10 Beloved Ice Creams We Wish Would Return And 3 That Should Stay Gone

Remember the days when a certain ice cream treat could make your summer complete?

I sure do. From iconic novelties to limited-edition flavors, some frozen delights have vanished from freezer aisles, leaving only sweet memories behind.

While some deserve a triumphant comeback, others should remain in the frozen food graveyard forever.

1. Ben & Jerry’s Wavy Gravy

Ben & Jerry's Wavy Gravy
© The US Sun

Named after the famous Woodstock announcer, this psychedelic masterpiece disappeared in 2001, leaving me heartbroken. The caramel and cashew Brazil nut base swirled with roasted almonds and a hazelnut fudge ribbon was unlike anything else in my freezer.

My college roommate and I would splurge on pints during finals week, convincing ourselves that the nuts provided brain food. The perfect balance of sweet and salty, crunchy and creamy made this flavor the ultimate stress reliever.

While Ben & Jerry’s continues creating innovative flavors, nothing has captured the unique combination of textures and tastes that made Wavy Gravy special. Its comeback would be a groovy addition to their current lineup and introduce a new generation to this counterculture-inspired treat.

2. Good Humor Toasted Almond Bar

Good Humor Toasted Almond Bar
© You Don’t Know Jersey

The ice cream truck symphony would send me sprinting down the street, quarters clutched in my sweaty palm. While other kids chose cartoon character popsicles with gumball eyes, I always went for the sophisticated Toasted Almond Bar.

That vanilla ice cream center coated in chocolate and rolled in crunchy almond pieces was pure perfection on a stick. The contrast between the cold, creamy interior and the textured exterior made each bite a tiny celebration.

Though technically still produced, they’ve become nearly impossible to find in most areas. These bars deserve wider distribution and recognition as the classic they truly are. Nothing compares to that distinctive almond crunch followed by the smooth vanilla finish – a flavor combination that defined summer evenings for generations.

3. Breyers Viennetta

Breyers Viennetta
© The Kitchn

Ah, Viennetta – the dessert that transformed ordinary family dinners into fancy affairs! Those rippling layers of vanilla ice cream separated by thin, crisp chocolate sheets made me feel downright sophisticated as a kid.

My grandmother would serve it at holiday gatherings, carefully slicing it like some kind of frozen pastry masterpiece. The way each layer crackled under your spoon before melting into creamy goodness was pure magic. No other dessert has managed to combine such elegant presentation with simple, delicious flavors.

While Viennetta has made brief reappearances in some markets, it deserves a permanent spot in freezer aisles worldwide. This frozen cake elevated any occasion without being pretentious – a rare quality in a dessert that looked like it belonged at a royal banquet but tasted like home.

4. Nestlé Push-Up Pops (Flintstones Edition)

Nestlé Push-Up Pops (Flintstones Edition)
© Reddit

Nothing screams ’90s childhood like the colorful cardboard tube filled with sherbet goodness! I’d rush home after school, fingers sticky with melting orange, cherry, or lime sherbet as I pushed the treat higher with each lick.

The Flintstones characters made these Push-Up Pops extra special – who else pretended they were taking a prehistoric vitamin like Fred and Barney in the commercials? The simple joy of pushing up the frozen treat as you ate it somehow made it taste better than regular ice cream.

Modern versions exist, but they lack the magic of those original Flintstone-themed tubes that turned ordinary sherbet into an adventure. The perfect combination of fun packaging and fruity flavor deserves another chance to delight a new generation.

5. Häagen-Dazs Banana Peanut Butter Chip

Häagen-Dazs Banana Peanut Butter Chip
© Emperor Of Ice Cream

Banana ice cream is criminally underrated, and Häagen-Dazs created the perfect version with their Banana Peanut Butter Chip. I discovered this gem during my first apartment-living days when splurging on fancy ice cream felt like legitimate adulting.

The authentic banana flavor tasted like perfectly ripened fruit – never artificial or candy-like. Those generous peanut butter chips provided the perfect salty contrast to the sweet banana base, creating a flavor combination that seemed designed by dessert geniuses.

Unlike many discontinued treats, this one had a devoted following but still vanished from shelves. Its return would fill a gaping hole in the banana ice cream market that no other brand has successfully addressed. Some flavors just shouldn’t be messed with, and this was banana perfection in pint form.

6. Klondike Choco Taco

Klondike Choco Taco
© People.com

The ice cream world suffered a collective meltdown when the Choco Taco’s discontinuation was announced in 2022. This genius creation – vanilla ice cream stuffed into a taco-shaped waffle cone, dipped in chocolate and topped with peanuts – was my gas station road trip splurge for decades.

Eating ice cream from a handheld taco shell eliminated the soggy cone problem while ensuring perfect distribution of toppings in every bite. The slightly chewy waffle shell maintained its integrity down to the last bite, unlike traditional cones that often turn to mush.

Despite petitions and social media campaigns, this beloved treat remains in retirement. Its unique format deserves resurrection – not just for nostalgic adults but for a new generation who should experience the joy of ice cream innovation at its finest. Some food concepts are simply too brilliant to disappear.

7. Ben & Jerry’s Fossil Fuel

Ben & Jerry's Fossil Fuel
© Foodie

Sweet cream ice cream loaded with chocolate cookie pieces, fudge dinosaurs, and a swirl of chocolate fudge – Ben & Jerry’s Fossil Fuel was a chocolate lover’s prehistoric dream! I remember spending my first paycheck from my summer job on a pint and feeling like I’d made the most responsible adult decision possible.

