Oreos | Gentle Bedtime Reading For Sleep

Relax with this calm bedtime reading about Oreos, designed to help with sleep and soothe restless insomnia. In this gentle episode, Benjamin explores the history, varieties, and cultural impact of this beloved cookie while guiding you into relaxation. You’ll learn fun and surprising details, all delivered in his steady and soothing cadence—no whispering, just fact-filled calm education.

This peaceful session is perfect for easing stress, quieting anxiety, and helping you drift into restful slumber. Press play, let go of your day, and settle into sweet dreams. Happy sleeping!

Transcript

Welcome to the I Can't Sleep podcast where I help you drift off one fact at a time.

I'm your host Benjamin Boster,

And today's episode is about Oreos.

Thanks to Hannah Chevenel for sponsoring the show today,

And remember to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Oreo is an American brand of sandwich cookie consisting of two cocoa biscuits with a sweet fondant filling.

Oreos were introduced in 1912 by Nabisco,

And the brand has been owned by Mondelēz International since its acquisition of Nabisco in 2012.

Oreo cookies are available in more than 100 countries.

Many varieties of Oreo cookies have been produced,

And limited-edition runs have become popular in the 21st century.

The origin of the name Oreo is obscure,

But there are many hypotheses,

Including derivations from the French word or,

Meaning gold.

The original tin was gold colored.

The Greek word aros,

Meaning mountain,

The cookie was originally conceived to be dome-shaped.

Or the Greek word Oreo,

Meaning nice or attractive.

Others believe that the cookie was named Oreo simply because the name was short and easy to pronounce.

Another theory proposed by the food writers,

Stella Parks,

Is that the name derives from the Greek Oreo Daphne,

A genus of the laurel family,

Originating from the Greek words Oreo,

Meaning beautiful,

And Daphne,

Referring to the laurel.

She observes that the original design of the Oreo includes a laurel wreath,

And the names of several of Nabisco's cookies at the time of the original Oreo had botanical derivations,

Including Avena,

Lotus,

And Helicon.

The Oreo biscuit was first developed and produced by the National Biscuit Company,

Today known as Nabisco,

In 1912 at its Chelsea,

New York City factory,

In the present-day Chelsea Market Complex,

Located on 9th Avenue between 15th and 16th Streets.

In 2002,

This same block of 9th Avenue was ceremoniously named as Oreo Way.

The name Oreo was trademarked on March 14th,

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.

In the United States,

They were sold for 25 cents,

Which is the same as $8.

15 in 2024 a pound,

In novelty metal canisters with clear glass tops.

The first Oreo was sold on March 6th,

1912,

To a grocer in Hoboken,

New Jersey.

The Oreo biscuit was renamed in 1921 to Oreo Sandwich.

In 1948,

The name was changed to Oreo Cream Sandwich,

And in 1974 became the Oreo Chocolate Sandwich cookie,

The name that has remained to this day.

A new design for the face of the cookie was launched in 1924.

The modern-day Oreo design was developed in 1952 by William A.

Turner,

Incorporating the Nabisco logo.

In 1920,

A second lemon cream-filled variety of the Oreo was introduced as an alternative to the white cream-filled variety,

But this was discontinued in 1924,

And the original flavor was the only version available for the next several decades.

The modern Oreo cookie filling was developed by Nabisco's principal food scientist,

Sam Porcello,

Who retired from Nabisco in 1993.

Porcello held five patents directly related to his work on the Oreo.

He also created a range of Oreo cookies that were covered in dark chocolate and white chocolate.

In the early 1990s,

Health concerns prompted Nabisco to replace the lard in the cream filling with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.

This also made it possible for the bakery to become kosher certified,

A lengthy and expensive process for Nabisco.

Similarly,

Oreo cookies are popular with people that have certain dietary restrictions,

Such as vegans,

As the cream filling does not use any animal products.

However,

There is still a risk of cross-contamination from other dairy containing products made in the same production areas.

In the FAQ section of the Oreo website,

On the question of whether Oreo cookies are suitable for vegans,

The response is,

Many Oreo products are suitable for vegans,

But may include cross-contaminants of milk,

So please check allergen advice.

In January 2006,

Nabisco and its parent,

At the time,

Kraft Foods,

Eliminated the trans fat in the Oreo cookie and replaced it with non-hydrogenated vegetable oil,

As one of the main ingredients for Oreo cookies in general.

