Latest news with #NationalIceCreamMonth
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
National Ice Cream Day 2025: Free deals, discounts and more
Image credits: Getty Images With the scorching summer heat not relenting in its hot pursuit, visiting outdoors for even an hour gets one hungry for something cold, which will ease their thirst and heat. In most cases, the relief arrives with a large scoop of your favourite ice cream that not only tastes like heaven on earth but also reminds you of some of the best days of your childhood when getting that one scoop would be the highlight of your entire day. While the world might enjoy an ice cream some days during the hot temperatures, America celebrates an entire month dedicated to the sweet and cold dessert. According to the USA is the second-largest consumer of ice cream, with about 20.80 litres of ice cream being consumed every year, which is equivalent to 5 gallons of the dessert per person. No wonder the country celebrates ice cream with a national day! Why is National Ice Cream Day celebrated? Image credits: Getty Images Americans celebrate National Ice Cream Day annually, on the third Sunday of July. This is because in 1984, then President Ronald Reagan created the day to celebrate and honour the dessert that was enjoyed by over 90% of the population. Additionally, it was also done to honour the American dairy industry, where most ice cream companies are family-owned and have been in the business for more than 50 years. The president also termed ice cream as "a nutritious and wholesome food" and declared July as National Ice Cream Month! Which ice cream flavour is America's favourite? Image credits: Getty Images The third Sunday of July is today, on July 20, and Americans will definitely be indulging in their favourite ice cream today! But which is that one flavour that grips all American hearts? Well, it is none other than the classic vanilla. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo According to July 9 data and previous data from Instacart, vanilla is the most-ordered ice cream flavour on the platform in the summer of 2024 and 2023. While chocolate was the second most favoured flavour, cookies and cream was the third. Vanilla is loved by people for its versatility and adaptability for different sundae options. National Ice Cream Day 2025 : Best deals and discounts Image credits: Getty Images If you are thinking of celebrating National Ice Cream Day today with a large scoop of your favourite ice cream, then check out these deals and discounts being offered by some of the best brands in the market, who are celebrating the frozen dessert by your side! Dairy Queen Through July 20, Dairy Queen loyalty program members will get a free Dilly Bar with any order of $1 or more. To make the orders, you need to download their app and sign up for DQ rewards. Baskin Robbins Baskin-Robbins Rewards members can get $5 off any order of $20 or more in the app, in-store or through delivery apps, from July 20-26. To join the loyalty program and avail the deal, you need to sign up for the BR app. Halo Top Halo Top's offer on National Ice Cream Day celebrates its name in the industry. The brand is giving away pints of ice cream for free to anyone who shares a name with any ice cream brand, including their competitors. Anyone who shares a first, middle or last name with an ice cream brand can get their free pint at through July 20. DoorDash Any grocery or convenience store orders you make through July 23 will get you $5 off two Ben & Jerry's pints on DoorDash. Popsicle Enjoy a buy one, get one free offer on Popsicle at Target, Publix and Kroger throughout the National Ice Cream Month. Harry Potter Shops The Harry Potter Shops are celebrating National Ice Cream Day in a variety of ways. All customers on July 20 get complimentary toppings with an ice cream purchase. From July 21-26, purchasing butterbeer will come with complimentary toppings. And, the first 100 customers at the shops in New York and Chicago on July 20 will receive a free butterbeer ice cream with free toppings! Friendly's Friendly's, a Massachusetts-founded ice cream chain, is celebrating its 90th birthday alongside National Ice Cream Day. Customers who are a part of Friendly's Fan Club Rewards loyalty program can get a free cone or dish of ice cream. Others can get a 90-cent single scoop in store or go-to. Dippin' Dots On July 20, customers can get a free Dippin' Dots mini cup at 120 participating Dippin' Dots locations. Online orders placed on their website on July 20 can also get 25% off at checkout with the promo code NICD2025. Lastly, the first 100 customers to reach each location will also get a free collectible souvenir cup. Van Leeuwen All Van Leeuwen stores will offer $3 scoops of Honeycomb ice cream from 12-2 p.m. ET on National Ice Cream Day!
USA Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
White House history: Did you know a president started National Ice Cream Day?
