The Ultimate Guide to National Ice Cream Day 2025: Deals, History, and the Science of a Perfect Scoop:- There are few simple pleasures in life as universally loved as a scoop of ice cream. It is the taste of childhood summers, the reward for a long week, the comforting companion on a quiet night, and the centerpiece of countless celebrations. It is a food that transcends age, culture, and background, uniting us all in a shared appreciation for something cold, sweet, and delicious. It is only fitting, then, that this beloved dessert has its own national holiday.
Every year on the third Sunday in July, America celebrates National Ice Cream Day, a day of pure, unadulterated joy dedicated to our favorite frozen treat. Established in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan, the holiday encourages people across the country to indulge in a scoop (or two) and pay tribute to the nation’s dairy industry. For consumers, it has become one of the most anticipated food holidays of the year, marked by an avalanche of deals, discounts, and freebies from ice cream parlors and brands nationwide.
This guide is your ultimate companion to celebrating National Ice Cream Day 2025 (Sunday, July 20th). We will, of course, share all the expected deals to help you get your sweet fix. But we will also take you on a much deeper journey—a journey through the incredible history, the fascinating science, and the rich culture that is churned into every single scoop.
The Sweetest Day of the Year: Your Guide to 2025’s Best Deals
While official announcements are often made just before the big day, we can look at the traditions of past years to predict the kind of delicious deals you can expect for National Ice Cream Day 2025. Get your spoons ready!
- Baskin-Robbins: This iconic chain, famous for its “31 Flavors,” typically offers a discount on all scoops, cones, and pre-packed quarts. In previous years, they have offered special deals through their mobile app, so be sure to download it and check for exclusive coupons as the day gets closer.
- Cold Stone Creamery: Known for its “creations” mixed on a frozen granite stone, Cold Stone often celebrates with a buy-one-get-one-free offer or a special promotion for its My Cold Stone Club Rewards members. Expect a deal that encourages you to bring a friend.
- Dairy Queen: While known for their soft serve, DQ gets in on the action too. They frequently offer a dollar off any dipped cone or a similar small discount available exclusively through their app. It’s a perfect excuse to indulge in that classic chocolate or cherry dip.
- Carvel: One of America’s first soft-serve ice cream franchises, Carvel has a long tradition of celebrating with a BOGO offer on their soft-serve cones or cups. Keep an eye out for their classic vanilla and chocolate swirls.
- Insomnia Cookies: This late-night cookie delivery service, which also serves ice cream, has been known to give away a free scoop of ice cream with any in-store purchase. It’s the perfect way to create your own cookie-and-ice-cream sandwich.
- Whole Foods Market: For those who prefer to enjoy their ice cream at home, Whole Foods typically offers a significant discount (often 35% off for Prime members) on their entire selection of ice cream and frozen treats in the week leading up to the holiday.
- Local Shops: Don’t forget your local, independent ice cream parlors! Many small businesses use National Ice Cream Day to attract new customers with their own unique deals, special limited-edition flavors, or fun events. This is a great opportunity to support a local business while enjoying a delicious treat.
Pro Tip: The best way to stay on top of the 2025 deals is to follow your favorite ice cream brands on social media and sign up for their customer loyalty programs or mobile apps in the days leading up to July 20th.
A Scoop of History: The Long, Cold Journey of Ice Cream
The ice cream you enjoy today is the product of thousands of years of innovation and a fascinating global history. Its journey from a luxury for emperors to a treat for everyone is a story of exploration, science, and a universal human desire for something sweet and refreshing.
- Ancient Origins: The story begins not with cream, but with ice. Ancient civilizations have been enjoying flavored ice for millennia. As far back as 400 B.C. in Persia, people would pour grape juice over snow, collected from mountaintops in winter and stored in underground chambers called “yakhchāls,” to create a treat for royalty. Roman Emperor Nero was known to send his slaves running to the mountains to fetch snow, which he would then flavor with fruit and honey.
- The Sorbet Revolution: The direct ancestor of modern ice cream began to take shape in the Middle Ages. Marco Polo is often credited with bringing recipes for sherbet (sorbet) back to Italy from his travels in China in the 13th century, though historians now debate the accuracy of this specific legend. Regardless of its exact origin, sorbet became wildly popular among the Italian nobility during the Renaissance. When the Italian noblewoman Catherine de’ Medici married King Henry II of France in 1533, she brought her chefs with her, introducing the French court to these delightful frozen desserts.
- Arrival in the American Colonies: Ice cream eventually crossed the Atlantic, arriving in America as a delicacy reserved for the elite. The first official record of ice cream in America appeared in a 1744 letter from a guest of Maryland’s Governor. Records show that founding fathers like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were avid fans. Washington spent a considerable sum on ice cream-making equipment for his home at Mount Vernon, and Jefferson is credited with creating one of the first recipes for vanilla ice cream recorded by an American.
- The Democratization of a Delicacy: For centuries, ice cream remained a treat for the wealthy due to the difficulty and expense of obtaining ice and the labor-intensive process of making it. The 19th century, however, brought a series of inventions that would make ice cream accessible to all.