The dinosaur-shaped chocolate pieces added whimsy to an already decadent flavor. Each spoonful delivered different texture combinations – sometimes crunchy cookies dominated, other times those melty chocolate dinos took center stage.

This extinction-themed treat ironically went extinct itself, joining the flavor graveyard too soon. While B&J’s has plenty of chocolate options, none combine the playful elements and variety of chocolate textures that made Fossil Fuel special. This paleontological dessert deserves excavation from the flavor archives.

8. Baskin-Robbins Apple Pie a La Mode

Baskin-Robbins Apple Pie a La Mode
© 24/7 Wall St.

Fall flavors aren’t just for pumpkin spice fanatics! Baskin-Robbins’ Apple Pie a La Mode captured autumn’s essence perfectly with its vanilla ice cream, apple pieces, pie crust chunks, and cinnamon caramel ribbon. My first taste happened during an unseasonably warm October day – the perfect bridge between summer treats and fall comfort food.

The authentic apple flavor avoided the artificial candy-apple taste that plagues many fruit ice creams. Those buttery pie crust pieces maintained their texture remarkably well, providing that essential pie experience in frozen form.

While it occasionally returns as a seasonal offering, this flavor deserves permanent status in the BR lineup. No other apple ice cream has managed to capture the complete pie experience so successfully. Its disappearance leaves a dessert gap that cannot be filled by actual pie or regular vanilla ice cream alone.

9. Blue Bell Banana Split

Blue Bell Banana Split
© It’s a Southern Thing

Blue Bell’s Banana Split flavor packed an entire sundae experience into each spoonful! Strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate ice creams swirled together with chunks of banana, pineapple, cherries, and pecans – it was dessert engineering at its finest.

During my college years, this flavor fueled many late-night study sessions. The variety of flavors in a single scoop prevented palate fatigue, making it possible to work through an alarming portion of the carton without getting bored. Each bite offered a different flavor combination, like a dessert adventure in a bowl.

While Blue Bell has faced challenges in recent years, bringing back this flavor could help win back customers who miss their more innovative offerings. No other ice cream brand has successfully captured the complete banana split experience in a single flavor, making this comeback especially worthy.

10. Starbucks Java Chip Ice Cream

Starbucks Java Chip Ice Cream
© 24/7 Wall St.

Before Starbucks bottled Frappuccinos dominated grocery stores, their pints of Java Chip ice cream were my caffeine-infused dessert obsession. That perfect coffee ice cream studded with chocolate chunks delivered the ideal coffee shop experience in frozen form.

During my first apartment days, this was my sophisticated adult dessert – proof I’d evolved beyond kiddie flavors. The coffee base had authentic bitterness balanced with just enough sweetness, while those substantial chocolate chunks provided satisfying resistance with each spoonful.

When Starbucks exited the ice cream business, they left a void no other coffee ice cream has managed to fill. The intensity of flavor and quality of ingredients elevated this above typical coffee ice creams. Its return would be welcomed by coffee lovers who appreciate that perfect balance between bitter coffee notes and sweet, rich chocolate.

11. Blue Bunny Bordeaux Cherry Chocolate

Blue Bunny Bordeaux Cherry Chocolate
© Crazy Food Dude

Blue Bunny committed a frozen dessert crime when they discontinued their Bordeaux Cherry Chocolate ice cream! The rich chocolate base with generous burgundy-colored cherry halves and chocolate chunks created a Black Forest cake experience in scoop form.

My grandmother introduced me to this sophisticated flavor during summer visits, serving it in crystal dishes that made me feel grown-up. Those weren’t artificially bright maraschino cherries – they were deep, wine-dark fruits with complex flavor that popped against the chocolate background.

While cherry chocolate ice cream exists in many forms, none capture the elegant, slightly boozy essence that made this version special. The cherries maintained their integrity and juiciness without turning the surrounding ice cream pink. This adult-oriented flavor deserves resurrection for those who appreciate desserts that aren’t cloyingly sweet.

12. Bubble Gum Ice Cream With Actual Gumballs

Bubble Gum Ice Cream With Actual Gumballs
© Barefeet In The Kitchen

Good riddance to this dental disaster masquerading as dessert! As a kid, I was drawn to the bright pink color and promise of hidden treasure – only to face the impossible decision of what to do with a mouthful of frozen gumballs while my ice cream melted.

The awkward process of fishing out rock-hard gumballs, setting them aside to warm up, then chewing them after finishing your ice cream never worked logistically. Plus, the actual ice cream tasted like someone melted down artificial bubble gum flavor and poured it over your dessert.

The concept always worked better in theory than practice. Modern bubble gum ice creams wisely skip the actual gum pieces, focusing instead on capturing the flavor without the choking hazards. This is one nostalgic treat that deserves to stay in the past, where dental insurance can cover the consequences.

13. Heinz EZ Squirt Colored Ketchups

Heinz EZ Squirt Colored Ketchups
© Museum of Failure

Wait, this wasn’t ice cream? Try telling that to the kids who squirted this abomination directly into their mouths! The purple, green, and blue ketchup variants that plagued the early 2000s were a food science experiment gone horribly wrong.

My little brother once covered vanilla ice cream with blue ketchup at a family barbecue, insisting it was “blue raspberry sauce.” One bite later, his trust in humanity was permanently damaged. The psychological warfare of condiments masquerading in candy colors created confusion no child should experience.

Beyond the flavor betrayal, these products taught an entire generation to distrust food based on appearance. Regular ketchup works precisely because we expect that specific color with that specific taste. Some food innovations deserve permanent retirement, and psychedelic ketchup tops that list – especially when mistaken for ice cream toppings.