Uncover the Surprising Secrets Behind Your Favorite Ice Cream Sandwiches!

What makes an ice cream sandwich truly an ice cream sandwich? Is it the classic duo of ice cream nestled between two chocolate wafer-like discs punctured with holes, or can it be anything sweet that gets the job done—biscuits, cookies, you name it? Honestly, I’ve often found myself debating this very question mid-bite, staring suspiciously at a concoction that claimed to be an ice cream sandwich but looked more like a dessert imposter. Originally, vanilla was the reigning champion of fillings, but now the flavor roster reads like a kid’s wildest dream—Neapolitan, chocolate, strawberry, and pretty much every luscious flavor imaginable. From humble street vendor roots in late 19th-century New York City to the cookie-wrapped innovation born in San Francisco, the ice cream sandwich has journeyed far and wide, charming both penny-pinchers and high-end foodies alike. So, buckle up as we unwrap the fascinating, delectable history of this cool treat that’s anything but one-dimensional. LEARN MORE

Ice cream sandwiches are a beloved treat, whether you’re pulling one out of your freezer or buying one from an ice cream truck. But what exactly constitutes an ice cream sandwich? In America, it’s typically ice cream flanked between two chocolate wafer-like pieces with holes punched in them, but you can use biscuits, cookies, and a number of other treats as the “bread.”

In the beginning, vanilla was the standard flavor for the filling of an ice cream sandwich, but flavors evolved to include Neapolitan (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry) and, nowadays, every flavor under the sun.

1. New York City street vendors started selling ice cream sandwiches in the late 1800s.
2. Early ice cream sandwich recipes used sponge cake.
3. They were developed as a cheap treat, but soon became a staple at high-end eateries.
4. The ice cream cookie sandwich was born in San Francisco.
5. A baseball stadium food vendor gets a lot of credit for inventing the modern-day ice cream sandwich, but that might be because of Wikipedia.
6. Other countries have their own versions of the ice cream sandwich.

New York City street vendors started selling ice cream sandwiches in the late 1800s.