Pawpaw Ice Cream: Creamy, Custardy & Full of Flavor

🍨 Pawpaw Ice Cream: Creamy, Custard-Rich & Made from Native Fruit

There’s something magical about the pawpaw — a fruit that tastes like the tropics but grows wild in Midwestern woods. This pawpaw ice cream captures that magic in a creamy, custard-style dessert you won’t find in stores. With flavor notes reminiscent of banana, mango, and vanilla pudding, it churns into a silky-smooth scoop that feels like a homemade treasure.

Fun fact: The American pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is North America’s largest native fruit, and it’s part of the custard apple family, which includes tropical relatives like cherimoya and soursop. Despite its lush, exotic flavor, it’s often found growing wild along riverbanks and forest edges — especially in the Midwest and Southeast.

At Dee’s Nutz and Berries in Brodhead, WI, we’ve planted over 1,300 pawpaw trees, with our first harvest expected in 2028. When we open to the public, we’ll offer seasonal events, orchard walks, and tastings — including creamy treats like this. Check our event page for upcoming happenings and join our newsletter below for recipe updates and U-pick alerts.

If you want to dive deeper into pawpaw history and growing tips, we recommend The Fruit Nut’s American Pawpaw Guide — an approachable, well-researched overview by a grower and educator.