1. Viennetta
If there was ever an ice cream that made you feel fancy just by slicing it, it was Viennetta. This layered dessert from Good Humor looked like something out of a European café, with its ripples of vanilla ice cream and thin sheets of crackling chocolate. It came in a rectangular loaf, meant to be sliced like a cake, and made every dinner party instantly feel elegant. The texture combination alone was reason enough to keep a few in the freezer.
What’s funny is how people still talk about it like a myth—part nostalgia, part craving. It’s made comebacks overseas, but in the U.S., it’s harder to find than ever. With modern dessert trends leaning toward “retro chic,” Viennetta feels long overdue for a revival. We could all use a little touch of ‘80s decadence in our freezer aisle again.
2. Pudding Pops
Bill Cosby’s commercials might not age well, but Jell-O Pudding Pops themselves were unforgettable. These creamy frozen treats weren’t quite ice cream, not quite popsicles, but somewhere in between. They came in chocolate, vanilla, and swirl varieties and melted in a way that made them smoother than anything else in the freezer section.
What made them magical was the flavor—it really tasted like pudding, just colder and more fun. Parents loved them because they were less messy than ice cream cones, and kids devoured them after school. They briefly returned in the 2000s but didn’t quite recapture the same charm. Maybe what they really need is their original box art and that old-school creamy texture to make a proper comeback.
3. Ben & Jerry’s Rainforest Crunch
Before eco-friendly desserts were trendy, Ben & Jerry’s was already making them cool. Rainforest Crunch was a mix of vanilla ice cream, cashews, and chunks of toffee-coated nuts, all tied to a rainforest preservation message. It was both delicious and socially conscious, which made it stand out on store shelves.
Unfortunately, the brand behind the toffee pieces went under, and Ben & Jerry’s retired the flavor. Fans still reminisce about it as one of their best creations. It had that irresistible mix of creamy and crunchy, sweet and nutty. If ever there was a Ben & Jerry’s flavor that deserved another scoop at life, this would be it.
4. Breyers Viennese Chocolate
Before gourmet chocolate ice creams filled the freezer aisle, Breyers had something elegant called Viennese Chocolate. It wasn’t just plain chocolate—it had layers of rich chocolate ribbons running through velvety ice cream. The packaging made it look like it belonged in a fine European café rather than a grocery store.
It hit that perfect balance of sweet and slightly bitter, with a texture that melted beautifully. People who grew up with it swear it tasted more “grown up” than the average scoop. These days, Breyers focuses more on simple classics, but this was their most sophisticated offering. It would fit right in with the current craft chocolate craze.
5. Crystal Light Frozen Pops
When diet culture ruled the ‘80s, Crystal Light tried to give guilt-free dessert a twist with its frozen pops. They were essentially low-calorie ice pops in flavors like lemonade and strawberry kiwi, promising all the refreshment without the sugar. For people who drank Crystal Light religiously, these were a dream come true.
They weren’t as creamy or indulgent as regular popsicles, but that wasn’t the point. They felt light and refreshing, especially on a summer day. Plus, their pastel packaging looked so perfectly ‘80s you can almost hear the aerobics music. In today’s world of low-sugar everything, they’d probably sell out in minutes.
6. Haagen-Dazs Praline & Cream
Before it became a common flavor, Praline & Cream was Haagen-Dazs’ little southern-inspired secret. It was all about buttery caramel swirls and candied pecans in rich, smooth ice cream. The flavor had a real homemade vibe, like something your grandmother would make if she were fancy enough to own an ice cream churn.
It disappeared quietly from store shelves even though it had a loyal following. Fans loved how it wasn’t overly sweet and had just enough crunch to keep every bite interesting. Today, you can find similar versions elsewhere, but none quite have the same nostalgia factor. Haagen-Dazs could win hearts all over again just by bringing this one back.
7. Eskimo Pie
The name hasn’t aged well, which might be why this classic bar was quietly phased out. But the original treat itself was iconic: a slab of vanilla ice cream coated in a thick layer of chocolate and wrapped in shiny foil. It was simple but instantly satisfying, especially when that first crack of the chocolate shell gave way to the cold ice cream beneath.
It dates all the way back to the 1920s, but its real pop-culture heyday was in the ‘80s when every grocery store freezer carried them. The brand was eventually rebranded as Edy’s Pie to be more culturally sensitive. Still, it’s the same nostalgic taste that reminds people of summer afternoons and sticky fingers.
8. Baskin-Robbins Pink Bubblegum
Every kid in the ‘80s had that one friend who swore by Baskin-Robbins Pink Bubblegum ice cream. It was exactly what it sounds like—bright pink ice cream with actual gumballs mixed in. Eating it was an adventure because you had to decide whether to chew the gum mid-scoop or save it for the end.
