April Fools’ Day pranks by major food companies don’t always go as planned. In 2021, Lipton’s announcement of discontinuing its peach tea flavor—labeled “Rest in Peach”—sent shockwaves through its customer base, only for the brand to later confirm the product would remain. Similarly, McDonald’s Australian marketing stunt promising a “McFry” burger left fans feeling disappointed. However, not all April Fools’ jokes miss the mark—some, like Culver’s “Curderburger,” unexpectedly turn into major successes.
In 2021, the Wisconsin-based fast-food chain Culver’s joined the April Fools’ festivities by teasing a new menu item: the “Curderburger.” The item was introduced on social media with an image and a cheeky caption reading, “One big Wisconsin Cheese Curd under a lightly buttered, toasted bun. Isn’t it beautiful?” What was initially intended as a playful joke quickly garnered serious attention. Social media users flooded the comments, requesting that the chain make the Curderburger a reality.
From Joke to Reality
Culver’s, known for its fresh, never-frozen beef burgers, did not expect the overwhelming response. The Curderburger was simply a concept—a large fried cheese curd between two buns—meant to amuse. But within hours, an online petition emerged, and thousands of fans clamored for the item to hit the menu.
Faced with such enthusiastic demand, Culver’s decided to give the people what they wanted. By October 2021, the Curderburger was made available for a limited time. The response was nothing short of remarkable. At several locations, long drive-thru lines snaked around the buildings, as fans eagerly lined up to try the unconventional burger.
A Limited-Time Success
The Curderburger’s rapid sell-out proved that fast food hype is not only hard to manufacture, but even harder to maintain. What started as an April Fools’ joke became a cult sensation within mere months. The final version of the Curderburger, which evolved from a simple curd on a bun into a full-fledged burger topped with a smaller cheese curd, was met with rave reviews.
Unfortunately for fans, the Curderburger remains a limited-time offering, akin to McDonald’s McRib sandwich. Despite the item’s popularity, Culver’s has yet to announce any permanent plans for its return.
For those who missed out, there’s still hope. Culver’s signature Butterburger—often hailed as one of the best fast-food burgers—remains on the menu. Paired with a side of Wisconsin cheese curds, it offers a satisfying way to recreate the Curderburger experience at home.
While Culver’s may have been playing around with the idea initially, the success of the Curderburger proves that sometimes, even the most unexpected jokes can lead to something truly delicious.
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