Oreo Cookies (History, Pictures, Commercials & FAQ)

The Oreo cookie is one of the most iconic cookies people have enjoyed over the last century. Most people, children and adults alike, would choose Oreo cookies over any other choice. This cookie has something so perfect – two thin chocolate cookies with a delicious cream filling. They are perfect for eating alone, dipping in milk, opening the cookies, and eating the filling first. There is no wrong way to eat an Oreo.

Now that you are craving some Oreo cookies, why not spend some time learning about their history and some fun facts?

When Did Oreo Come Out?

March 6, 1912, was a beautiful day – it was the day that the Oreo cookies were finally introduced to the world. For some perspective, here are some other things that happened in 1912:

• The Republic of China was formed.
• New Mexico becomes a state.
• Arizona becomes a state.
• The South Pole was discovered.
• The Titanic set sail and sank.
• The Pulitzer Prize was created.
• Paramount Pictures was founded.
• Woodrow Wilson was elected as the 28th President of the United States of America.

What Does Oreo Mean?

No one really knows. However, there are a few different theories on the namesake. Unfortunately, this is not a name that was after someone – there is no Mr. or Mrs. Oreo. Some believe the name is based on a French word meaning gold (Gold lettering was on the original packaging); others believe it was based on a Greek word that meant nice or attractive. The original design of the cookie was of a laurel wreath, and many believe the cookie was named after one of the species of the Laurel family – Oreodaphne.

The original Oreo in the test phase before it was released to the public was shaped like a mound, and some people believe the cookie was named for the Greek word for a mountain, Oreo. Finally, some people think they just tool letters from the words chocolate and cream to form the word Oreo, which is short and easy to remember.

How Is The Oreo Cookie Design Made?

When this cookie was initially released, they came up with the original laurel wreath-based design that created a visual signature. Even without the word Oreo, everyone can recognize the cookie by the very detailed design on each chocolate wafer.

Initially, the design was created by brass rollers being passed over sheets of tasty chocolate cookie dough. The pattern on these rollers contains four-leaf clovers and the word Oreo in the middle.

The Oreo Was Not a Ground Breaking Cookie

Believe it or not, Oreo Cookies was not the first. Even though this cookie is more than 100 years old, Oreo is not the first cookie with cream sandwiched by two chocolate cookies.

If you ever saw someone eating a Hydrox cookie in the past, they were not eating a copycat. The Hydrox cookie came first. Hydrox was released four years before Oreo in 1908 and was manufactured by Sunshine Biscuits. Although this cookie is no longer around, it did stay on the market for 90 years. This cookie stopped being produced in 1999.

These two cookies were very similar, but not the same. Oreo has a much sweeter filling, and they got soggier in milk quicker, whereas the Hydrox cookie had a crunchier shell; in 1996, Sunshine Biscuits were bought out by Keebler, and they discontinued Hydrox cookies in 1999 and replaced them with Proxies. Then Keebler Cookies was bought by Kellogg’s in 2001, and they decided to remove Proxies from the grocery market in 2003. Kellogg’s released a similar cookie under the Famous Amos line, but that has since disappeared.

Unfortunately, the drama does not end there. There are many fans of the original Hydrox cookie. So after a phone call and online petition drive by these fans, Kellogg’s released the Hydrox cookie in 2008 to celebrate its 100-year anniversary. This only lasted for about a year. Then Kellogg’s let the trademark expire. So in 2014, Leaf Brands registered the trademark and started producing Hydrox cookies in 2015.

In 2017, they redid the recipe to remove artificial flavors. In 2018, they filed a complaint with the US Federal Trade Commission against Mondelez International, the current makers of the Oreo Cookie, asserting that they are hiding Hydrox cooks from customers on the shelves of grocery stores. This is an ongoing saga that has not been concluded yet.

What Type of Oreo Cookies Can You Buy Today?

Over the years, the type of Oreo cookies has greatly expanded. Some flavors have come and gone based on customer wants and needs, but there are still plenty of different flavors on the market today for your enjoyment. Here are the current Oreo cookie selections you can buy:

• Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Double Stuf Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Mega Stuf Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Gluten Free Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Double Stuf Gluten Free Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Golden Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Golden Double Stuf Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Toffee Crunch Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Chocolate Hazelnut Flavored Creme Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Java Chip Flavored Creme Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Mint Flavored Creme Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Birthday Cake Flavored Creme
• Oreo Chocolate Creme Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Dark Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Chocolate Marshmallow Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Caramel Coconut Flavored Creme Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Golden Sandwich Cookies, Lemon Flavored Creme
• Oreo Fudge Covered and White Fudge Covered Sandwich Holiday Cookies
• Oreo Thin Bites White Fudge Dipped
• Fudge Covered Oreo
• Oreo Thin Bites Fudge Dipped
• Fudge Covered Oreo Mint Creme
• Oreo Thin Bites Fudge Dipped Mint Flavored Creme
• Oreo Dark Chocolate Fudge Covered Sandwich Cookies, Dark Chocolate Flavored Creme
• Oreo Thin Bites Fudge Dipped Sandwich Cookies, Latte Flavored Creme
• Oreo Thins Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Mint Flavored Creme
• Oreo Thins Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, Latte Flavored Creme
• Oreo Thins Golden Sandwich Cookies
• Oreo Thins Golden Sandwich Cookies, Lemon Flavored Creme
• Oreo Pride Pack, Limited Edition
• Oreo Ultimate Chocolate Flavor Creme, Limited Edition
• Oreo 110th Birthday Chocolate Confetti Cake, Limited Edition
  