It wasn’t exactly practical, but it was pure fun, and that’s why kids loved it. The ice cream itself tasted like cotton candy and bubblegum mixed together, which was the dream combo for anyone under twelve. Baskin-Robbins brings it back occasionally, but not nearly enough. One look at that neon pink scoop could bring back every memory of summer birthdays and sugar highs.
9. Klondike Choco Taco
For many of us, the Choco Taco was the ultimate novelty treat. It took everything you loved about a taco—just made it sweet. A waffle “shell” folded around fudge, vanilla ice cream, and a chocolate coating with peanuts made it weirdly perfect.
It felt exotic and cool, like something you could only find at an ice cream truck or convenience store. When Klondike discontinued it in 2022, the internet practically mourned. But this ‘80s classic deserves another shot—it’s the perfect balance of crunchy, creamy, and nostalgic. Some rumors even hint it might make a comeback, and we can only hope they’re true.
10. Good Humor Toasted Almond Bar
Long before gourmet nutty flavors filled the freezer aisle, there was the Toasted Almond Bar. Good Humor nailed it with this one—a creamy vanilla center surrounded by a crumbly almond coating that was slightly sweet and salty at the same time. It was understated but deeply satisfying.
You could find it at almost every ice cream truck in the ‘80s, right next to the Strawberry Shortcake bar. The taste was comforting in a way few treats manage now. For those who didn’t like chocolate overload, it was the perfect middle ground. It’s hard to believe something so simple disappeared from shelves.
11. Sealtest Ice Cream Sandwiches
Sealtest may not be a household name anymore, but their ice cream sandwiches were legendary. They had that perfect balance of soft chocolate wafers and vanilla ice cream that stayed just firm enough not to squish out the sides. They came in those nostalgic paper wrappers that always seemed to stick to your hands in the best way.
Kids in the ‘80s probably didn’t know much about the brand itself, but they knew that logo meant something good. Sealtest disappeared from many markets by the late ‘80s, taking their perfect sandwiches with them. There’s no shortage of versions today, but none hit quite the same. It’s like chasing the taste of your childhood and never quite catching it.
12. Friendly’s Watermelon Roll
If you grew up on the East Coast, Friendly’s Watermelon Roll was a summer tradition. Shaped like an actual watermelon, it had green rind-flavored sherbet, pink watermelon-flavored sherbet, and little chocolate chip “seeds.” It looked so fun that even adults couldn’t resist cutting a slice.
The presentation alone made it memorable, but it also tasted refreshingly fruity compared to all the chocolate-heavy options of the decade. It still pops up occasionally at Friendly’s restaurants, but it’s not as widely available as it once was. It’s exactly the kind of whimsical, cheerful dessert the world could use again.
13. Dreyer’s Fudgsicle Ice Cream
Dreyer’s made its name on simple, creamy ice cream bars, and the Fudgsicle version was one of its best. It was thicker and richer than your standard popsicle but lighter than a full ice cream bar, which made it ideal for a quick chocolate fix. The packaging was simple, but that first bite always hit perfectly.
There was something about how it didn’t melt too quickly, giving you just enough time to savor it. Over the years, different versions came and went, but none quite matched the original. It was chocolate comfort on a stick, and the world could easily welcome it back. We’ve got the freezer space ready.
14. TCBY White Chocolate Mousse
Before frozen yogurt shops were everywhere, TCBY was the place to go for a “healthier” treat that didn’t feel like a compromise. Their White Chocolate Mousse flavor was a customer favorite, rich and velvety without being heavy. It tasted indulgent even though it was technically frozen yogurt.
It felt like the grown-up choice compared to neon-colored kids’ options, but everyone loved it. TCBY still exists, but the flavor lineup has changed drastically since the ‘80s. Bring this one back, and it might just rekindle the love people had for old-fashioned fro-yo shops. It was sophisticated without trying too hard.
15. Good Humor Chocolate Éclair Bar
The Chocolate Éclair Bar was the ultimate ice cream truck indulgence for chocolate lovers. It had that crumbly outer coating with layers of chocolate and vanilla inside that somehow tasted fancier than it looked. Every bite was a perfect mix of creamy, crunchy, and nostalgic.
It stood proudly alongside its siblings—the Strawberry Shortcake and Toasted Almond bars—but somehow got lost in time. It’s still occasionally spotted, but far less common than it used to be. There’s no reason this rich, satisfying bar shouldn’t make a full-time comeback. The ‘80s may be gone, but that flavor deserves another encore.