White House ice cream history is more than a tale of dessert – it's a reflection of American ingenuity. Picture this: a swelteringly unbearable Washington, DC summer. Now imagine stepping into the White House, where a cool scoop of ice cream awaits. For centuries, this frozen delight has been a staple in the Executive Mansion, charming presidents, first ladies, and guests alike. From Thomas Jefferson to Donald Trump, ice cream has dripped deeply into the fabric of the White House and presidential history, proving that even the most powerful people in the world can't resist a good scoop. Though ice cream's origins trace back to the second century B.C., it's as American as apple pie. Today, we devour an average of 4 gallons per person each year. In the White House, it's a treat that transcends politics and brings a touch of joy to formal state dinners and intimate garden parties alike. And that's not to mention first families or visiting grandchildren! Ice cream is a great White House tradition The story of ice cream in the White House begins with Thomas Jefferson, a man whose affinity for the frozen dessert began during his time in France. In 1806, Jefferson served ice cream at a White House Independence Day celebration, delighting guests with its cold, creamy texture – a rarity in the days before home refrigerators. Jefferson, whose menus sometimes even featured the treat served inside a warm pastry, had an icehouse built on the White House grounds to make sure ice cream was never in short supply. Dolley Madison also embraced the dessert with enthusiasm, serving it frequently during her time as first lady from 1809 to 1817. While she wasn't the first, she helped solidify ice cream's place as a White House tradition. Decades later, at Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration ball in 1865, flavors ran the gamut as guests enjoyed an elegant buffet that included vanilla, lemon, white coffee, chocolate, burnt almonds, and maraschino ice creams alongside other desserts. The crowd left little behind, proving that ice cream could take the cake even amid national turmoil. Opinion: White House hospitality is a form of diplomacy that has evolved over time By the 20th century, ice cream was a White House summer staple, as evidenced by a charming moment in 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge and first lady Grace Coolidge enjoyed scoops at a garden party for veterans. The image of the famously reserved Coolidge indulging in ice cream humanized a president known for his stoicism. President Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month The establishment of the White House executive pastry chef position in 1979 marked a new era of creativity for frozen desserts. Roland Mesnier, who held the role from 1979 to 2004, often used sorbet – an ice cream-like dessert traditionally made with sugar, fruit juice or puree and water instead of dairy – in his elaborate final courses. For a 1984 state dinner honoring President Miguel de la Madrid of Mexico, Mesnier formed kiwi sorbet into cactus shapes filled with tequila-flavored mousse and adorned with pulled-sugar flowers and spines. A decade later, chef Mesnier went the full 'cream' route in his dessert at a 1995 state dinner honoring German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, serving coffee and hazelnut ice cream. Opinion: White House state dinners put America on display. They're crucial for US diplomacy. President Ronald Reagan, known for his love of jelly beans, also had a soft spot for ice cream. In 1984, he proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day – a 'sundae' celebration. Barack Obama brought a scooper's perspective to the ice cream narrative. As a teenager in Honolulu, he worked at a Baskin-Robbins. In a 2016 LinkedIn post, the president reflected on the job's lessons in responsibility and hard work, though admitting the endless free scoops somewhat but not completely dulled his taste for the treat. There was no shortage of ice cream devotees at the White House, though. At a 2010 visit to an ice cream factory in Columbus, Ohio, the then-vice president proclaimed, 'My name is Joe Biden, and I love ice cream. You all think I'm kidding – I'm not. I eat more ice cream than three other people … all at once.' Donald Trump's ice cream preference made headlines in 2017. As TIME magazine reported after a small Blue Room dinner for reporters during this first term, President Trump was served two scoops of vanilla ice cream with his chocolate cream pie, while his guests received just one. Whether intentional or not, the president's double scoop added a modern twist to the mansion's ice cream lore. White House ice cream history is more than a tale of dessert – it's a reflection of American tastes, ingenuity, and the human need for a little sweetness amid the pressures of leadership. During this National Ice Cream Month, the White House Historical Association will offer our own selection of ice cream delectables daily outside The People's House, our new education center across from the White House Grounds. Stop by and have a scoop with us! Stewart D. McLaurin is president of the White House Historical Association, a private nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961, and is director of The People's House: A White House Experience multimedia educational center and museum.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
