Decoding Dessert: What Ice Creams Have Eggs in Them?

November 10, 2025 •

5 min read

While many assume all ice cream is made the same way, the inclusion of eggs is a key difference that defines the style and texture of certain frozen treats. A significant portion of the premium market, especially French-style and custard-based varieties, relies on egg yolks for its rich, creamy consistency, which can be a vital detail for those with egg allergies or dietary restrictions. This guide will clarify what ice creams have eggs in them and how to identify them.

Quick Summary

This guide explains that French-style and frozen custard are the primary types of ice cream containing eggs. It details how egg yolks create a rich, dense texture and advises on how to check for eggs by examining ingredient lists and recognizing their characteristic properties. It also provides examples of both egg-based and egg-free brands to help consumers make informed choices.

Key Points

Custard vs. Ice Cream: French-style ice cream and frozen custard are made with egg yolks, while Philadelphia-style is eggless.
Key Role of Egg Yolks: Eggs act as a natural emulsifier, binding fat and water to create a richer, creamier texture and preventing the formation of large ice crystals.
Check the Label: The most reliable method is to read the ingredient list for "egg yolks" or other egg products, as they are designated allergens.
Look for Visual Cues: Egg-based ice creams often have a pale yellow tint and are denser, while eggless versions are whiter and typically lighter in texture.
Notable Brands: Brands like Culver's (custard) and some Tillamook flavors often contain eggs, while brands such as Chapman's and many vegan lines offer egg-free alternatives.
Understand the Style: Ice creams labeled "French vanilla" or "frozen custard" are almost certain to contain eggs.

Understanding the Two Main Styles of Ice Cream

To determine what ice creams have eggs in them, it is essential to understand the two primary production styles: French-style and Philadelphia-style. This distinction is the most important factor in whether a recipe includes eggs. The inclusion of eggs serves a crucial purpose, acting as a natural emulsifier that prevents ice crystals from forming, thus ensuring a smooth and luxurious finish.

French-Style (Custard-Based) Ice Cream

French-style ice cream, also known as custard-based, is renowned for its rich, dense, and velvety texture, which is a direct result of incorporating cooked egg yolks into the base. The process involves heating milk, cream, sugar, and egg yolks together to create a smooth custard before chilling and churning. Because of this method, any ice cream labeled as "frozen custard" or "French vanilla" is almost certain to contain eggs. According to the FDA, a product labeled "frozen custard" must contain at least 1.4% egg yolk solids by weight. The cooked egg yolks also give the ice cream a deeper yellow hue, a visual cue for its creamy richness.

Commonly Egg-Based Varieties:

French Vanilla
Frozen Custard (e.g., from brands like Culver's)
Some artisan or premium homemade ice creams
Specific decadent flavors like Tiramisu or Eggnog

Philadelphia-Style (Eggless) Ice Cream

In contrast, Philadelphia-style ice cream is made without eggs, using a simple base of milk, cream, sugar, and flavorings. This style is less rich and often has a lighter, airier texture because it lacks the natural emulsifying properties of egg yolks. To compensate, many modern Philadelphia-style recipes might use stabilizers or alternative thickeners like cornstarch or cream cheese to achieve a smoother consistency. Many mainstream commercial brands and dairy-free alternatives fall into this category.

Typical Eggless Varieties:

Many standard vanilla and chocolate ice creams
No-churn ice cream recipes
Sorbet and sherbet (which have no dairy or have a very low dairy content)
Vegan or dairy-free versions

How to Identify Ice Creams with Eggs

Beyond the style, several other indicators can help you determine whether an ice cream contains eggs. For those with allergies, vigilance is key, and relying on more than just the name is crucial.

Reading the Ingredient Label

The most definitive way to check for eggs is to read the ingredient list. Look for the terms "egg yolks," "eggs," or "egg solids." Since eggs are a common allergen, they are clearly listed in the allergens section of most packaging in many countries. For example, a London Dairy Tiramisu product explicitly states that it contains egg.

The Visual and Textural Clues

Color: French-style ice cream often has a distinctly pale yellow tint from the egg yolks, whereas Philadelphia-style or eggless versions are typically a whiter color. While not a foolproof method due to added food coloring, it can be a useful starting point.
Texture: The high fat content and emulsifying power of egg yolks make custard-based ice creams exceptionally dense, smooth, and rich. Eggless ice creams, without stabilizers, can be lighter and may have a slightly icier texture, though this varies greatly by brand and production method. Frozen custard is known for having less air whipped in, making it even denser than some premium ice creams.

