The Unexpected Ingredient In Your Chocolate Wendy's Frosty

Wendy’s chocolate frosty

Wendy’s has a few secrets you might not know about, and one of them is in the frosty. Fast-food chains offer a variety of specialty drinks and desserts, but the rich and creamy frosty is exclusive to Wendy’s. Equated to something between a soft-serve treat and a decadent milkshake, its smoothness is famous in the great land of fast food. But there’s probably a lot you don’t know about this frozen dairy delight.

Let’s start with the first secret: According to Wendy’s, to ensure a perfectly thick consistency, frosty treats are only served between 19 and 21 degrees Fahrenheit at every location. This makes the treat thick enough for a spoon, smooth enough to suck through a straw, and not to mention a nice, unexpected dipping sauce for fries. It’s a well-rounded dessert, and at only 99 cents for a small, it’s affordable too.

Another reason for the frosty’s success is that it’s slightly healthier than equivalents from other chains. Wendy’s medium classic frosty is 470 calories and has 65 grams of sugar. While that may seem like a lot, compare it to a McDonald’s chocolate shake, which comes in at 650 calories and is packed with 85 grams of sugar, and you can see why it’s a little more guilt-free (via McDonald’s). With all this information, there’s still an important question left unanswered: What exactly is in the Wendy’s frosty?

Some Wendy’s History And Fast Facts

Wendy’s employee handing drive-thru food

Wendy’s has a whole treasure trove of secrets. Here are just a few more things you probably didn’t know about its beginnings. The founder of Wendy’s, Dave Thomas, had wanted to own a restaurant since he was a kid; eating out with his father was one of his fondest memories (via Wendy’s). Later in life, Thomas found a mentor in KFC founder Colonel Sanders. He completely rejuvenated four failing KFCs, but still wanted to build something of his own. He finally saw his chance when a friend mused there were no places to buy a good lunch in Columbus, Ohio. It was here that Thomas opened the very first Wendy’s restaurant in the fall of 1969.

At the time, Wendy’s was just one small homegrown stand with no grand schemes to go global. It had a small menu of only five items: never-frozen burgers, hearty bowls of chili, french fries, bubbly soft drinks, and the iconic chocolate frosty (via Wendy’s). Thomas had the menu down, but he had a hard time finding a logo for his restaurant. Eventually, he decided to model the chain’s image after his daughter Melinda, nicknamed Wendy by her siblings, thinking she had a wholesome look that would reflect a welcoming ambiance.

According to its website, it was also in those early days that the chain introduced the first successful drive-through. Still, one of the best things to come from the restaurant in all its years in operation has got to be the frosty.

Here’s What Makes The Chocolate Wendy’s Frosty So Special

The famous Wendy’s logo

The Wendy’s chocolate frosty lends a distinct, refreshing taste much different from other fast food desserts.  The flavor is more mild compared to other decadent chocolate shakes and rich malts sold by competitors. According to Wendy’s, that’s on purpose. Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas designed the flavor as a mix of vanilla and chocolate.

The chocolate frosty has been this way since the very beginning and was even served way before the vanilla frosty came to be (via Wendy’s). With its light flavor and thick texture, it’s a great balance for those savory menu items. So, who do we have to thank for the frozen dairy treat? According to the Wendy’s blog, Fred Kappus is the brain behind the famous creation. Owner of a foodservice equipment business, Kappus got a phone call from Thomas during his search for a new menu item. Thomas thought since Kappus sold ice cream machines, he might have a recipe in mind. Well, he certainly did, and it was the cool, creamy frosty we know today.

Other than vanilla, there’s not much else we know about what’s inside the Wendy’s frosty. Much of the recipe is kept under lock and key, according to Reader’s Digest. However, there are still drool-worthy dupes you can try if you’d like to make your Wendy’s Frosty at home. Just remember not to skip the vanilla.