Sweet Family Traditions
Sweet Family Traditions
This summer, Nikki’s Custard — a premium frozen custard shop — opened here in Lancaster.
Nikki’s Custard Owner Nicole Dannehl grew up in Illinois, and summer outings to ice cream shops remain a foundational memory of her younger years. After getting married, Nicole, her husband, and their family moved to Wisconsin and — in the years following — spent time in various parts of the Midwest where frozen custard is a staple dessert.
“It was definitely frozen custard country,” Nicole shared. “We fell in love with it.”
Nicole and her family eventually relocated and have called York and Lancaster counties home for two decades, while still returning often to the Midwest to see family and get their custard fix.
Even before the shop’s opening in September, Nikki’s Custard has been a family business. Nicole’s youngest daughter, Avery, is the store manager. Her daughter, Gabrielle, assists with digital media and marketing for the business, and her daughter-in-law, Katherine, manages the company’s social media accounts. Finally, Nicole’s husband, William, is the CFO and construction project manager.
“We are not a chain. This is a family business [and] we are learning as we go,” Nicole said. “I can’t even imagine someone doing it all on their own, we would sink.”
From front-of-house operations to business planning and strategy, Nikki’s Custard thrives thanks to the entire family’s efforts. Before opening the shop, the Dannehl family attended an educational course where they learned the basics of custard making. Once their foundation was established, the team began to tweak and test the classic recipes until they crafted unique flavor profiles that they loved enough to sell in their shop.
By incorporating local ingredients and regional dairy products, Nicole creates signature vanilla and chocolate custards, as well as a list of rotating specialty flavors. Their traditional custard base contains local dairy and egg mixed to form a creamy and rich consistency. Fresh chocolate and vanilla bean are folded into the custard batches, creating the classic flavors customers know and love, while ensuring their recipes distinguish themselves from all other ice cream products.
Unique specialty flavors at Nikki’s Custard provide the team with a space for creativity and experimentation. A few popular flavors that have made an appearance in the past include FlufferNutter, a delicious toasted marshmallow custard with mini marshmallows, Fluff, and Nutter-Butter cookies and lemon raspberry tart, which consists of a creamy vanilla custard and lemon snap pie crust with drizzles of lemon and raspberry sauce.
In addition to the array of traditional custard options, Nikki’s Custard began featuring non-dairy and vegan options on their menu after perfecting an exceptionally creamy oat milk soft-serve and water-based sorbets with tangy fruit flavors.
“It turns out that our vegan community and our non-dairy community have been pleasantly surprised, too,” Nicole said. “We didn’t realize there was such a void for them.”
Patrons can customize their frozen treats with a rotating selection of toppings, including Butterfingers, coconut shavings, Wilbur Bud mini-chips, rainbow sprinkles, and Swedish Fish.
As a true believer that frozen custard is one of the best treats available, Dannehl has intentionally created recipes and a full menu of items that appeal to the whole family.
“Most places like ours cater toward children,” Nicole said. “This is really about the parents [and] about the adults. Our frozen custard shop is all about adult comfort food.”
They incorporate this more sophisticated custard approach with sauces like sour cherry, raspberry, coffee caramel, butterscotch, and even a spicy hot honey drizzle.
From their approachable staff members to their focus on maintaining impeccable standards of cleanliness, the Nikki’s Custard team prides itself on cultivating an incredibly welcoming atmosphere for families, individuals, and groups of friends alike to stop by when they are craving a sweet treat.
While there is no indoor seating, the patio at Nikki’s Custard is available for a quick sit with family and friends. Nicole commissioned a mural from local artist Jordan Swartz (FLL’s Creative Director!) to complete the courtyard. The mural features flora native to Lancaster County, drawing people in with its vibrant display of pride for the area in which Nikki’s Custard was established.
Nicole and her family are immensely proud of what they have created at Nikki’s Custard — and have been pleased to receive such a positive response from the community they serve. Nicole hopes that every customer experiences the childlike joy she associates with the ice cream shops she frequented as a kid.
“When you come in for custard, you should have a good day,” Nicole said.
Stop by for a scoop of Nikki’s Custard, open Thursday through Monday from 3-9 p.m. or visit the team online at nikkiscustard.com.
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By Kylie Stoltzfus
