy: Chocolate ice cream loaded with chocolate chips and brownies
• Strawberry Blonde: Sweet cream ice cream with graham crackers and strawberries

Customizable Ice Cream Creations

Rather than pre-made options, customers can create their own unique frozen treat. The ability to see employees mix in all your favorite toppings and flavors right on the frozen granite stone makes the experience interactive and fun.

Focus on Quality

Customers appreciate the quality that goes into Cold Stone's ice cream. The small-batch process and use of wholesome ingredients makes flavors taste pure and delicious.

Next time you're craving inventive ice cream creations, stop by your local Cold Stone Creamery and see what sweet treat you can dream up!

FAQs

What mix-ins and flavors does Cold Stone Creamery offer?

Cold Stone allows customers to choose from a variety of mix-in options like candies, cookies, cakes, fruits and nuts to blend into your custom ice cream creation. Signature ice cream flavors include classics like sweet cream, chocolate and strawberry as well as more inventive flavors like Cake Batter and Cotton Candy.

Does Cold Stone Creamery use real ice cream ingredients?

Yes, Cold Stone Creamery makes their ice cream in small batches using wholesome real ingredients like milk, cream, sugar and egg yolks. They do not use artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.

Why is the store called Cold Stone Creamery?

The name refers to the frozen granite stone that employees use to flaten and blend the ice cream with mix-in combinations right in front of the customers to create a customized, interactive experience.

Where was the first Cold Stone Creamery located?

The very first Cold Stone Creamery opened in 1988 in Tempe, Arizona by founders Donald and Susan Sutherland. The Sutherlands sought to create an inventive and fun environment for enjoying ice cream creations.