The classic flavor combination of oranges and cream has once again hit the mainstream.
Aug. 14 is National Creamsicle Day, an unofficial food holiday where people are encouraged to celebrate the orange-and-cream-flavored frozen treat. The nostalgic dessert is nearly a century old, and its now iconic flavor profile has experienced a recent boom in popularity, showing up in more places than just the ice cream truck.
According to Popsicle, the brand’s first frozen treat was invented by mistake in 1905 when 11-year-old Frank Epperson left a cup of powdered soda and water outside overnight with a stirring stick still in it. The next morning, the boy found the frozen treat, gave it a taste and consequently dubbed it the “Epsicle.” Years later, his children urged him to change the name to Popsicle.
Decades later in 1937, after Epperson sold the treat’s rights to the Joe Lowe Company, the Popsicle brand started offering the Creamsicle. The rest was orangey cream history.
Later iterations of the icy citrus and milky vanilla treat included Orange Julius as well as The Flintstones Cool Cream Push-Up Pops. Now, there is a ton of competition in this nostalgic flavor category.
Where did the trend come from?
Caitlin McLean is head of sensory qual for the Americas at MMR Research, a global consumer and research agency that works with brands to optimize the look, feel and taste of their products. She tells TODAY.com she knows a new craze is set to begin when many clients across multiple categories come in looking to get in on the same trend.
“In the case of orange Creamsicle, we’ve seen it across food and beverage, but also skincare, so it’s got a broader reach,” McLean says, adding that this particular trend has passed the emergence stage since it’s now hitting social media.
“It could be an influencer that’s presenting it or a company themselves that might be sharing a particularly viral video,” McLean says. “Then as it emerges more popularly and products become available within that trend, you can see them take off.”
This spring and summer has seen several orange-and-cream-flavored treats take over the freezer section. Back in March, Wendy’s dropped its limited-time Orange Dreamsicle Frosty, followed by Carvel’s revival of its 1970s-born Orange Dreamy Creamy flavor in April. Even Sonic has an Orange Cloudsicle Slush Float on the menu.
This summer has seen standard ice cream brands like Tillamook, Turkey Hill and Friendly’s stock their own versions of the flavor, too. According to the experts, this callback to a bygone era is no mistake.
“We’re looking for something as a society that’s still going to allow us to feel comforted with familiar flavors that might give us that bit of nostalgia,” McLean says, adding that the pandemic accelerated people’s need for comfort, and that nostalgia is often the perfect vehicle.
“While you might think a chocolate cake is probably pretty indulgent, thinking of fruit and cream together — if we’re thinking about it at the most basic level — that’s the healthier dessert,” she adds. “You know, I can think back to my grandparents having that as their healthy dessert option: whipped cream and some fresh fruit. So, it gets back to that kind of reminder.”
The flavor combination made its way into the beverage category as well. You can find it in functional beverages like Poppi’s Orange Cream or Olipop’s Orange Squeeze as well as Health-Ade Orange Creamsicle kombucha and Bubly Orange Cream sparkling water.
Adult beverages have also hopped on the flavor train: Vizzy Hard Seltzer has an Orange Cream Pop flavor and hard smoothie brand Smooj recently dropped its limited-edition Orange Cream variety.
Some drink companies have been keeping the flavor alive well before this year’s tidal wave: Stewart’s has sold its orange and cream soda flavor for years, as have other brands like Boylan and Hank’s.
The sweet and citrusy combo is popping up in more unique products, too, much like the similarly colored pumpkin spice flavor trend before it. We mustn’t forget about Starbucks, which added an Orange Cream Cake Pop when it debuted its 2024 summer menu, and IHOP, which made Orange Cream Pancakes its June flavor of the month. Though it was a bit of a controversial move, M&M’s did bring back its Orange Vanilla Creme flavor to join in on the fun.
The flavor has even crossed grocery store aisles into the coffee sector. On July 1, Coffee-Mate announced its new, limited-edition Orange Cream Pop Flavored Duo Creamer — the brand’s first-ever summer seasonal flavor — available online between July 11 — 22.
Also in the breakfast category, Yoplait sells single-serve Orange Créme yogurt cups. It supports the idea that consumers want to feel like they can enjoy treats in smaller portions or through healthier vehicles, like yogurt in this case.
“That’s going to give you some kind of additional benefit while still giving you that little bit of indulgence that you might be seeking from a dessert or a soda more generally,” McLean says.
The expert says it’s common to see a flavor trend like this cross over into permissible indulgences. But regardless of how or when you’re choosing to get orange and cream into your diet, it’s clear that consumers have more options for it now than ever before.
