Fresh from
Cow to Cone
Since 1985, we’ve been making desserts the way they should be made... old-fashioned, from scratch, with the best dairy and dairy-free ingredients, real chocolate, fresh local flavors, and house-made toppings.
Meet John and Mary
John and Mary Zielnicki started our business in 1985, after their son-in-law Pete brought frozen custard inspiration from Milwaukee, home of the iconic Leon’s, and knew it would be a perfect fit for Illinois.
In those early days, John even kept a cot in the storage room, working around the clock alongside his family to make ends meet and build something special together.
John (who worked until he was 96) passed the business on to his daughters, Linda and Mary, and son-in-law Peter. Today, Linda leads the day-to-day operations alongside Peter’s son, Pete — four generations strong and proudly honoring the life, work, and legacy of John, Mary, and Peter.
Today's Flavor
Every day, we serve Vanilla, Chocolate, and a Flavor of the Day. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, we also offer Dairy-Free (DF) Vanilla and a DF Flavor of the Day.
Community Stories
Learn about our current projects, new products and community stories.
Freezer Favorites
Checkout our carry-out items that include bars, sandwiches, cakes and pies!
Serve Julie Ann’s at Your Location
We partner with city parks, restaurants, tourism spots, churches, recreation areas, and other community destinations through our wholesale program. We deliver individually wrapped Julie Bars, Sandwiches, Pints, Shorties and more to the places people already love.
Our Most Common FAQs
Where is the shop located?
Where is the shop located?
Julie Ann’s Frozen Custard is located at 6500 Northwest Highway (Route 14) in Crystal Lake, Illinois, in the Crystal Lake Plaza near familiar spots like Country Donuts, across the street from Walgreens, and next to IHOP. We have over 40 free parking spaces right out front, making visits easy and stress-free—and many guests choose to order curbside, especially during bad weather, for a quick and convenient pickup... we bring orders right out to your car.
How does your curbside pickup work?
How does your curbside pickup work?
At Julie Ann’s, our curbside (car-hop) pickup makes grabbing your favorite frozen custard easy and fast.
If you are in a parking spot, place your order online here. If you are ordering ahead, then pull into one of our designated parking spots when you arrive and text us that you are here, and we’ll start your order and bring your order right to your car — when you’re on the go.
If you order ahead, not from a spot, we only make your order when you text us with your spot number if you order ahead so that it is not a melty mess.
How do I order a pie or cake?
How do I order a pie or cake?
Pies and cakes can be ordered online — just choose your favorites and place your order ahead of time to ensure availability, especially during holidays or busy weekends. If you have questions about flavors or sizing, our team is happy to help. You can also preorder by calling us at (815) 459-9117; the best time to call is weekday mornings, Monday through Friday, when our cake and pie crew is in.
How do I order bulk for my event?
How do I order bulk for my event?
Bulk orders can be placed right here on our website — just select your items and quantities, and quantity discounts are automatically applied. We offer delivery within McHenry County for an additional charge, though pickup is always appreciated. Bulk options include Julie Bars, Sandwiches, Dipped Cones, Shorties, Half-Gallons, and Custard Tacos, making it easy to serve a crowd.
Do you have dairy-free?
Do you have dairy-free?
Yes! We serve fresh dairy-free custard made with coconut cream on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Most of our flavors are vegan and gluten free. We also offer a wide selection of dairy-free pints and Julie Bars available in the case. Dairy-free cakes and pies are available by pre-order.
