The year is 1950. You walk across the black and white checkered floors, past the jukebox, and take a seat on one of the plush red bar stools as a soda jerk slides down a refreshing ice cream float made with Coca-Cola. The ice cream parlor holds a special place in American history for serving up one of the country's most favorite treats. From timeless classics like Vanilla or Strawberry to fun flavors including Birthday Cake or Moose Tracks, these are the most popular ice cream flavors in America. By the time you get done scrolling through this list, we guarantee you'll be grabbing a cone with a scoop (or several) in no time!
Vanilla
America's relationship with vanilla ice cream goes back as far as the founding fathers. Thomas Jefferson is credited as the first American to produce an ice cream recipe, which was vanilla. Whether adorning the top of a pie, in a float, or eaten by itself, vanilla is a beloved classic.
Chocolate
Chocolate comes in as the second most popular ice cream flavor among Americans. Then again, there is no need to choose between the top two as they pair with one another perfectly.
Cookies 'n Cream
Though vanilla ice cream and Oreo Cookies have been sold in grocery stores since the Oreo was invented in 1912, it took 67 years for someone to combine the two desserts together.
Cookies 'n cream ice cream is the third most popular flavor and was invented in 1979 when a South Dakota State University dairy plant manager sought to invent a new ice cream flavor and had students crush Oreo cookies into ice cream. The world thanks them for their discovery.
Strawberry
Bright and fruity, strawberry ice cream is a refreshing treat. Made by mixing strawberries and vanilla ice cream, it is no surprise the dessert is a crowd-pleaser. It even has its own day dedicated to it as January 15th is National Strawberry Ice Cream Day.
Chocolate Chip
Chocolate chip ice cream is everything. The chocolate chips provide a nice crunchy texture to balance the creaminess of the vanilla ice cream.
Mint Chocolate Chip
This minty twist on classic chocolate chip ice cream is a Baskin-Robins original and gained popularity after being served at Princess Anne's wedding at Westminster Abby under the name Mint Royale.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream originated at the Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop in Burlington, Vermont, following a note a customer left on their flavor suggestion bulletin board in 1984. It was an instant hit!
Butter Pecan
The Butter Pecan ice cream has historical significance. Jim Crow era Black Americans were prohibited from purchasing or eating vanilla ice cream except on the Fourth of July and due to the accessibility of pecans, butter pecan ice cream became the flavor of choice for the Black community. It remains one of the most popular ice cream flavors nationwide.
Birthday Cake
Birthday cake and ice cream go together like peanut butter and jelly. Made with real cake pieces and candy sprinkles, you don't have to wait until your birthday to enjoy this.
Moose Tracks
Named after a miniature golf course in Marquette, Michigan, Moose Tracks was first sold at an ice cream shop down the street. Moose Tracks ice cream is a decadent combination of vanilla ice cream, peanut butter, and fudge, or as some might call it, a hole-in-one.
Neapolitan
Neapolitan ice cream was the first concoction that was made up of three separate flavors of ice cream, which was inspired by the Italian flag. When it was first introduced, Neapolitan featured vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.
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