Whit's Frozen Custard: A creamy new dessert spot in Yulee

Sometimes you just can't get enough sweet treats. And if you're over in the little plaza in Yulee where I visited B&H Desserts last week, you can stop right over at the newly opened Whit's Frozen Custard, which has been open for about three weeks now.

If you haven't heard of Whit's, it's a chain specializing in premium, freshly made frozen custard. They offer daily flavors, a rotating flavor of the week, blended treats, cookie sandwiches, specialty sundaes, and plenty of other ways to satisfy your sweet tooth. Naturally, I had to stop in and see what all the fuss was about.

When I visited around 2 p.m., I was the only customer in the store, which gave me plenty of time to look around and chat with the people behind the counter. The staff were enthusiastic, although they admitted they're still figuring things out as they get the business up and running.

Whit's was opened by Barb and Ken Porter, who were able to take advantage of Nassau County's RISE program to offset some of the county fees associated with opening their business. It's always nice to see local resources helping independent businesses get off the ground.

Inside, the store is clean, spacious, and surprisingly easy to navigate. The menu gives you plenty of options without feeling overwhelming, and there's a mural featuring the marsh, complete with a shrimp boat. It even reads, "Live local, love local, eat Whit's."

The atmosphere itself is fine, but I wouldn't necessarily choose to sit and eat there. There are tables and chairs, but personally, I'd rather grab my dessert and go.

So, what did I get?

After asking for a recommendation, I settled on a small peanut butter cookie dough Whitser. If you're unfamiliar with the name, a Whitser is Whit's version of a blended frozen custard treat, with your choice of flash-blended toppings.

And let me tell you, this thing was delicious.

The first thing that stood out was the creaminess. Frozen custard has a noticeably richer, creamier texture than your typical ice cream, and Whit's really delivers on that front. It was incredibly smooth and easy to eat, without feeling too dense or difficult to scoop through.

The peanut butter cookie dough combination was an excellent choice, too. There were plenty of cookie dough chunks throughout, and the peanut butter brought a salty richness that balanced the sweetness of the custard and cookie dough beautifully. Every bite had that creamy custard, chewy cookie dough, and salty peanut butter combo that made it hard to put down.

Honestly, it reminded me of a Dairy Queen Blizzard, but with much more prominent flavors and a creamier texture. It was a noticeably better experience than the Blizzards I've had on the Island, and I thoroughly enjoyed every bite.

In fact, it was so good that it practically became an early dinner. Apparently, sometimes you just have to accept that a really good dessert has defeated your calorie-conscious plans.

The small Whitzer cost $7, and with a tip, I ended up spending around $9. That's roughly in line with what you'd expect to pay for a Blizzard, but I felt like I got plenty for my money. Between the generous portion, the abundance of mix-ins, and the quality of the custard, I had no complaints about the price.

One of the things I appreciate most about Whit's is the sheer number of combinations available. You can get shakes, sundaes, floats, cookie sandwiches called Whitties, Whitsers, or just a scoop of custard with your choice of mix-ins. They've got Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Butterfingers, M&M's, cookie dough, brownie bites, cheesecake bites, hot fudge, caramel, fruit swirls, and plenty more.

There's nothing particularly revolutionary about the menu, but that's not really the point. It's fun to have so many options and see what kind of creation you can come up with. They also switch up their daily flavors and feature a rotating flavor of the week, giving you a reason to stop by and try something different.

That said, Whit's still feels a little like the beta version of itself. The staff are learning the ropes, and the large, mostly empty interior doesn't quite have the lived-in feel of an established spot yet. That's understandable for a business that's only been open a few weeks, and it'll be interesting to see how things develop as they find their footing.

Still, that wouldn't stop me from going back. Whit's is a great option when you're craving something sweet and want to try something a little different. I'd happily choose it over other ice cream options in the area, and I'm already curious about what the next daily flavor will be. Next time, I think I'll give one of their Whitties a try, because a cookie sandwich with frozen custard in the middle sounds pretty hard to beat.

For now, Whit's has earned itself a spot on my list of places to visit whenever the dessert craving strikes. Just be prepared to fight the parking lot on your way in.