In June 2012,

Oreo posted an advertisement displaying an Oreo cookie with rainbow-colored cream to celebrate LGBT Pride Month.

The cookie itself was fictional and was not being manufactured or made available for sale.

The advertisement prompted some negative comments from conservatives,

But Kraft stood by their promotion,

Stating that Kraft Foods is a proud history of celebrating diversity and inclusiveness.

We feel the Oreo ad is a fun reflection of our values.

This was followed during 2012 by a series of adverts commemorating other holidays in advance,

Including a blue,

White,

And red cream Oreo to honor Bastille Day,

A stream of cookie crumbs marking the appearance of the Delta Aquarids meteor shower,

And a cookie with a jagged bite taken out of it to promote Shark Week on Discovery Channel.

When the power went out during Super Bowl XLVII in 2013,

The Oreo marketing team tweeted,

You can still dunk in the dark,

From its social media command center.

This was retweeted almost 15,

000 times and increased Oreo's count of Twitter,

Facebook,

And Instagram followers.

One commentator remarked that this solidified the viability and necessity of real-time marketing.

According to an April 2022 research report published in the journal Physics of Fluids,

It was proven impossible to split the cream filling of an Oreo cookie down the middle.

The filling always adheres to one side of the wafer,

No matter how quickly the cookie is twisted.

Oreo cookies are distributed worldwide through a variety of sales and marketing channels.

As their popularity continues to grow,

So too does the amount of distribution that comes with it.

According to the Kraft Foods company,

The Oreo is the world's best-selling cookie.

In March 2012,

Time magazine reported that Oreo cookies were available in more than 100 countries.

In 2012,

It was estimated that since the Oreo cookies' inception in 1912,

Over 450 billion Oreos had been sold worldwide.

Just five years later,

Mondelēz reported that 40 billion,

Nearly 10% of that 100-year quantity,

Was now being produced worldwide annually.

Oreos were first introduced into Britain through the supermarket chain Sainsbury's.

For several years,

This was the only supermarket chain in the UK to stock the Oreo until May 2008,

When Kraft decided to fully launch the Oreo across the whole of the UK.

Its packaging was redesigned into the more familiar British tube design,

Accompanied by a £4.

5 million television advertising campaign based around the twist,

Lick,

Dunk catchphrase.

In a 2020 national poll,

The Oreo was ranked the 16th most popular biscuit in the UK,

With McVitie's chocolate digestive topping the list.

In the UK,

Kraft partnered with McDonald's to introduce the Oreo McFlurry,

Which was already on sale in several other countries,

Including the US,

Into McDonald's locations across the country during its annual McFlurry sale.

In October 2015,

The Oreo McFlurry then became a permanent menu item at McDonald's in the UK.

An Oreo-flavoured Krushem drink was also on sale in KFC stores across Britain.

The ingredients of the British Oreo,

As listed on the UK Oreo website,

Are slightly different from those of the US Oreo.

On December 6,

2011,

Kraft announced that production of Oreo was to start in the UK,

With their Cadbury-Trevor Bassett factory in Sheffield,

South Yorkshire,

Being selected to manufacture Oreo in Britain for the first time.

Production began there in May 2013.

Oreo cookies were introduced onto the Indian market by Cadbury India in 2011.

In Pakistan,

Oreo is manufactured and sold by Continental Biscuits Ltd.

Under the LU brand.

In Japan,

Oreo and other Nabisco products were produced by Yamazaki Baking until Mondelēz terminated their licensing deal in favour of moving products to India.

A year later,

Yamazaki introduced their version of Oreo called Noir,

Which is produced at the former Oreo factory in Ibaraki Prefecture.

By 2017,

More than 40 billion Oreo cookies were being produced annually in 18 countries around the world.

Oreo cookies for the Asian markets are manufactured in India,

Indonesia,

Bahrain,

And China.

Oreo cookies for the European market are made in Spain and at the Cadbury factory in the UK.

They are made in Russia,

Mondelez Rus,

For consumers in several CIS countries.

And those sold in Australia are manufactured in Indonesia,

China,

Or Bahrain,

Depending on the flavour.

The version produced in Canada,

Sold under the Christie's brand,

Included coconut oil,

But as of 2023,

The ingredient listed included vegetable oil and modified palm oil,

Similar to the American cookies.

