Overview:
Snacks come and go, but that doesn’t mean they disappear from our memories. Some snacks have too many competitors, some have a niche flavor, an acquired taste, or they just did not taste good or sell well. Today, we will be looking at four Oreo flavors that have disappeared from store shelves, and ponder if we will ever see them return.
Oreo first began as Oreo Biscuits in 1912. At the time, there were only two different flavors: chocolate cookie with vanilla creme, and chocolate cookie with lemon creme. Nabisco discontinued lemon meringue Oreos by 1920, leaving only what we know as a regular Oreo to this day. The trend of cycling through limited edition Oreos is much newer than one might expect. The diverse flavor initiative began in 2012, with 65 flavors coming out by the end of that decade.
Cherry Cola (2018)
Many limited edition Oreo flavors introduced offer unique tactile or gustatory experiences. In the case of cherry cola, it was popping candy in the creme filling. This was meant to simulate the feeling of carbonation of the soft drink it is imitating. The cookie itself was the regular chocolate flavor, while the creme inside was flavored to evoke cherry cola. Cherry cola was the winner of the three ‘My Oreo Creation’ contest finalists, trumping both kettle corn and piña colada.
Will They Return?
Cherry cola Oreos were generally well received. However, they received some criticism. Some felt it was too sweet or that flavors of chocolate and cherry cola did not mix. It has been seven years since the My Oreo Creation contest, and there isn’t much of a chance for the flavor to make a return. Limited edition Oreo flavors very rarely re-release. Those that do tend to be brand deals or fan favorites.
Snack Fact:
The ’double stuf’ Oreos don’t actually have twice the amount of creme inside. According to a 2013 study, the cookies have closer to 1.86 times the amount of creme. A high school class initially performed the study, but it has since been replicated by publications like Business Insider.
Black & White Cookie (2024)
These Oreos are mimicking the black & white cookie. This treat is traditionally sold in the New York metropolitan area, but has received more widespread consumption. Both the Oreo filling and the cookie it is based on are split between a black half, which is chocolate flavored, while the white half is vanilla. The original cookie has a cake-like consistency, being soft, with some spring. The Oreo cookie is a golden vanilla cookie. This tends to be the case with most Oreos that do not have the basic chocolate cookie.
Will They Return?
The odds of the black & white cookie Oreo returning are not particularly high. While the chocolate, or ‘black’ side was praised for its flavor, the vanilla, or ‘white’ side was derided for being too sweet. It had very little to make it stand out. There have been Oreos resembling other deserts that have made a comeback, but the limited flavor profile of this interpretation hampers any uniqueness. This uniqueness is what lets it stand out.
Snack Fact:
Jewish delis helped to ingrain the black & white cookie by adopting them as a treat. The baked treat isn’t technically a cookie. From a baking perspective, it would be closer to a ‘drop cake’ made with a mild lemon batter. The cookie has achieved its place in the cultural lexicon under different names. Perhaps its most famous was during a scene in the sitcom Seinfeld, in which it was used as an allegory for racial harmony.
Blueberry Pie (2016)
The blueberry pie Oreo was among a class of cookies using a graham cracker cookie. Alongside key lime pie and s’mores, the blueberry pie Oreo aimed to recreate the American favorite faithfully, which by most accounts, it did. Despite not having any blueberry in them, reviews fondly describe them as translating the sweet and tangy flavor profile well.
Will They Return?
Blueberry pie Oreos are actually one of few limited varieties of the cookie that have seen a re-release. Nabisco offered it nationwide in July of 2025, and continued to do so while supplies lasted. It could be speculated that the Oreo could release a third time. However, if it did, it would probably be some time before that happened. Much of this optimism relies on how well the flavor sold in its re-distribution.
Snack Fact:
‘Milk’s favorite cookie’ is known to be dairy-free and vegan, but that was not always the case. For around the first 75 years of production, Nabisco used pork lard in their recipe. The cookie brand changed with the times, and substituted lard for hydrogenated vegetable oil in the mid-1990s.
Swedish Fish (2016)
The Swedish Fish Oreos delivered on the promise of bringing the lingonberry flavor of the namesake candy. Some reviews of the cookie trended toward the positive, feeling that the chocolate cookies faded into the background. Others genuinely enjoyed the combination of flavors. But these positive reviews were a red herring.
Will They Return?
Having a cookie flavored after a gummy candy is more of a novelty or a gimmick than it is a likely trendsetter. Few people wanted to give it a chance, let alone ask for the flavor to stay. If a brand deal ever brought the two brands back together, changes would probably occur. If it was a true attempt at longevity, the most important would be to use a different cookie than chocolate. The fruity-chocolate fusion seemed to be one of the strongest barriers against purchase.
Snack Fact:
There are many theories about the design present on every Oreo cookie. The purpose and symbology are both ambiguous. Some suggest the pattern allows for even baking, while others consider it a seal of quality. There are even theories that William A. Turnier created the design to evoke one of many secret societies, especially the Knights Templar through the use of the Cross of Lorraine. This double-barred cross can be seen above the center of the cookie, although none of these theories have been justifiably confirmed.
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