20 Popsicles and Frozen Treats We All Remember Growing Up

1. Sundae Crunch Popsicles

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These guys come in chocolate flavor or strawberry flavor. We usually went for the pink ones, personally. This was one of the best ice creams to grab in the summer time after a day at the city pool. You could find them in basically any gas station ice cream freezer!

2. SpongeBob SquarePants Bars

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If anyone in your family was a fan of the SpongeBob cartoon, then it's likely that you suckered your mom into having a never-ending supply of these. Or maybe, you were like a lot of other kids who felt traumatized by having to eat their favorite cartoon character, whose popsicle face always seemed a little distorted.

3. Ice Cream Sandwiches

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Ice cream sandwiches are like the OG of frozen treats in childhood. They probably made the top 5 list of every kid in town. It's so cool to see that in 2023, this frozen treat is making a major comeback. There are even gluten-free and dairy-free versions available now!

4. Mickey's Parade Ice Pops

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It seemed like every friend in the group had a strong opinion about which flavor was the best. Which mostly worked out well for everyone involved. Did you go for grape Donald Duck or orange Minnie? The thing you probably remember most about these is the weird proportions, so more times than not, the entire head would break off or fall off the stick entirely.

5. Rocket Popsicles

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These guys are also known as bomb pops or firecracker pops. They're red, white, and blue, and scream summer in America. They make your mouth a wide array of colors, and they taste pretty good! For a more adult version, there are red, white, and blue shots, but honestly, these popsicles still slap!

6. Sprinklers

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You could definitely NOT hide if you tried to sneak one of these before dinner. The sprinklers left a colorful mess ALL over your mouth and face. But, the taste and nostalgia is unmatched. Honestly, this might be the best ice cream bar on the list. What do you think?

7. Tigger Tails

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I mean, these marketers really knew what they were doing putting all of our favorite cartoons on the packaging and building a product that vaguely resembled it. These popsicles had an orange and grape flavor combination which wasn't the besttt, but what else could you do to replicate Tigger's tail?!

8. Push-up Pops

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The chokehold these had on every kid. I can't remember how many kids I saw throwing fits when their moms wouldn't let them have a push-up pop. If you were lucky enough to get The Flintstones characters on the cover, then it was a great day! Did these things get soggy and absolutely become a dripping mess down your arm? Yes.

9. Choco Tacos

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Everyone loves a classic Klondike bar, and everyone loves tacos. So when they introduced the Chocolate Taco, it was truly what dreams are made of. This taco-shaped waffle cone was filled with chocolate and ice cream, then covered in chocolate and peanuts. Delicious!

10. Fudgsicles

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My family always had a box of Fudgsicles in the freezer. This classic treat is perfect to keep on hand when you need a little chocolatey, sugary boost. They've been around since 1946, so we don't foresee them going anywhere anytime soon! The best part? As far as desserts go, these aren't that bad for you.

11. Bubble Gum Swirl Popsicles

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These popsicles came in both bubble bum and cotton candy swirl. While either of these flavors are fine in their original forms, trying to put it into a popsicle was probably a mistake. They weren't around for long, because they did not taste good and kids were not impressed. It's me, I'm kids.

12. Drumsticks

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Nestle Drumsticks are considered the Original Sundae Cone. They've been around forever, and they have all the elements of a classic sundae. Vanilla ice cream in a waffle cone with chocolate sauce and nuts. Because they're compact in the cone, they're perfect for on the go.

13. Hoodsie Cups

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Man, when these came out at school lunchtime, you knew it was going to be a good day. What's not to love? Half vanilla, half chocolate ice cream, with its own little wooden spoon. I think it was the only time it was quiet in the cafeteria, because everyone was so excited to eat these!

14. Klondike Bar

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I can still hear the "What would you do for a Klondike Bar" jingle in my head. These have been around for so long and now they come in a bunch of different flavors. But the original was just vanilla ice cream dipped in a chocolate coating. They were a little hard to eat and you had to keep the foil wrapped around it, because they melt fast. But they're so tasty!

15. Freeze Pops

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This was another freezer staple for me and all my friends. Moms loved them, because, for the most part, they didn't drip like other popsicles. However, you could cut your mouth on the plastic edges. I used to save my wrappers, and I built a Slip n' Slide for my Barbies with them. Everyone's so creative!

16. Lick-A-Color Popsicles

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The beauty of this popsicle is that you didn't have to choose one flavor (or color). This popsicle contained blue, yellow, red, orange, and green. Did the flavors taste wildly different? Maybe not. But they were a lot of fun to eat and kept your kid from having a meltdown if they couldn't decide on a popsicle flavor.

