A Nostalgic Journey Through Flavors

Rediscover the Magic of Old-Fashioned Butter Brickle Ice Cream

Remember the joy of savoring a scoop of Old-Fashioned Butter Brickle Ice Cream? This delightful treat, sadly missing from supermarket freezers today, was a childhood favorite for many. But fret not, because now you can recreate this nostalgic ice cream right in your own kitchen. Prepare yourself for a journey of exquisite flavors!

Back in the day, I decided it was high time to take matters into my own hands and make this beloved ice cream from scratch. And let me tell you, it turned out to be the real deal. Everyone who has tasted it agrees that it captures the essence of the original Butter Brickle Ice Cream. Trust me, it’s absolutely delightful!

This weekend, I whipped up a batch of Old-Fashioned Butter Brickle Ice Cream for a picnic, and it was a huge hit. Toffee-flavored ice cream infused with generous amounts of toffee bits—it’s a heavenly combination. I couldn’t resist sharing this recipe with you, my dear readers. After all, it’s my all-time favorite ice cream, and it deserves to be celebrated.

I can’t help but wonder why this delectable treat vanished from the shelves of grocers decades ago. It’s such a shame, really. The rich and buttery toffee flavor, enhanced by the delightful crunch of toffee bits, is truly the stuff of childhood dreams.

Let me take you back to my own childhood. I grew up on St. Madelaine St. in Florissant, MO, a charming suburb of St. Louis. Those were the days when every street had a Catholic name, and the local church and school were just a short walk away from our home.

Living on that street meant endless playtime with other kids in the neighborhood. Summer days were filled with trips to the community pool, games of “King of the Hill” in the daytime, and thrilling sessions of flashlight tag after nightfall.

Being a tomboy, I tagged along with my older brother and younger sibling, emulating everything they did. One of my proudest moments was beating all the boys in a road race down the hill, despite riding a bike with balloon tires. I might have been hesitant at first, but my determination to keep up with the boys pushed me to take risks. I even conquered my fear of high dives, performing swan dives and cannonballs like a pro.

But I was unique in many ways too. While I enjoyed rough and tumble activities, I also loved reading and playing with Barbie dolls (I never went to the basement during thunderstorms without them!). I even started talking earlier than my older brother.

One Sunday morning, I climbed out of my crib and snatched the Sunday morning stollen from the kitchen table. I clambered into my brother’s crib, and together, we devoured the delicious treat. Of course, I conveniently pinned the blame on him. Oops!

I must say, it was quite a trek for little kids, but it never felt too long. One of my fondest memories of those summers was our trips to Bergen’s Dairy on Florissant Road. Although they no longer exist, I can still vividly recall the experience, thanks to the magic of Google maps.

We walked quite a distance, eager to earn our ice cream. As we arrived at Bergen’s Dairy, I would peruse the menu board, but nothing ever captivated me as much as Butter Brickle ice cream. There was an unexplainable allure to it, a taste that no other flavor could match. It breaks my heart that Butter Brickle ice cream has become a rare gem. Why isn’t every dairy producing it, even if just for me?

Locating Butter Brickle ice cream has proven to be a challenge. There are two local spots that offer it, but neither is within walking distance. Sometimes, an ice cream craving simply should not require a 40-minute round trip in the car. I yearn for the complete experience—a warm summer night, a leisurely walk home, relishing a delectable cone while fireflies dance in the night. Those were the moments of perfection that dotted my childhood.

But alas, I am all grown up now. Perfection is fleeting, and we must seek those precious moments in the midst of our chaotic lives. I thought I had stumbled upon my perfect Butter Brickle ice cream when a local shop agreed to share their recipe with me. Oh, the excitement! But then they had a change of heart, leaving me feeling disappointed. That disappointment fueled my determination to create the ice cream myself. And let me tell you, it turned out to be really, really good! In fact, during my quest to recreate it, I discovered some fascinating facts.

Butter Brickle was a registered trademark for a toffee-flavored ice cream and a toffee-centered chocolate-covered candy bar similar to the famous Heath bar. The Fenn Bros. Ice Cream and Candy Company, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, produced both the flavor and the candy. The story of Old-Fashioned Butter Brickle Ice Cream began in the 1920s at the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha, NE. When the company ceased operations in the 1970s, the trademark and formula were acquired by the makers of the Heath Bar. Eventually, The Hershey Company acquired the assets of the Heath Bar in 1996. You can still see references to Butter Brickle’s history on the packaging of Heath English Toffee Bits, which are the perfect addition to this iconic flavor.

While searching for a recipe, I came across several options that involved using eggs. But that wasn’t true to the essence of MY Butter Brickle ice cream. Another popular recipe called for “butter flavoring,” which just didn’t sit right with me. So, I decided to blaze my own trail. In my quest to capture the rich and buttery toffee taste, I created a delightful butterscotch sauce. I simmered it until it thickened and turned a beautiful shade of brown. Adding this luscious sauce to the ice cream base intensified the toffee flavor profile.

Initially, I considered making my own toffee and breaking it into small pieces. However, I quickly discarded the idea. Breaking up homemade toffee seemed like a recipe for disaster—I imagined more toffee dust than actual bits. Plus, excluding homemade candy from the recipe made everything so much easier. And after all, what could be more authentic than incorporating the original product? The result is pure decadence, just as I remember it. I’m absolutely smitten!

If the mere thought of Old-Fashioned Butter Brickle Ice Cream makes your mouth water, then you’ll definitely want to save this recipe for future reference. It’s a timeless classic that’s sure to bring joy to all who indulge in its creamy goodness.

So, gather your ingredients, follow the simple steps, and embark on a scrumptious journey down memory lane. Prepare to be transported to a time when life seemed simpler, flavors tasted richer, and ice cream created the perfect moments of bliss.

To explore more delightful ice cream flavors and satisfy your sweet tooth, visit Ice Cream