Jarling’s Custard Cup is the latest Champaign-Urbana food favorite to be available for nationwide shipping. How to send out C-U’s favorite frozen treat to friends and loved ones (and info on what else to send out, while you’re at it)
There’s no question that Jarling’s Custard Cup holds a special place in the hearts of many people who have lived in – and left – Champaign-Urbana.
Now, just in time for holiday gifting, Custard Cup is offering nationwide shipping of its quarts, pies, ice cream sandwiches – and even sundae toppings. (The last part is particularly great news for fans of Jarling’s cold fudge, which is unique – and hard to come by anywhere else.)
Flavors available include strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, and lemon; the flavor of the week may also be available. Pies are available in six different flavors, including Heath Crackle, Illini, Lemon Chiffon, Snickerette, Tortoise, and German Chocolate (full descriptions of the flavors and ingredients are available on the website).
So what does this all cost? Well, that depends. There are a variety of options – from a an eight-pack of mix-and-match items (most expensive, at $75) to one pie ($45).
The price includes the fees for the custom freezer packs, which includes a foam cooler packed with dry ice. The actual shipping cost varies by where you are sending the gift. In some cases, the shipping might be more than the custard.
Order by 10 pm on Friday, and your custard will be shipped out the following week.
Jarling’s Custard Cup, located on Kirby Avenue across the street from Hessel Park, has been a Champaign icon since 1987. For many years, Custard Cup closed for the winter; its spring opening dates were always much celebrated.
After a period of uncertainty regarding the future of “the Cup” during the spring of 2015, the Jarling family sold the business in 2016 to a group of investors that included former Illini coaches Ron Turner, Bruce Weber and others. It has been operated by that group ever since. It celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2018.
The new owners decided to keep Jarling’s Custard Cup open year round, and abandoned the winter closure. Another more recent innovative addition to the Custard Cup experience: the drive thru, which has certainly come in handy during the pandemic.
If you are looking for more tastes of Champaign-Urbana’s favorite foods, here are a few items that are also available for shipping out across the United States.
Prairie Fruits Farm cheeses, meats, and more:
The delectable goat cheese served by our friends at the one and only Prairie Fruits Farm is available for shipping nationwide. If you’re not familiar with Prairie Fruits Farm, this is one of the more unique and scrumptious Champaign-Urbana delights – a farmstead goat creamery that makes multiple different goat’s milk (and other milk) cheeses, as well as other products.
It’s become a must-visit stop for families too, thanks to the baby goats every spring (below).
Prairie Fruits Farm has made its online store offerings very flexible, with many different price points too. It has also partnered with other foodie pals to create themed gift boxes such as the brunch in a box or the meat lovers box. Or you can keep it simple with just cheese – it’s up to you. (I don’t know what I would do without the chevre. Yes, we may have a problem.)
Here’s how to make your or a loved one’s goat cheese dreams come true: order online from the Prairie Fruits Farm website.
- It will take 1-3 days from when your order is shipped to receive your order.
- They ship on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week.
Columbia Street Roastery:
Columbia Street Roastery is the official coffee provider of many of your favorite Champaign-Urbana restaurants. Their beans power many a late night – and early morning, too.
The holidays bring out some of our favorite flavored combinations (Holiday Cheer, Christmas in a Cup, Santa’s Secret, Cranberry Creme Brûlée, Crazy Elf, White Christmas, Pumpkin Pie, White Peppermint Mocha – who can pick?), and they are plentiful.
While Columbia Street Roastery is best known for coffee, they also have a wide range of teas. And their mug game is on point – be sure to check it out, if you’re the type that likes to put together a few items.
Here’s what to know about getting your favorite Champaign-Urbana coffees via Columbia Street Roastery:
- They ship – fast (locally, too).
- Free shipping for orders over $36.
- This stuff doesn’t have to be refrigerated or kept cold.
Papa Del’s pizza:
Yes, it’s possible to order your favorite Papa Del’s pizza – complete with your favorite toppings – and have it shipped out, almost anywhere. Because of the customization available and the overnight shipping required, here’s a few things to know about to make your loved one’s Papa Del’s dream come true:
- Each box is shipped with 5 pounds of dry ice to keep the pizza(s) frozen.
- This is a fairly costly process; however, adding additional pizzas to the order does not affect the shipping charges greatly. For example, 1 pizza may be $80 (all costs included), and 2 pizzas may be $95.
- Papa Del’s will send pizzas anywhere that accepts overnight shipping.
- Orders can be placed to ship 1 week in advance.
- Papa Del’s need at least a day to make and especially freeze the pizzas.