17. Chipwiches

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These things were like an ice cream sandwich, but better, because the vanilla ice cream was wedged between two delicious chocolate chip cookies. Honestly, they were good but also somehow a little too soggy on the cookie and a little too hard on the ice cream. The chocolate chips fell everywhere. But we still devoured them!

18. Looney Tunes Ice Pops

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Tweety and Bugs both got their faces on a popsicle back in the day. The flavors were actually pretty nice, and these were a staple and go-to favorite for a lot of kiddos. Of course, the faces always looked kinda weird, and the gumboil eyes never quite worked, but it wasn't enough to turn one down!

19. Bug Pops

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If you made your parents take you to the theater to see The Lion King, and consequently had your first ever crush on young Simba, then you're not alone. If you then made your parents buy you these Bugs Pops just to feel closer to him, then also same. These popsicles focused on Timon & Pumbaa and had gummy bugs inside.

20. Pink Panther Pops

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These Pink Panther popsicles had a nice fruity flavor, and they also had bubble gum eyes. Why were were trying so har to make that happen? The first Pink Panther film came out in 1963, and the most recent one in 2009, so Pink Panther has been a long-time cultural icon. Makes sense that he gets his face on a popsicle!

21. Dippin' Dots

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Dippin' Dots. These suckers were actually created in the late 80s, but most of us don't remember them until later in the 90s. They were truly everywhere. Branded as the ice cream of the future, in a variety of flavors, banana split was the best one. It was always surprising that these little frozen beads could have so much flavor.

22. Micro Pops

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Kind of like Dippin' Dots in a bar form, these were compact treats you could eat on the go. Most often, you'd find them at a stadium game or in an amusement park. But, it was kind of a miss, because if it's just a bunch of dots frozen together on a bar, isn't it just a popsicle?

23. King Cones

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The King Cone was basically Good Humor's version of a Drumstick. The downside to these is that they were messier than the Drumstick. There are less nuts and chocolate though, so if that's what you're looking for, then go at it. The paper also peels back as you eat it, which is convenient.

24. Crunch Bar Ice Cream

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Taking a classic candy bar and turning it into an ice cream bar is kinda genius. It is basically vanilla ice cream on a stick with a chocolate coat and classic Nestle Crunch bits. If you were a big fan of the chocolate bar, this ice cream bar felt like a great elevated summer option.

25. Disney Cool Creations Ice Cream Cups

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These cups were like Hoodsies but somehow even better. There were a lot of different versions of these Cool Creations cups, like Pocahontas, Hercules, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. They all had little tart candies on top of them that represented their specific films.

26. Chocolate Eclair Ice Cream

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This was another summer pool day must-have. Of course, most kids didn't know what an eclair is, but these bars are really just chocolate ice cream, vanilla ice cream, more ice cream and then little cake-type crumbles. They were delicious and a similar vibe to the Sundae Crunch bars.

27. Itzakadoozies

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Tbh, we don't remember this being the official name of these popsicles. Pretty sure all the kiddos just called them swirl pops. But either way, these very vibrant and delicious popsicles were definitely a childhood summer time staple. Your tongue was definitely a weird orangey brown after consuming one of these bad boys.

28. Nickelodeon Green Slime Ice Pops

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Did a kid in the 90s have a bigger goal than getting slimed on Nickelodeon? We lived for the green slime. So when they released a popsicle with the same branding that had a "goopy glob" of green slime that promised to be delicious, how could anyone refuse?

29. Creamsicles

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A lot of kids didn't like these, but for my little lactose intolerant self, I just couldn't get enough of this orange and ice cream flavor together. It felt light and refreshing and very summer. Plus, the color was POPPIN'. They are popular, so much so, that Creamsicle became its own brand with other flavors like raspberry, grape, and cherry.

30. Snow Cones

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I don't know about you, but I went absolutely FERAL over this Snoopy snow cone maker. I also begged for snow cones basically anywhere they were served... fairs, amusement parks, summer festivals. The best part about these was definitely the variety of colors and flavors you could try.

31. How about these foods that will give you serious nostalgia? Gelatin molds!

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Gelatin molds were the pinnacle of a family dinner, no matter the day or occasion. It didn't count as a full meal if you didn't have at least one gelatin mold on the table! And it all depends on what your favorite flavor was (and we bet that memory is coming right back to you now!). The red one was of course the most common, but when the lime flavor came out, people lost their minds. And that's just the Jello-O variety - it became so popular, that the mold was used for other things, like cottage cheese, pieces of pineapple and orange... you name it.