National Ice Cream Day 2025: Scoop up some sweet deals at Dairy Queen, Jeni's, more
National Ice Cream Day this year is on July 20, and according to one source, vanilla reigns supreme yet again. Data from Instacart published on July 9 shows that vanilla remained American's most-ordered ice cream flavor on the platform in summer 2024. It was also the No. 1 flavor in summer 2023, according to previous data from the delivery platform. Instacart said vanilla accounted for 27% of all ice cream sold last summer, "highlighting its versatility as a base for endless sundae options." Chocolate and cookies and cream were second and third on the list, respectively. According to the data, which was collected between May 27 and Sept. 2, 2024, pineapple coconut, pistachio and green tea are three flavors quickly rising in popularity. Pineapple coconut saw a 37% increase in popularity from 2023 to 2024, Instacart said. President Ronald Reagan in 1984 declared National Ice Cream Day would be celebrated on the third Sunday of July and also declared July as National Ice Cream Month. Here's where you can scoop up some sweet deals and discounts on the sweet treat this year. Dairy Queen DQ Rewards loyalty program members can get a free Dilly Bar with any order of $1 or more through July 20. To get the deal, download the DQ App and sign up for DQ Rewards. Orders can be made on the app or website. Baskin-Robbins From July 20-26, Baskin-Robbins Rewards members can get $5 off any order of $20 or more in the BR app, in store or through delivery apps. To join the loyalty program and be eligible for the deal, sign up in the BR app. Halo Top Calling all Bens, Jerrys and even Van Leeuwens: Halo Top is giving away free pints of ice cream to anyone who shares a name with a famous ice cream brand — including their competitors. Through July 20, anyone who shares a first, middle or last name with an ice cream brand can redeem their pint at National Ice Cream Day: More deals, freebies for scoops, cups and cones Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@ Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
Indianapolis Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
National Ice Cream Day 2025: Scoop up some sweet deals at Dairy Queen, Jeni's, more
National Ice Cream Day this year is on July 20, and according to one source, vanilla reigns supreme yet again. Data from Instacart published on July 9 shows that vanilla remained American's most-ordered ice cream flavor on the platform in summer 2024. It was also the No. 1 flavor in summer 2023, according to previous data from the delivery platform. Instacart said vanilla accounted for 27% of all ice cream sold last summer, "highlighting its versatility as a base for endless sundae options." Chocolate and cookies and cream were second and third on the list, respectively. According to the data, which was collected between May 27 and Sept. 2, 2024, pineapple coconut, pistachio and green tea are three flavors quickly rising in popularity. Pineapple coconut saw a 37% increase in popularity from 2023 to 2024, Instacart said. President Ronald Reagan in 1984 declared National Ice Cream Day would be celebrated on the third Sunday of July and also declared July as National Ice Cream Month. Here's where you can scoop up some sweet deals and discounts on the sweet treat this year. DQ Rewards loyalty program members can get a free Dilly Bar with any order of $1 or more through July 20. To get the deal, download the DQ App and sign up for DQ Rewards. Orders can be made on the app or website. From July 20-26, Baskin-Robbins Rewards members can get $5 off any order of $20 or more in the BR app, in store or through delivery apps. To join the loyalty program and be eligible for the deal, sign up in the BR app. Calling all Bens, Jerrys and even Van Leeuwens: Halo Top is giving away free pints of ice cream to anyone who shares a name with a famous ice cream brand — including their competitors. Through July 20, anyone who shares a first, middle or last name with an ice cream brand can redeem their pint at Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What's the best vanilla ice cream? We taste-tested 12 to find out
