Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: August 14th, 2022. Today is National Creamsicle Day. I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t mind have a Ice Cream just not a Creamsicle which I don’t like. But David or Charlie might not mind having a Creamsicle and they could celebrate this holiday. Would you like to join them in there celebration?
Do you remember as a child singing I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream? Today is National Creamsicle Day a perfect day to sing this song. Every year on August 14th, one of the most famous frozen desserts in history is honored, and just in time, since we are in the middle of the hottest month of the year. Whether you are making Ice Pops at home or listening for the bells and music of the Ice Cream truck, today is the perfect day to indulge in a cool, sweet treat.
History of National Creamsicle Day
Did you know Creamsicles date back to the early 20th Century. Frank Epperson accidentally created what would later become known as the Popsicle. As the story goes, Frank Epperson left a concoction of Fruit Juice and Water outside overnight when the temperatures dropped below freezing. When Frank Epperson found the frozen mix the next morning, with a stir stick frozen in the middle, the Popsicle was born.
Epperson first began selling his frozen Fruit juice treat to classmates. Then friends throughout his community. Frank Epperson marketed his icy treat as a “frozen drink on a stick.” Frank Epperson was granted a patent years later in 1924. This was perfect timing for Frank Epperson, given the fact it was discovered that a couple of guys had been similarly experimenting with ‘frozen Suckers’ as far back as 1872, which they called the Hokey-Pokey.
During the Great Depression, the Twin Popsicle was invented and sold for only a nickel. This allowed parents to buy one Ice Pop and have two children share at an inexpensive price.
Today, the Creamsicle is a brand owned by Good Humor, a subsidiary of Unilever. Famous flavors besides the Orange Creamsicle are Cherry, Grape, Lime, Blue Raspberry, and Blueberry. Now, you can find Sugar-free Popsicles, 100-calorie Popsicles, and many new combinations of flavors.
Take a few minutes today to savor one of the Summer’s small pleasures and celebrate the history of the Creamsicle!
National Creamsicle Day Activities
- Creamsicles are easy treats to make at home which would be a fun way for the entire family to observe National Creamsicle Day.
- Many desserts and treats have been inspired by the Creamsicle. If the traditional Ice Cream Creamsicle treat is totally last year for your family, try Creamsicle Rice Krispies Treats, or Cheesecake. You could also see if the limited edition Creamsicle-flavored Twizzler is on sale at your Grocery Store.
- Why not put an adult spin on this holiday by turning the childhood favorite into a adult beverage and make a Creamsicle Mimosas.
The Cold Hard Facts
- Over 2 billion Popsicles are sold annually!
- Different surveys yield different results but the Original Creamsicle seems to be the most popular with Cherry flavored Popsicles coming in second.
- The Guinness World Record for largest Popsicle is a 21-foot Ice Pop made in the Netherlands in 1997.
- Kevin Strahle, from Ridgewood, New Jersey, claims to have eaten the most Popsicles in one minute. Kevin Strahle ate 6 Popsicles in only 60 seconds on December 7th, 2017.
- Jimmy Prince, from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada holds the world record for eating a Creamsicle in 11.81 seconds on July 7, 2014.
Why People Love National Creamsicle Day
- Did you have a group of neighborhood friends who would listen out for the ringing bell of the Ice Cream trucks? Nostalgic visions of the Ice cream man serving Creamsicles and every other Ice Cream imaginable is the point of today’s celebration. Which we can’t get enough of.
- Just when you need to cool down in the middle of a hot Summer day, your mind wanders to the very thing that could provide the most relief. Not only do Creamsicles provide a mom-approved hit of Sugar, but they also cool us down on the scorching hottest of days.
- Specialty Ice Cream shops owned by local moms and pops are where memories are made. You might meet your friends there or run into a neighbor you haven’t seen in years but visiting the Ice Cream Store is a significant part of the experience in enjoying this cool treat.
Five Facts about the Creamsicle
- Creamsicle is a brand name for a different frozen dessert also owned by Unilever.
- Again on the same flat wooden stick, the Creamsicle is made as a single flat bar with a rounded end.
- The center of a Creamsicle is Vanilla Ice Cream, covered by a layer of flavored Ice. Creamsicle flavors include Orange, Blue Raspberry, Lime, Grape and Cherry.
- Creamsicle are available in several varieties, including 100 Calorie Bars, Low Fat Bars, No Sugar Added Bars, and Sugar Free Bars.
- Did you know 50-50 bar is an alternative name for a Creamsicle?
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