- The Hand-Cranked Freezer: In 1843, a Philadelphia woman named Nancy Johnson invented the first hand-cranked ice cream freezer. Her design, which used a hand-turned dasher inside a container packed with ice and salt, made it possible for ordinary people to make ice cream at home.
- Commercial Production: The true game-changer was Jacob Fussell, a Baltimore milk dealer. In 1851, looking for a way to use his surplus cream, he opened the first-ever commercial ice cream factory. By producing ice cream in bulk, he could sell it at a much lower price, and he is now considered the father of the American ice cream industry.
- The Ice Cream Cone: The final piece of the puzzle was an edible, portable container. While there are competing claims, the most popular story places the invention of the ice cream cone at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. An ice cream vendor supposedly ran out of dishes, and a nearby waffle vendor, Ernest Hamwi, rolled one of his crisp waffles into a cone shape to help out. The combination was an instant sensation.
The Science of Delicious: What Makes Ice Cream… Ice Cream?
The transformation from simple milk and sugar into the smooth, creamy dessert we love is a fascinating bit of kitchen chemistry. Understanding the science behind it only makes you appreciate a perfect scoop even more.
- The Four Key Components: At its most basic, ice cream is a carefully balanced emulsion of four things:
- Ice Crystals: The “ice” in ice cream. The goal is to keep these crystals as small as possible. Small crystals create a smooth texture, while large crystals result in an unpleasant, grainy, or “icy” feel.
- Fat: This comes from the milk and cream. Fat globules give ice cream its rich flavor and creamy texture. The percentage of milkfat is what legally defines ice cream in the U.S. (it must have at least 10%).
- Air: This is a crucial, invisible ingredient. The amount of air whipped into the ice cream during the churning process is called “overrun.” Less expensive ice creams can have a high overrun (up to 100%, meaning the final product is half air), making them light and foamy. Premium ice creams have a low overrun (25-50%), making them denser, richer, and more flavorful.
- Sugar: Sugar does more than just add sweetness. It lowers the freezing point of the mixture, which is essential for preventing the ice cream from freezing into a solid, un-scoopable block of ice.
- The Supporting Cast: To keep this delicate balance stable, most commercial ice creams include two other key ingredients:
- Emulsifiers: These help keep the fat globules evenly dispersed throughout the mixture. A traditional and highly effective emulsifier is lecithin, which is found in egg yolks. This is why French-style ice creams with a custard base are so rich and smooth.
- Stabilizers: These are ingredients like guar gum or carrageenan that help absorb excess water, prevent large ice crystals from forming (especially during refreezing), and slow down melting.
- Ice Cream vs. Gelato vs. Sorbet vs. Sherbet:
- Ice Cream: Must contain at least 10% milkfat. French-style has a cooked custard base with egg yolks. Philadelphia-style has no eggs.
- Gelato: The Italian cousin. It has less milkfat (typically 4-8%) and a much lower overrun (less air), making it denser and more intensely flavored. It’s also served at a slightly warmer temperature.
- Sorbet: Contains no dairy at all. It is simply fruit puree or juice, sugar, and water.
- Sherbet: Is a sort of hybrid. It’s mostly fruit and sugar, like sorbet, but has a small amount of dairy (between 1-2% milkfat) added for a touch of creaminess.
A Nation of Flavors: America’s Ice Cream Culture
Ice cream is deeply woven into the cultural fabric of America. It’s the star of birthday parties, the go-to breakup food, and the perfect summer treat. This culture has been built by iconic brands that have become household names.
- Baskin-Robbins: Founded in 1945, their famous “31 Flavors” concept was revolutionary, promising a different flavor for every day of the month and encouraging customers to move beyond simple vanilla and chocolate.
- Ben & Jerry’s: Started by two friends in a renovated gas station in Vermont in 1978, Ben & Jerry’s changed the game with their chunky, mix-in-heavy flavors, quirky names (like Cherry Garcia and Phish Food), and a strong commitment to social and environmental causes.
- Häagen-Dazs: Despite its Danish-sounding name (which was completely made up by its founder for marketing purposes), Häagen-Dazs is a New York City original. It pioneered the “premium” ice cream category in America, focusing on high-quality, simple ingredients and a rich, dense texture.
The national flavor debate is always a hot topic. While chocolate is beloved, year after year, the undisputed champion of American ice cream flavors is vanilla. Its versatility as both a standalone flavor and a perfect companion to pies, cakes, and brownies makes it the perennial favorite.
A Perfect Day for a Perfect Treat
As National Ice Cream Day 2025 approaches, take a moment to appreciate the rich story behind this simple dessert. From the snow-filled pits of ancient Persia to the modern-day science of cryogenics, the journey of ice cream is a story of human ingenuity and our endless pursuit of delight. So, go out on July 20th, take advantage of the deals, visit a local shop, and enjoy a scoop of your favorite flavor. You’ll be participating in a delicious tradition thousands of years in the making.