Before pumpkin spice became the official flavor of fall, Babcock Dairy was experimenting with its own Halloween treat. UW–Madison food science professor William C. Winder set out to develop an ice cream flavor inspired by the season’s orange and black colors. The result was Orange Custard Chocolate Chip, a jack-o’-lantern hued mix of egg custard, orange essence, and chocolate chips. Winder, who taught at the UW from 1949 to 1981 and oversaw Babcock’s production plant, had a knack for unusual flavors. Dubbed “The Emperor of Ice Cream” by students, his creations included Sunflower, made with sunflower seeds in a butterscotch base after rising prices forced him to discontinue pistachio ice cream, and Christmas Special, a brandy-filled flavor based on mince pie. Orange Custard Chocolate Chip, however, outlasted them all, proving popular enough to earn a year-round spot in Babcock’s cold case.

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