The Silly and Delightful Origin of Germany's Spaghetti Ice Cream

If you've ever chuckled at Buddy the Elf's extravagant breakfast concoction in the movie "Elf"—a plate piled high with candy, Pop-Tarts, and syrup-slathered spaghetti—you might think the combination is purely a product of holiday whimsy. While Buddy's breakfast might not appeal to most palates, the idea of turning pasta into a sweet treat isn't as far-fetched as it seems. Enter Germany's spaghettieis: a dessert that's equal parts charming and delicious.

The Birth of a Whimsical Treat

Spaghettieis is a German specialty that looks like a plate of spaghetti but is actually a delightful mound of ice cream "noodles" topped with whipped cream, a fruity red sauce, and grated white chocolate. The creative genius behind this playful dessert is Dario Fontanella, an Italian-German ice cream maker who drew inspiration from an unexpected source.

On a skiing trip in France, Fontanella ordered a Mont Blanc, a classic French dessert made by pressing chestnut cream through a pastry bag to create a pile of creamy "noodles." However, the restaurant he visited had a quirky twist: they used a spaetzle maker instead. This substitution resulted in the chestnut puree looking remarkably like pasta, and Fontanella's imagination was sparked.

A Delicious Experiment

Back in his ice cream parlor, Fontanella began experimenting with the spaetzle maker, trying to recreate the noodle-like appearance with ice cream. His initial attempts were less than perfect, but after a series of trials, he discovered that the secret was to use an ice-cold spaetzle maker. To enhance the illusion, he settled on vanilla ice cream for its pale, spaghetti-like color.

The first few times Fontanella served spaghettieis, the reaction was priceless. Children, expecting a traditional sundae, would often burst into tears when presented with what appeared to be a plate of pasta. "Since they ordered a sundae, they were rather disappointed about getting a pasta dish," Fontanella's wife, Desi, told Smithsonian Magazine. However, once the kids realized they were actually about to enjoy ice cream, their disappointment quickly turned to delight.

A Sensation in Germany and Beyond

Spaghettieis quickly became a hit, charming both locals and tourists alike. Today, millions of servings are enjoyed annually at ice cream shops across Germany. But you don't have to travel to Deutschland to savor this unique treat. Spaghettieis has crossed the Atlantic, finding a home on the menus of several ice cream parlors in the U.S. For instance, Holy Moly Ice Cream in Cape Coral, Florida, offers the dish in 20 different flavors.

Making Spaghettieis at Home

If you can't find a local spot serving spaghettieis, why not try making it yourself? Here's a simple recipe to recreate this delightful dessert at home:

1. Prepare the Base: Fill a cold bowl with a generous dollop of whipped cream.

2. Create the Noodles: Using an ice-cold potato ricer or spaetzle maker, press vanilla ice cream through the device to form your ice cream noodles.

3. Add the Sauce: Drizzle strawberry or raspberry sauce over the ice cream noodles, mimicking the look of marinara sauce.

4. Finish with Toppings: Sprinkle grated white chocolate on top to resemble Parmesan cheese.

And there you have it—a dessert that not only looks playful but tastes heavenly. The next time you're in the mood for a sweet treat with a twist, why not whip up some spaghettieis and enjoy a taste of German ingenuity and whimsy?