If youve been looking for a new way to enjoy your favorite vanilla ice cream, look to social media and one forward-thinking chef for creative inspiration. Were not talking about adding real fried chicken into a batch of frozen luscious cream. Instead of taking things at face value, think about eating ice cream that has been carefully shaped into the shape of crunchy fried chicken drumsticks.
For those keen to follow the latest food trends on social media, one search for “fried chicken ice cream” on TikTok awards you with an array of social media users dipping their hands and mouths over one sweet treat companys faux chicken drumsticks made purely from handcrafted sweets. There is a business in South Carolina called Life Raft that makes sweet, funny treats that look like yummy meals. Life Raft was started by famous pastry chef Cynthia Wong. It went from being a local food truck to being known all over the country in 2020 when the song “Not Fried Chicken” went viral on social media.
If this signature treat has piqued your curiosity, Life Rafts “not fried chicken” is made by covering chocolate cookie “bones” with waffle-flavored ice cream to match the shape of chicken drumsticks. The creamy frozen wings are then coated in white chocolate to maintain their structure and covered in crushed cornflakes to take on the appearance of real fried chicken. Beyond this desserts intricate production, what does “Not Fried Chicken” taste like, and is this confection worth all the buzzworthy hype?
Have you ever scrolled through Instagram and suddenly stopped at a picture of what looks like fried chicken but is actually… ice cream? That’s fried chicken ice cream a culinary oddity that’s been taking social media by storm. But if you’ve ever tried to purchase this trendy treat you probably experienced some serious sticker shock. I mean, $109 for a bucket of ice cream shaped like fried chicken? What gives?
As a food blogger who’s tried more weird food combinations than I care to admit, I was determined to uncover why this dessert costs so darn much. So I did some digging, and what I found was pretty eye-opening. Let’s break down the factors that make fried chicken ice cream such an expensive indulgence.
What Exactly IS Fried Chicken Ice Cream?
Let’s be clear about what we’re talking about before we get into the costs. Fried chicken ice cream isn’t just ice cream that tastes like chicken (though that does exist). “Not Fried Chicken” by Life Raft Treats is the most well-known version. It’s a carefully made ice cream bar that looks EXACTLY like a piece of fried chicken.
Their website says it’s made with waffle ice cream, a cookie “bone” covered in chocolate, caramelized white chocolate, and crushed cornflakes to make it look like real fried chicken. It’s so much alike that you would never guess it was ice cream just by looking at it!
The Factors Behind the Hefty Price Tag
1. Premium Ingredients: Not Your Average Ice Cream Base
One of the biggest factors contributing to the high cost is the quality of ingredients used. We’re not talking about mass-produced ice cream here. The creators of fried chicken ice cream typically use:
- Organic, locally-sourced dairy products
- Free-range, hormone-free eggs
- High-quality vanilla and other flavor extracts
- Real butter and cream (lots of it!)
- Specialty items like waffle pieces, caramelized white chocolate
- Carefully sourced cornflakes for the “breading”
Life Raft Treats makes their Not Fried Chicken ice cream with eggs, dairy, and produce that are all grown or raised in the area. This commitment to quality ingredients significantly increases production costs.
2. The Intricate Production Process: A Labor of Love
Vanilla ice cream isn’t enough to make fried chicken ice cream. You have to do more. It’s an extremely labor-intensive process that requires multiple stages:
- Ice Cream Base Preparation: Creating the perfect waffle-flavored ice cream base
- Molding: Shaping the ice cream to resemble chicken pieces
- “Bone” Creation: Making chocolate-covered cookie bones
- Assembly: Carefully inserting the “bones” into the ice cream
- Coating: Applying the crushed cornflake exterior for that fried look
- Freezing: Maintaining precise freezing temperatures between each stage
Each piece must be handcrafted with extreme attention to detail. There’s no automated machine that can create these novelty treats – it’s all done by skilled hands. This meticulous process takes hours and requires significant expertise.
3. Specialized Equipment and Skilled Labor
The creation of fried chicken ice cream requires both specialized equipment and highly skilled culinary professionals. The founder of Life Raft Treats, Cynthia Wong, is a six-time James Beard Foundation semi-finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef. That level of expertise doesn’t come cheap!
Equipment needed includes:
- Commercial-grade deep freezers
- Specialty ice cream makers
- Custom molds
- Precise temperature-controlled environments
All this specialized equipment represents a significant investment that must be recouped through product pricing.
4. Limited Availability: Exclusivity Drives Price
Fried chicken ice cream isn’t mass-produced like your typical grocery store ice cream. Life Raft Treats, for instance, is primarily a Charleston-based ice cream truck that ships nationwide through partnerships with companies like Goldbelly.