Brands with and Without Eggs

Navigating the frozen aisle can be challenging, but many brands are transparent about their recipes.

Brands That Include Eggs (or Custard-Style)

Tillamook: This brand has historically used egg yolk in many of its traditional ice cream recipes, though it is always best to check the specific flavor's label.
London Dairy: Some of their premium flavors, like Tiramisu, explicitly contain egg ingredients.
Certain Cadbury Flavors: Limited-edition or special ice creams, such as the Cadbury Creme Egg ice cream, include egg ingredients in their recipe.
Culver's: Known for its fresh frozen custard, which by definition contains egg yolks.

Brands That Offer Egg-Free Options

Chapman's: This brand explicitly markets several of its product lines as egg-free, catering to allergy-conscious consumers.
Breyers: Some of their basic flavors, such as Natural Vanilla, are often egg-free, though specific flavor formulas can vary.
Talenti: Many of their popular gelato flavors are traditionally egg-free, though it is wise to check individual product labels.
Melvados: This brand offers a clear "Eggless" line of ice creams and sorbets.
Ben & Jerry's (Dairy-Free): Their extensive non-dairy line uses bases like oat milk and coconut cream and is therefore eggless.

Comparison Table: Egg-Based vs. Eggless Ice Cream


Feature	Egg-Based (French/Custard Style)	Eggless (Philadelphia Style)
Key Ingredient	Egg yolks	No eggs
Texture	Dense, rich, and creamy	Lighter and airier
Emulsifier	Natural lecithin from egg yolks	May use stabilizers or none at all
Color	Pale to deep yellow	Generally whiter
Flavor Profile	Often richer and more complex	Purer, less complex dairy flavor
Production	Cooked custard base	Uncooked base

Why Eggs are a Valued Ingredient in Ice Cream

Eggs play a pivotal role in the science of crafting premium ice cream. The yolk, in particular, contains a compound called lecithin, a powerful natural emulsifier. In ice cream, water and fat are two components that do not mix naturally. Lecithin helps to bind them together, creating a stable, smooth, and uniform mixture that is less prone to separation and crystallization. This is why egg-based ice creams feel so silky and luxurious on the tongue. By preventing the formation of large ice crystals during freezing, egg yolks contribute to an overall better mouthfeel and a longer-lasting scoopable texture. This is why they are so prevalent in homemade recipes and high-end artisanal products. To learn more about making ice cream with eggs, resources like BBC Food offer detailed custard-based recipes.

Conclusion

For those seeking egg-free options, a simple Philadelphia-style ice cream or a vegan alternative is the safest bet, but always check the ingredient label to be sure. Frozen custard and French-style recipes are almost guaranteed to contain egg yolks, prized for their ability to create a dense, rich, and ultra-creamy dessert. Ultimately, whether an ice cream has eggs depends on its style and recipe, so checking the label and knowing the differences between custard-based and eggless varieties is the most reliable approach for any consumer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, authentic French vanilla ice cream is made with an egg-custard base, which gives it a rich flavor and a characteristic pale yellow color. Some commercial versions may use artificial flavorings without eggs, but a genuine French vanilla recipe requires them.

The most reliable method is to check the product's ingredient list and allergy warnings. Look for eggs, egg yolks, or egg solids listed. You can also look for descriptive terms on the packaging, such as "custard-style" or "French-style".

Eggs, specifically the yolks, act as a natural emulsifier and thickening agent. They bind the fat and water together, creating a smoother, denser texture and preventing the formation of large, icy crystals during the freezing process.

Frozen custard is a specific type of ice cream that is legally required to contain a minimum of 1.4% egg yolk solids by weight. All frozen custard is ice cream with eggs, but not all ice cream with eggs is legally defined as frozen custard.

No, dairy-free and vegan ice creams, by definition, do not contain eggs, as they are animal products. These alternatives use plant-based milks and stabilizers to achieve their creamy texture.

Yes, many brands offer egg-free options. Chapman's has several labeled egg-free lines, and many of Breyers' standard flavors do not contain eggs. It is still crucial to read the label for specific allergens.

Sorbet is typically a dairy-free dessert made from fruit puree and sugar, so it does not contain eggs. Sherbet, however, contains dairy and sometimes eggs, so checking the ingredient list is necessary.