32. Swedish meatballs

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This dish was well known back in the 60s, so many of us might remember our parents mentioning it at one point - or at least trying to recreate the recipe for family dinner! It was more a 'cocktail party' choice if your parents were feeling a bit posh that day. There are many different ways you can make Swedish meatballs, but they're all delicious - whether it's beef or pork, and best served up with a side of gravy or even a sweet jam for some variety! And of course, these days we know the perfect place you can find Swedish meatballs... IKEA!

33. Fondue

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Ah, fondue - even now it's still delicious! We actually have the 17th century to thank for fondue - or at the very least, a recipe that dates back to that time. This is when the first recorded instance of food being dipped into melted cheese was, and we haven't looked back since (luckily, because it's delicious). It was then featured at the New York Fair, when it was part of the exhibition from Switzerland. It then became a dinner party staple - because who didn't want to share a huge pot of fondue if they were made to spend time with other people?

34. Pineapple upside down cake

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Why not the right way up? We have no idea, we were just happy to eat it! The pineapple upside down cake was the firm choice for a bright and cheery dessert - not only did it cheer up your taste buds, but it made the dinner table look a bit brighter, too! Maybe that's why it was upside down... The key to the cake is to have fresh pieces of pineapple paired with delicious cherries on top. The reason it was so popular was because it was really easy to make, with the boxed cake mixtures - so it made dinner times that much quicker to prepare!

35. Baked alaska

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If pineapples weren't your thing, maybe this was! The baked alaska is still a firm favorite today - so if you see it on a menu when you're out, it guarantees excitement! This dessert comes as an ice-cream cake (always a good choice), which then comes with meringue (you either love it or you hate it!). It dates back as far as the 1860s, but it shows how good of a nostalgic dessert it is, that it's still going strong today. Which would you rather have: the baked alaska, or the pineapple upside down cake?

36. Ambrosia

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Ambrosia sounds like it should be a creamy, delicious dessert - which is why it surprised us all when it turned out to be labelled as a 'salad' - even though it's not. Completely confusing! But delicious nontheless. The 'ambrosia salad' is oranges and coconut, mainly, but it could be paired with things like pineapple, cherries or banana - or any fruit you feel like making it with. Marshmallows were also an option, and a generous dollop of something whipped on top! It's still popular today, but they seriously need to drop the 'salad' part.

37. Tuna noodle casserole

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This one had to be a favorite for those people who either couldn't cook, or didn't want to - because the majority of this dish depends on only opening a can! Despite not being the most culinary complex recipe, it wad delicious. It was a firm favorite for the 50s and 60s dinner table if you needed something quick. You only need to open a can of tuna, a can of mushroom soup and throw a couple of seasonings in there and you had some form of casserole which became an instant classic! You could even add cheese on it for something extra.

38. Chicken a la king

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Nothing like a hearty meat dish that never goes out of style! This one is made with big chunks of chicken - naturally - paired with some healthy vegetables, and then comes the little-bit-less-healthy cream sauce! This was often cream of mushroom soup to pair with the chicken and veg. You could then eat it with rice, or even biscuits, depending on your preference. It was a peak meal dish in the 50s and 60s, but you can definitely still make it at home today - and the family definitely won't grumble, because it's delicious - so why wouldn't you?

39. Meatloaf

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If there's one staple family dinner favorite that makes everyone feel nostalgic, it's meatloaf! The best thing about it is that every family will have their own unique memory of the taste of it from their childhood, simply because their mom made the recipe a little bit different. Meatloaf was usually a Sunday meal, or at the very least a once-a-week thing! Whether you liked it or not, there's no doubt it'll still bring back memories for you! The reason it was so popular was because it was a really cheap meal option when you had a whole family to feed!

40. Tunnel of fudge cake

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Sorry for mentioning this one if you're already craving chocolate - because this was the best of them all! The tunnel of fudge cake was something guaranteed to find success - and it did, when it became immediately popular across the US. With its deliciously fudge middle and a lava-esque drizzle on top - and the tunnel shape also made it a heck of a lot easier to cut portions out of without getting the knife too messy! The cake shape came from the use of a Bundt pan, which mean the cake itself would bake around the hole in the center.