Eat enough vanilla ice cream, and you'll realize that this flavor is far from, well, vanilla. Tons of nuances exist between the different brands (to say nothing of homemade ice cream): Some taste like rich cream, others taste sharply sweet and yet others taste more mellow, like whipped cream. The best vanilla ice cream falls pleasantly between all three descriptions, with a deeply vanilla flavor that's hard to resist. And it comes from a popular grocery store chain! How do I know? To celebrate National Ice Cream Month, I planned one very cool taste test at Yahoo's New York City office, starring 12 of the most popular store-bought vanilla ice creams from the likes of Häagen-Dazs, Ben & Jerry's and Breyer's. I rounded up 16 ice cream lovers from our staff, including a professional baker-turned-writer, a former producer at Food Network and a pregnant woman, who, and I quote, considers "ice cream a main food group right now." In the end, one winner creamed the competition, but we found a few runners-up for satisfying every vanilla ice cream craving, whether you like yours icy and fluffy or eggy and rich — or all you care about is seeing those flecks of vanilla bean. Table of contents Best vanilla ice creams of 2025 How we tested vanilla ice cream Other vanilla ice creams we tested Vanilla ice cream FAQs Editor-approved scoops, bowls and more Best vanilla ice creams of 2025 How we tested vanilla ice cream I gathered a group of 16 Yahoo staffers who are self-professed ice cream snobs, including a former pro baker and someone who worked as a producer for the Food Network. Yahoo's kitchen writer (a culinary school grad) and I (a former food-magazine editor) ran the taste test. Using our go-to ice cream scoops, we dished out servings in bowls labeled only with a letter to prevent brand loyalty from coming into play. Then came the fun part! The testers sampled each bowl in random order and filled out a rubric rating the flavor, texture/mouthfeel, appearance and their overall enjoyment from one to five. We also asked the testers to jot down any thoughts they had about the samples. Ice cream preferences varied among our panelists. What some testers found too sweet, others found bland. But there were some obvious favorites, and when we averaged the scores, it was easy to see which vanilla ice creams were best. We also checked shopper comments and ratings, and availability of our picks to make sure they had fans all over the country. Other vanilla ice creams we tested Breyer's Natural Vanilla: Breyer's nabbed fourth, thanks mostly to its appearance. "I like the vanilla bean specks. Felt authentic," noted one tester. Ben & Jerry's Vanilla: This pick has earned high marks in other stories about the best vanilla ice creams, so I was surprised that it didn't do better in our taste test. Though some loved the very vanilla flavor, others thought it had a strange aftertaste. Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean: Considering how well the brand's plain vanilla ice cream did, this version was an unexpected dud. It scored lowest in flavor, likely because the majority of our testers thought it was too sweet. A few said it reminded them of other foods entirely, including bubblegum, a root beer float and ... flavored oatmeal! Tillamook Old-Fashioned Vanilla: This ice cream, from a century-old Oregon dairy company, landed in the middle of our testing pool. Several testers described it as "icy," whereas others appreciated the subtle vanilla flavoring. 365 Whole Foods Vanilla: Whole Foods' house brand ice cream was almost orange in color, which threw off a lot of our testers and led to some pretty odd comparisons. "Not appealing! Looks like a Creamsicle," noted one. Another said the color was reminiscent of a hard-boiled egg yolk. Favorite Day Vanilla Bean: Another middle-of-the-pack ice cream, this one, from Target's house brand, scored high for flavor but did just so-so in all other categories. Almost every tester called it "fluffy" or "icy," which proved polarizing. Edy's Vanilla: The flavor scores for this pick were all over the place. "Subtle but sweet," enthused a fan who awarded it four points; "Has a weird, chalky aftertaste," wrote a far less happy tester, who gave it zero. FYI, if you live in the western U.S., you'll know this brand as Dreyer's. Turkey Hill French Vanilla: Most testers thought this vanilla ice cream was too sweet and artificial tasting. It also struck out on appearance: "Good scoop but weird khaki yellow color," as one panelist put it. Vanilla ice cream FAQs What brand is the best vanilla ice cream? If you believe our taste-test — and you should! — the best vanilla ice cream comes from Trader Joe's. But if you don't live near one of these cult-favorite grocery stores, the best vanilla ice creams from the supermarket are Häagen-Dazs Vanilla and Van Leeuwen Vanilla Bean. What type of vanilla ice cream has the most vanilla flavor? Look for ice cream that includes natural vanilla flavor and/or real vanilla extract in its ingredients list. For vanilla ice cream that's rich and custardy, make sure it also includes egg yolks, which is a hallmark of French vanilla. Editor-approved scoops, bowls and more
