When it comes to ice cream, flavors have become more and more experimental, and there are times when the simplicity of a vanilla cone from McDonald's just can't be beaten. This timeless dessert has been offered by this American fast-food giant since its inception, proving that people still love it.
In 1956, the Golden Arches was the first to put ice cream on its menu after founder Ray Kroc acquired Taylor Company Ice Cream Machines. Nowadays, these machines produce creamy soft serve that is typical for the brand. With intermittent malfunctions, McDonald's vanilla cones remain a favorite among many people as they are affordable and sweet treats worth around $1.29 each but may vary in diverse regions.
What's in a McDonald's Ice Cream?
One question on many people's minds is what makes up McDonald's vanilla soft serve. The website of the company gives a list of ingredients that are familiar, like milk, cream, and sugar, as well as more complex additives. In other words, milk, sugar, cream, corn syrup, natural flavor, mono and diglycerides, cellulose gum, guar gum, carrageenan, and vitamin A palmitate constitute its entire ingredient list.
These additives have functions they perform. An example is when emulsifiers such as mono and diglycerides are used to prevent oil and water separation. At the same time, cellulose gum and guar gum maintain a thick, creamy texture. Also derived from red seaweed is carrageenan, known for its thickening properties and medicinal uses. Another common dairy vitamin is Vitamin A palmitate, added for nutritional purposes.
Your Favorite Ice Cream Contains 'Reduced Fat'
However, these ingredients are necessary for a McDonald's ice cream to have the anticipated fluffy and fine texture.
McDonald's soft serve is labeled as "reduced fat" nutritionally, having 200 calories and 5 grams of fat in a small cone and 300 calories and 8 grams of fat in a large one. The relatively low amount of fat, when compared with traditional ice cream at 10% milk fat, is accounted for by the range of milk fats in soft serve, which goes from 3 to 6%.
This lightness is attributed to the lower fat content of McDonald's cones and their swirled appearance; they are classified under "frozen desserts" rather than ice cream according to USDA standards. That's why The Daily Meal said that since this is a soft serve containing milk fat, it's not an ice cream. McDonald's calls it "Vanilla Soft Serve Cone" or simply "Vanilla Cone."
Nevertheless, while McDonald's may not be the healthiest place on earth, its vanilla cones still maintain their classic taste and satisfying texture, giving them an edge over other types of cones, including those served at home for those who want nostalgia.
