Rain or shine, the arched canopy of East Coast Custard's original Parma Heights location has been drawing frozen custard lovers since 1985, when owners Ivan and Rosalyn Platt served their first vanilla cone. "Ivan had visited Euclid Beach [Park] and remembered the delicious custard," says Rosalyn. "He wanted to bring that kind of custard back to Cleveland." Although they've since expanded to five locations, they still use Dairymens to prepare the custard base recipe that serves as a starting point for all 100 rotating house-mixed flavors, including Pearl Road Crunch ($2.40 for a small). Named after the street on which the original shop sits, it starts with melted chocolate poured into a vanilla frozen custard base to create chips of rich cocoa, while a hearty handful of chopped cashews temper the sweetness with a chewy, salty crunch. Variations of the flavor exist at other locations — Mentor Ave. Crunch in Mentor, or Mayfield Road Crunch in Lyndhurst — all of which are served every Saturday. While East Coast offers plenty of toppings to go with its custards, this dessert is best enjoyed on its own. "It's a mini sundae in a cone," Rosalyn says. 6240 Pearl Road, Parma Heights, 440-842-7003, eastcoastcustard.com
These five frozen custards put a twist on the creamy treat.
German Chocolate Cake, $2.75*
Biggie's Custard
While experimenting with different flavorings in blends of vanilla and chocolate frozen custard, the owners of Biggie's discovered that adding a couple drops of nutty coconut flavoring created the taste of a rich German chocolate cake. 5665 Andrews Road, Mentor-on-the-Lake
Original Euclid Beach Park Custard, $2.85
Sandy's Frozen Whip
Mere blocks from Euclid Beach Park, Sandy's uses a recipe similar to one served at the former park — which results in an extra-creamy vanilla custard — for a dessert that's as iconic as the famed carousel. 17635 Lakeshore Blvd., Cleveland, 216-531-9400
Raspberry Pomegranate, $2.75
Stoddard's Frozen Custards
This vanilla custard, disguised in a fun shade of pink, combines sweet and sour thanks to the tart tang of pomegranate and a fruity burst of raspberry. 1321 W. Main St., Kent, 330-673-2991, stoddardsfrozencustard.com
Red Velvet Cake, $2.55
Rosati's Frozen Custard
You can have your cake and custard too with this flavor designed by Jim and Marcia Rosati. Chunks of house-made red velvet cake compete for your taste buds with Philadelphia cream cheese swirls in a red velvet cake frozen custard. 95 E. Aurora Road, Northfield Center, 330-908-0889, rosatisfrozencustard.com
Salty Caramel Truffle, $3.50
Fenik's Frozen Custard
Reining in custard lovers with its light caramel flavor, this freshly made Fenik's-favorite custard is dotted with tiny chocolate caramel truffles containing just a hint of a salty kick for that ultimate savory taste. 684 Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake, 440-930-8499, feniksfrozencustard.com
*all prices for small sizes