41. Frozen dinners

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We all went through this stage in our childhood - and even now in our adulthood when we've had a busy day - where frozen dinners were not only the quickest to make, but they were a staple for 'treat' day when you were allowed to eat in front of the TV instead of around the table! You knew mom or dad had had a long day when one of these rolled out - or they were just trying to save money. Of course, they could have made their own frozen dinners, too, which weren't bought but instead left over pieces from the massive turkey you bought for Thanksgiving.

42. Party mix

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It wasn't a party until the party mix came out! It was something so simple, but it made such a difference having a huge bag or large bowl of one of these on hand. The party mix - like the Chex mix - was just nuts, cereal and a bit of seasoning, which sounds quite unappetizing when you put it like that (who wants to eat cereal in their spare time) but actually, together, it was just a culinary masterpiece! If your parents didn't have some of these in the cupboard, it was the biggest disappointment of your life! And if they were hoping you'd save them some, they were wrong.

43. Canned meat

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There was nothing like one of these massive blocks of pressed meat that came in a can - every home's cupboard had at least one! It was usually pork meat that had been put into a block, and now we know it as SPAM - that iconic food that was at first used as food for the US troops while they fought in World War II. Understandable seeing as it was very compact, very easy to transport and would have provided some protein, which was at least something. But then it became popular with families at home, too, outside of the war, just because it was so cheap and easy.

44. Wacky Cake

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If you're not a fan of any of the other desserts on this list, or maybe they weren't featured in your household, maybe your family was a huge fan of the wacky cake! Originally from the 1940s, the wacky cake is now a pinnacle of American cookbooks if you want a tasty dessert. Why is it wacky? Well, because it's not much like other cakes. Firstly because it doesn't use any of the key staple ingredients, like eggs, milk or butter, and secondly because it was quick to dump in a pan and bake if you were in a hurry. Which we guess for a cake, is kinda wacky.

45. Beef bourguignon

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There were many delicious recipes we had as kids, but the beef bourguignon is another family staple that most kids growing up in the US would have had at least one! Usually with mom's own twist on the recipe when she was cooking. At the time, it was crazy to think French cooking would suddenly take off in America, but we have Julia Child to thank for that, when she plumbed for the beef bourguignon in her first cookbook, as well as showcasing it on her first cooking show. People were eager to copy and try this delicious French dish!

46. Clam dip

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Clam dip seems like something so random now, but it definitely has that touch of nostalgia when you remember everyone went crazy for it. So much so that canned clams actually completely sold out in New York City within a day, just because everyone was rushing to buy them! That was all down to this extra special recipe of clam dip that was shown on TV - Kraft Music Hall, the show - and everyone wanted to try it. Because the show had aired at the set time, everyone had watched it together at that time so the next 24 hours was just competing with everyone else in the city to get the clams!

47. Fruit cocktail cake

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When you hear 'fruit' and 'cake', you either love it or you hate it. Some people are chocolate fudge cake people, others are fruity, zesty cake people. Whatever you prefer, there's no doubt that the fruit cocktail cake was a delicious addition to any home growing up. It was made from small fruit chunks (the reason fruit cocktail was a thing in the first place was just to use up leftover fruit) but because it was so easy, it was a popular choice for families who wanted dessert for the table after dinner! It was known for being a really easy cake to whip up.

48. Tomato aspic

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If there's one thing you can say about nostalgic foods, and especially those from the 50s or 60s, it's that they can usually be described as 'gelatinous' - which is a little less appealing these days. The tomato aspic was a popular choice for 'ladies who lunch' back in the day, but your mom might have attempted it in her own kitchen, too. It was basically canned tomato soup/juice that had been put in large mold. This was usually paired with seasoning, like Tabasco, for a stronger flavor, and some onions and celery thrown into the mix.

49. Beef stroganoff

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If you weren't a beef bourguignon kind of family, maybe you were a beef stroganoff kind of family! This one was another example of how French dishes, with meat as the focus, became hugely popular in the US - and with good reason, because this one is delicious! It became so popular in the good ol' days that you could usually find it any cookbook - especially the one you had in your own kitchen! The great thing about the recipe was that everyone could put their own spin on it, including mushrooms, switching out the beef or adding tomato paste.

50. Rumaki

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Luau's were very popular back in the day too - or at the very least, luau themed parties where food like rumaki was served up. A lot of this came from the popularity of restaurants in the cities that served up Hawaiian food, and a lot of people wanted 'party food' that was simple to pick up off a tray or eat with their fingers! Maybe you remember your family throwing a luau themed party when you were young, and there definitely being a plate of these somewhere. It was made up of chicken liver and then some water chestnuts that had been encased in bacon.