The History of Eskimo Pie

Eskimo Pie

Eskimo Pie is a hard chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream bar wrapped in foil. The yummy treat would never have been invented had it not been for one observant boy whose friend couldn't make up his mind.

Decisions, Decisions

Christian Nelson and a friend went to the corner drugstore, where his friend debated between ice cream and a chocolate bar before finally deciding to go with the ice cream. When Christian asked his friend why he didn't buy both, the boy replied that he didn’t have enough money. That’s when Christian decided it was up to him to make sure no one else would have to choose between chocolate and ice cream.

For four long weeks in 1920, at the age of 27, Christian tried and tried, mixing different amounts of ingredients, until he finally tried cocoa butter, which worked. He made 500 of his own creation and called them I-Scream Bars, which he sold out of at a local charity function.

One year later he and partner Russel Stover (who was already a successful candymaker) agreed to split evenly any profits made on the sale of what would be called the Eskimo Pie. After first advertising the new product in Iowa they sold 250,000 pies in 24 hours!

By 1922, 2,700 companies were selling the fun ice cream treats, at a total rate of 1 million a day. The Eskimo Pie is still around today, a testament to the vision of Christian Nelson more than 80 years ago.

Video: Eskimo Pie Song by George Jones

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