When I hear the word Hydrox I think of Hydroxycut. Hydroxycut was one of those crazy weight loss pills from the ‘90s. But Hydrox is a cookie. Maybe it’s because of that name that Hydrox played second fiddle to Oreos for years. But what is Hydrox? Are Hydrox cookies still made? Did Oreo copy Hydrox? When was Hydrox made? Let’s dive into Hydrox vs Oreo!
What is Hydrox?
Hydrox is a chocolate sandwich cookie with a cream filling. If that sounds familiar to you, it’s because Oreos are essentially the same exact thing. In 1882 a guy named Jacob Loose started what would become Sunshine Biscuits. Sunshine Biscuits debuted their most popular cookie, Hydrox, in 1908. That’s right, Hydrox was made in 1908, over 100 years ago. The name was supposed to sound fresh and clean, like the hydrogen and oxygen in water. But it sounded more like hydrogen peroxide. And, indeed, that chemically sounding name was a turnoff for many people.
Hydrox vs Oreo
So did Oreo copy Hydrox? You bet they did! Even though Hydrox always seemed to be the Pepsi to Oreo’s co*ke, the Sega to their Nintendo, the WWF to their WCW, Hydrox actually debuted first. Hydrox was released in 1908 and Nabisco released Oreos on April 2, 1912. Nabisco described their cookie as “two beautifully embossed chocolate-flavored wafers with a rich cream filling,” which could also describe Hydrox just as well.
When it comes down to the minute differences, the design on the Hydrox wafer is a more intricate flower. Oreos are slightly sweeter. And the Hydrox chocolate biscuits are a little harder, standing up to a milk dunk a little better. But the biggest difference between Oreos and Hydrox was that Oreos had a better name and Nabisco marketed the heck out of them. One of the only reasons that Hydrox stuck around as long as they did is because they were kosher and Oreos were not. But in 1998, Oreo got the lard out of their cream and became kosher as well.
Are Hydrox cookies still made?
Good news for everybody reading this and wanting to try some weirdo Oreos: You can still buy Hydrox! That wasn’t the case for a few years, though. Keebler took over Sunshine Biscuits in the late ‘90s and gave Hydrox a rebrand. But then Kellogg bought the Keebler brand in 2001 and Hydrox were no more by 2003. Hydrox were briefly released in 2008, but it seemed like that may have been their last gasp.
However, in 2015, Ellia Kassoff’s company Leaf Brands brought Hydrox back from the dead. Basically, since Kellogg had announced publicly that they had no plans to ever revive Hydox, Kassoff was able to take over the copyright and revive the original cream-filled, chocolate biscuit sandwich cookie. I always buy one pack of Hydrox along with my Oreos. Then I take them all apart and combine the two different cookies as a symbol of unity.
FAQs
Oreo eventually surpassed Hydrox in popularity, which resulted in the Hydrox cookies being perceived by many as an Oreo off-brand, despite the opposite being the case. Compared to Oreos, Hydrox cookies have a less sweet filling and a crunchier cookie shell that is less soggy when dipped in milk.
Why was Oreo more successful than Hydrox? ›
The truth of the matter is that Oreos outpaced its rival not just with a superior name, but with superior marketing. The patented Oreo twist was launched as a marketing idea in 1923, and in subsequent decades, Nabisco would also tailor marketing to female consumers and noticeably improve the product's packaging.
Is Hydrox a knockoff? ›
The cheap, certifiably uncool Xerox of an Oreo. There's a problem with that narrative, though. Hydrox aren't a knockoff — they're the original sandwich cookie. Hydrox debuted in 1908, a full four years before Oreo came out, and they were revolutionary at the time.
Are hydrox cookies still being sold? ›
Yet Oreo's dominance is unparalleled, accounting for roughly 10% of all cookies purchased in the US. Nabisco, the maker of Oreo (and a subsidiary of Mondelez Inc.), commands nearly 40% of the cookie market. Hydrox, meanwhile, was discontinued in 2003.
Is Oreos a Hydrox? ›
Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world today. But few people remember the product that Nabisco blatantly ripped off: Hydrox. A creation of Kansas City's Loose-Wiles Biscuit Company, Hydrox was billed as the “aristocrat of cookies,” with a novel combo of chocolate and cream filling.
How much did Hydrox sue Oreo for? ›
Upset with the Chicago-based company's efforts to diminish his brand's presence in the competitive cookie aisle, he filed an official complaint with the Federal Trade Commission in 2018 seeking $800 million in damages. Kassoff said he has yet to hear back from the agency.
What were Oreos originally called? ›
The name Oreo was trademarked on March 14, 1912. It was launched as an imitation of the original Hydrox cookie manufactured by Sunshine company, which was introduced in 1908. The original design on the face of the Oreo featured a wreath around the edge of the cookie and the name "OREO" in the center.
What is the best selling cookie of all time? ›
Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co. But did you know Oreos are a copycat product?
Is Hydrox coming back? ›
Hydrox. Decades later, the entrepreneur is resurrecting the product he used to love. After years of dormancy, Hydrox cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies are coming back. The cookies, which predate Oreo, could challenge its former rival and are available only via pre-order on Amazon.com.
Does Kroger sell Hydrox? ›
Kroger, one of the world's largest food retailers, has begun stocking Hydrox cookies in all its stores nationwide, including Scott's, City Market, Dillon's, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's among others.
It's like everyone says, Hydrox has a rich but sort of clean cocoa flavor, and the filling is light and pleasantly sweet without being gummy or saccharine.
Is Oreo owned by Hershey? ›
But chocolate lovers' hopes were dashed on Monday, when the deal discussions ended. Mondelez International, the owner of snack brands like Oreo and Nabisco, said on Monday that it was no longer seeking to acquire the Hershey Company.
What are Trader Joe's Oreos called? ›
Whether you're a fan of the original or an inquisitive initiate, Joe-Joe's Chocolate Vanilla Creme Sandwich Cookies are sure to become an instant classic in your pantry. You'll find kosher-certified packages on the cookie shelves at—where else? —your neighborhood Trader Joe's.
What is Oreo's rival? ›
Its rival Oreo would become the definitive creme-cookie sandwich, while Hydrox would languish in obscurity, eventually being discontinued until revived, discontinued again, and brought back. Hydrox isn't a causality of any major misstep; it simply lost out in the cutthroat world of snacks.
What did Oreos look like in 1912? ›
The name Oreo was trademarked on March 14, 1912. It was launched as an imitation of the original Hydrox cookie manufactured by Sunshine company, which was introduced in 1908. The original design on the face of the Oreo featured a wreath around the edge of the cookie and the name "OREO" in the center.
Was Oreo the first sandwich cookie? ›
Even though Oreo cookies are super popular, they weren't actually the first of their kind. Before Oreos came onto the scene, Hydrox cookies were already on the market (since 1908). Hydrox cookies were actually the first chocolate sandwich cookies that featured a creme in the middle!