The limited production capacity means:
- Smaller batch sizes
- Higher per-unit costs
- Exclusivity premium
- Higher shipping and handling costs
When a product is hard to find, its perceived value increases, allowing producers to charge premium prices.
5. The Novelty Factor: You’re Paying for the Experience
Let’s be honest – part of what you’re paying for is the sheer novelty and Instagram-worthiness of the product. Fried chicken ice cream is as much an experience as it is a dessert.
The joy of seeing your friends’ confused faces when you bite into what appears to be fried chicken only to reveal it’s actually ice cream? That reaction alone might be worth the price tag for some folks!
Is It Worth the Price?
Now for the million-dollar question (or in this case, the $109 question): Is fried chicken ice cream worth the steep price?
That’s honestly a subjective decision. If you’re a foodie who values unique culinary experiences and has the disposable income, you might find the splurge worthwhile. For others, it might seem like an unnecessary extravagance.
If you’re curious but not ready to commit to a full $109 bucket, some good news: Life Raft Treats does sell individual Not Fried Chicken bars for $4.99 at select retailers including some Whole Foods Markets, Central Markets, FreshDirect, Foxtrot Market, and Savi Provisions. So you can satisfy your curiosity without emptying your wallet!
Can You Make It At Home?
Technically, yes. Practically? Well, that’s another story. Making fried chicken ice cream at home would require:
- Advanced ice cream making skills
- Lots of patience
- Specialized equipment
- A good understanding of chocolate tempering
- Multiple freezers (ideally)
While there are some recipes online that might guide you, replicating the professional quality and appearance would be extremely challenging. Most home cooks would struggle to achieve the same level of detail and presentation that makes the commercial versions so impressive.
FAQs About Fried Chicken Ice Cream
Q: Does fried chicken ice cream actually taste like chicken?
A: No! Despite its appearance, it doesn’t taste like chicken at all. The most popular versions taste like waffle ice cream with hints of vanilla and caramel.
Q: How long does fried chicken ice cream last in the freezer?
A: Like most premium ice creams, it’s best consumed within 1-2 months of purchase to maintain optimal flavor and texture.
Q: Are there vegan versions available?
A: Some specialty ice cream shops offer vegan versions using plant-based alternatives to dairy and eggs.
Q: Is this just a passing trend?
A: While the novelty might wear off eventually, the craftsmanship involved suggests it could remain a specialty dessert for those seeking unique culinary experiences.
The Bottom Line: You Get What You Pay For
The exorbitant price of fried chicken ice cream reflects the premium ingredients, complex production process, skilled labor, limited availability, and novelty factor involved in its creation. While it may not be a dessert for everyday indulgence, it represents a unique culinary experience that some find worth the splurge.
So next time you see that $109 price tag, you’ll understand exactly what goes into creating this bizarre but fascinating dessert. And hey, if you do decide to take the plunge, at least now you can justify the expense to your friends (or your budget conscience) with all these fancy facts!
Have you ever tried fried chicken ice cream? Was it worth the price? Drop me a comment below – I’d love to hear about your experience with this unusual treat!
If you enjoyed this deep dive into expensive food trends, make sure to check out my other articles on culinary curiosities. And remember, sometimes the most memorable food experiences are the ones that make your wallet cry a little!
The details behind Life Raft’s Not Fried Chicken
While you can bread your chicken with crushed-up ice cream cones, combining real chicken and vanilla ice cream may not sound like the most appetizing idea. Alternatively, you may want to focus your tastebuds on dessert and try one of Life Rafts “Not Fried Chicken” drumsticks. One TikTok user claims these sturdy ice cream chicken pieces smell like “sweet waffle cones” and taste delicious with a profoundly satisfying crunchy exterior.
Yet, as you may have gathered, if you live outside Charleston, South Carolina, a bucket of “Not Fried Chicken” will cost you roughly $110 when purchased through the GoldBelly website. This significant amount of money awards you with nine ice cream drumsticks delivered in a handy ice cream bucket. However, beyond the ice cream bars unique structure, what makes these whimsical chicken drumsticks so expensive?
Life Raft founder Cynthia Wong prides herself on using local ingredients to source her one-of-a-kind desserts, so in part, youre paying for the care and attention she uses to craft these unconventional ice cream bars. The TikTok user above and many other ice cream fans think that Life Raft’s “Not Fried Chicken” ice cream is worth the high price. If you want to know more about the Life Raft company, you might decide if you want to try these unique treats.