We have seen it all when it comes to unusual food trends. From bizarre ice cream flavours to dishes that mix sweet and spicy, food creators keep pushing the limits of what we expect on a plate. But what if the food fools your eyes?
Did you know an ice cream exists that looks so much like fried chicken that you may hesitate before taking the first bite?
Meet “Not Fried Chicken”, the viral dessert from Life Raft Treats in South Carolina founded by Chef Cynthia Wong and John David Harmony.The duo even appeared on Shark Tank in 2024, but left without a deal.
They made something that looks like a fried chicken drumstick, but there is absolutely no chicken inside. It is sweet, creamy and frozen.
Created by pastry chef Cynthia Wong, the original Not Fried Chicken was developed in January 2018. Wong wanted to create an ice cream that looked like the fried chicken it was named after. The result became a novelty dessert online.
The “chicken” is actually waffle-flavoured ice cream. Its crispy-looking skin is made using caramelised white chocolate and crushed cornflakes, giving the outside a crisp finish. At the centre is a chocolate-covered pretzel “bone”, making the illusion convincing.
The fun begins at first sight. It looks savoury, but the first bite reveals creamy ice cream and a sweet, crunchy coating.
That surprise has made it perfect for Instagram and TikTok videos. People film friends being handed what appears to be fried chicken, only to capture their expressions when they discover it is dessert.
The original creation became so popular that similar fried-chicken-shaped ice cream versions began appearing from other food makers and creators.
Since then, the fried chicken ice cream idea has appeared in recipes and homemade versions online, showing how a clever food illusion can become a wider trend.
Life Raft Treats describes its creation as the original and says it is “often imitated”. Many countries have it in different brands.
For Hyderabad’s food lovers, who are always curious about the next viral bite, this dessert has all the ingredients of a social media sensation: surprise, humour and a convincing appearance.
So, the next time someone says they have found the strangest fried chicken in the world, look twice. It might not be chicken at all. It might just be ice cream playing a prank on your eyes.
