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Dripping Springs has a new kid in town, and it’s bringing small-batch, craft ice cream to the area.
Flight Ice Creams was started in June by Matt Sorenson, a PhD scientist with the University of Texas at Austin. A mobile pop-up, the business serves high-quality ice cream at events for businesses, nonprofits, schools and communities — even including more intimate gatherings such as birthday parties. Operating in part out of the Dripping Springs Chocolate Company’s kitchen, the business sells only pre-packaged products, allowing customers to enjoy their desserts dripfree.
The idea for Flight Ice Creams began in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My son asked me, ‘Daddy, can we try to make our own ice cream?’” Sorenson said. “I thought it’d be a great way to engage with my son and potentially make something that I would love too. Next thing I knew, I’d started sharing with the neighbors.”
For Sorenson, this was a different type of science experiment. He tried various recipes and styles, settling on a simple recipe only requiring milk, cream and sugar.
“[I] quickly learned that the simpler the recipe, the more delicious the ice cream,” he explained. Unlike many pre-packaged ice creams, Flight Ice Creams does not use any fillers, thickeners, or stabilizing ingredients.
Neighbors began leaving money at Sorenson’s doorstep, along with raving reviews. This is when the wheels started turning, Sorenson says. This could be a business.
Sorenson started researching the business opportunity in 2021. Dripping Springs did not have a local ice-cream maker, but retail space was too expensive for a dedicated brick and mortar location, he said.
“You can’t make ice cream just anywhere,” he explained. “You need to make it in a permitted, commercial kitchen. The best partner came about in DS Chocolate Company because we don’t need much — just fridge and freezer space, mostly. We rent kitchen space from them when they’re not using it.”
In addition to partnering with the chocolate company for retail space, Flight Ice Creams also uses the company’s product in some of its flavors.
“Something that sets us apart is the way we work with and support local businesses,” Sorenson said. “Community members have really started renovating with ingredients from other local companies.”
Flight Ice Creams has partnered with Weathered Hands Farmhouse Coffee for coffee ice cream, steeped and cold brewed in whole milk. The business has also worked with several local breweries to create beer- or bourbon-flavored, non-alcoholic ice cream, including Fitzhugh Brewing, Ghost Note Brewing and Acopon Brewing Company.
“It’s taking off way faster than any of our predictions, doubling and tripling the projections,” Sorenson said. “I’m learning so much, and I’m excited to see where it goes.”
To find Flight Ice Creams’ next pop-up, visit flighticecreams.com.
