History of Ice cream in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 30, 2026

Ice cream is a frozen dessert primarily composed of milk or cream, sweetened with sugar or alternatives, and flavored with spices like vanilla or cocoa, or fruits such as strawberries. Food coloring and stabilizers are sometimes added. The production process involves cooling the mixture below freezing while stirring it to incorporate air and prevent large ice crystals from forming. Another method uses liquid nitrogen and a flavored cream base to create a smooth, semi-solid foam that solidifies at extremely low temperatures and softens as it warms.

1904: Ice cream cones served at St. Louis World's Fair

During the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, ice cream cones were served and their popularity greatly increased after a vendor ran out of cardboard dishes and collaborated with a waffle booth to use rolled-up waffles as cones.

1904: Ice cream cone popularized in the US

In 1904, the ice cream cone was popularized in the US at the World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.

1996: Food Labelling Regulations in the United Kingdom

In 1996, the Food Labelling Regulations in the United Kingdom set a requirement of at least 5% milk fat and 2.5% milk protein in order to be sold as ice cream within the UK.

2006: Liquid nitrogen used in the primary freezing of ice cream

In 2006, some commercial ice cream makers began using liquid nitrogen in the primary freezing of ice cream, eliminating the need for a conventional ice cream freezer. This process results in a column of white condensed water vapor cloud.

2008: Vanilla and chocolate are the most popular ice cream flavours in the U.S.

According to the NPD Group, as of 2008, the most popular ice cream flavours in the U.S. are vanilla and chocolate, with a combined market share of 40%.

2015: Regulations were relaxed so that containing milk fat or protein was no longer necessary in the UK

In 2015, regulations were relaxed so that containing milk fat or protein was no longer necessary in the UK for a product to be sold as "ice cream", though at least 5% milk fat is still required for a product to be labeled "dairy ice cream".