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.
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.
Why was Oreo more successful than Hydrox? ›
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.
Did Oreos come first or Hydrox? ›
Before there was the Oreo, there was the Hydrox. Neither a cleaning product nor a Marvel Comics villain, Hydrox biscuits were the original chocolate sandwich cookie, invented by the eponymous company in 1908.
Do they still sell Hydrox? ›
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.
What does Oreo stand for? ›
Etymology. The origin of the name "Oreo" is unknown, but there are many hypotheses, including derivations from the French word or, meaning "gold", or from the Greek word ωραίο (oreo) meaning "nice" or "attractive". Others believe that the cookie was named Oreo simply because the name was short and easy to pronounce.
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.
What did Oreo do to Hydrox? ›
“You can't fault the product,” he said. “You can fault the brand managers on these products.” Hydrox met its demise after owner Keebler changed the name to Droxies to distance the cookie from its chemical-sounding name. It also made the cookie sweeter to go head-to-head with Oreo.
What does Hydrox taste like? ›
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.
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?
The pricing will be roughly where Hydrox™ was for years: less expensive than Oreos but more expensive than store brands. If a 14-ounce package of Oreos retails for about $4; Hydrox™ will be $3 and store brand sandwich cremes often cost about $2, he says.
Who makes Hydrox cookies now? ›
Kellogg's removed Droxies® from the market in 2003. Leaf® Brands is proud to bring back the original sandwich cookie, Hydrox®!
Who owns Oreo? ›
The Oreo brand has been owned by Mondelez International since 2012. According to Mondelez, it takes two hours to make and bake one Oreo cookie.
Are Oreos kosher? ›
Oreos are certified Kosher by the Orthodox Union, and Chips Ahoy! are certified Kosher by the Triangle K. This means that they meet the standards of Jewish dietary laws and are considered permissible to be eaten by those who follow these laws.
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?
What company did Oreo knock off? ›
Today, it is the best-selling cookie in the world, but few people remember the product that Nabisco, the company behind Oreo, blatantly ripped off. We are talking about Hydrox. Mackenzie Martin of member station KCUR says Hydrox was the original chocolate sandwich cookie.