Other Products and Ideas

Since Oreo cookies have been around for such a long time, and for the majority of that time, they have enjoyed more than their share of popularity, they have been known to expand beyond cookies. Here are some Oreo treats that they currently offer:

• 2-in-1 Oreo and Chips Ahoy! Frozen dairy Dessert
• Oreo Frozen Dairy Dessert
• Oreo Frozen Dairy Dessert Cups
• Oreo Frozen Dairy Dessert King Cone
• Oreo Frozen Dairy Dessert Sandwiches
• Oreo Frozen Dairy Dessert Bars
• Oreo Frozen Dairy Dessert Cones
• Oreo O’s Cereal
• Oreo Cakester Soft Snack Cakes

Besides all the different Oreo-based official products you can buy, Oreo cookies are the main ingredient in many home baker’s desserts. One of the biggest things many people use Oreos is a chocolate crust. It is really easy to make a homemade chocolate crust for pies, cheesecakes, tarts, and other desserts by simply crushing Oreo cookies and mixing them with melted butter. Then press it down into the pan and bake for about 5 minutes until set.

Of course, many other desserts utilize whole or crushed Oreos. Some examples include cake, cake bars, truffles, pies, mousse, cookies, brownies, cheesecake, bark, dessert pizza, macaroons, cookie bars, cupcakes, muffins, shakes, and ice cream-based desserts.

History

With over 100 years of history associated with the Oreo – there have been many different changes along the way. Here are a few interesting things that happened to this beloved cookie over time:

• 1912: The Oreo cookie is introduced.
• 1913: Oreo becomes a registered trademark through Nabisco.
• 1921: They changed their name from Oreo Biscuit to Oreo Sandwich.
• 1928: Oreo is exported to Central and Latin America.
• 1937: Another name change – this time to Oreo Creme Sandwich.
• 1949: The Oreo is sent to the Canadian market.
• 1974: A new variation is released – the Oreo Double Stuf Chocolate Sandwich Cookie.
• 1983: Oreo enters the ice cream business by providing cookies to Make Cookies ‘N Cream Ice Cream.
• 1985: A new variation is released – Oreo Mint Creme Cookies
• 1986: Oreo ice cream makes its way up to Canada.
• 1987: To celebrate Oreo’s 75th birthday, a limited edition cookie – Oreo Big Stuf is released. Also, in 1987, they introduced another new variation – Fudge Covered Oreo Sandwich Cookies.
• 1991: They start using fun colors – orange for Halloween.
• 1992: A new variation is released – Mini Oreo cookies.
• 1993: A new Oreo product comes out – the Oreo Pie Crust.
• 1996: Oreo cookies are finally introduced to China.
• 2002: They started the double delight version of the brand with mixed flavors such as mint and creme, peanut butter and chocolate, and coffee and crème.
• 2003: Uh-Oh, Oreos (golden wafers with chocolate inside) are released.
• 2004: A new variation is released – the Golden Oreo.
• 2006: After being in China for a decade, Oreo becomes their #1 selling biscuit.

Slogans

Over the years, many slogans have been either said out loud (in commercials and advertisements) or printed on posters and in newspaper print ads. Here are a few of those slogans:

• There’s no cookie like Oreo Sandwich
• Open up an Oreo crème sandwich and take a lick
• Oh! Oh! Oreo
• Oreo, the original twister
• For the kid in all of us
• Milk’s favorite cookie.
• The one and only.
• Celebrate the kid inside.
• America’s best-loved cookie
• Who’s the kid with the Oreo cookie?

Logo

Ingredients

• Wheat Flour
• Sugar
• Palm Oil
• Rapeseed Oil
• Fat Reduced Cocoa Powder 4.3 %
• Wheat Starch
• Glucose-Fructose Syrup
• Raising Agents (Ammonium Carbonates, Potassium Carbonates, Sodium Carbonates)
• Salt
• Emulsifier (Soya Lecithins)
• Acidity Regulator (Sodium Hydroxide)
• Flavouring

Nutrition

Serving Size:	1 cookies (11.3g)	% Daily Value*
Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat	21
Calories	53.3
Total Fat	2.3g	4%
Saturated Fat	0.7g	3%
Trans Fat	0g
Cholesterol	0mg	0%
Sodium	45mg	2%
Potassium	18.3mg	1%
Total Carbohydrates	8.3g	3%
Dietary Fiber	0.3g	1%
Sugars	4.7g
Protein	0.3g
Calcium	0.3%
Iron	2.6%

• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Pictures

Commercials

FAQ