Manufacture of Oreo biscuits began in Pakistan in early 2014 in collaboration with Mondelēz International of the United States and Continental Biscuits Limited,

CBL,

Of Pakistan,

At the CBL production plant in Sikur.

In 2015,

Mondelēz renounced its decision to close some of its American factories and move production to Mexico,

Prompting the Oreo boycott.

In 2016,

After production had started in Mexico,

The AFL-CIO encouraged the boycott and published consumer guidance to help identify which Mondelēz products were made in Mexico.

The ingredients of Oreo cookies have remained largely unchanged from the original.

Although numerous alternative varieties and flavors have emerged over time.

Oreo cookies were made with lard until the mid-1990s,

When Nabisco swapped the animal fat with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.

In the mid-2000s,

Nabisco eliminated the partially hydrogenated oil from the ingredients due to the growing health concerns.

The classic Oreo cookie is made using 11 main ingredients.

1.

Sugar 2.

Unbleached enriched flour,

Wheat flour,

Niacin,

Iron,

Thiamine,

Mononitrate,

Vitamin B1,

Riboflavin,

Vitamin B2,

Folic acid.

3.

High oleic canola oil,

Or palm oil.

4.

Cocoa,

Treated with alkali.

5.

High fructose corn syrup.

6.

Leavening agent,

Baking soda or monocalcium phosphate.

7.

Cornstarch.

8.

Salt.

9.

Soy lecithin.

10.

Vanillin.

11.

Chocolate.

In addition to their traditional design of two chocolate wafers separated by a cream filling,

Oreo cookies have been produced in a multitude of different varieties since they were first introduced.

This list is only a guide to some of the more notable and popular types.

Not all are available in every country.

The main varieties in the United States are Double Stuff Oreo,

Introduced in 1974.

This variety has about double the normal amount of cream filling as the original.

Available with various flavors of cream filling.

Original,

Chocolate,

Peanut butter,

Cool mint,

And birthday cake.

In the UK these are called double cream Oreos and are only available in original flavor.

The Golden Double Stuff Oreo,

Featuring golden Oreo wafers with a double portion of original vanilla flavored cream,

Was introduced in 2009.

Gridiron football shaped Oreo cookies,

Introduced in 1976.

Big Stuff Oreo.

A short-lived variety of the Oreo cookie introduced in 1987,

But discontinued in 1997.

These were several times the size of a normal Oreo.

Sold individually,

Each Big Stuff contained 250 calories and 13 grams of fat.

Golden Oreo,

Introduced in 2004.

This has golden vanilla flavored wafers on the outside of the cookie,

As an alternative to the original chocolate flavored wafers.

Available with various flavors of cream filling,

Including original,

Chocolate,

Lemon,

And birthday cake.

The chocolate cream variety,

Being the reverse of the original cookie,

Was known as the Uh-Oh Oreo until 2007.

Oreo Mini,

Introduced in 1991.

These are miniature bite-sized versions of the original Oreo cookie.

After being discontinued in the late 1990s,

They were re-released in 2000 along with the redesigned 2001 Dodge Caravan minivan,

As part of a promotional tie-in with Daimler AG,

And the new mint flavor which debuted in 2015.

As well as the bagged version,

They are also sold in Nabisco to-go cups.

Their packaging in the 1990s consisted of a miniaturized version of the full-sized cardboard tray and box,

Used in Oreo packaging at the time.

Their revised packaging consists of an aluminum foil bag.

Oreo Minis are available with various flavors of cream filling,

Including original,

Chocolate,

Strawberry,

Lidded plastic cups which fit into car cup holders.

Oreo Cakesters,

Introduced in 2007.

Oreo Cakesters are Oreo's version of a whoopie pie,

Soft chocolate snack cakes with vanilla,

Chocolate,

Or peanut butter cream in the middle.

They were discontinued in 2012.

They returned in 2022 after a petition was started to have them brought back.

The same year,

Nabisco announced that Cakesters would be making a return in 2022,

Including Oreo and Nutter Butter varieties.

Mega Stuff Oreo.

Re-released in February 2013,

The Mega Stuff variety is similar to Double Stuff,

But with even more white cream filling.

They come in both chocolate and golden wafer varieties.

Oreo Thins,

Introduced in July 2015.

This is a thin version of the original Oreo cookie.

Thins come in both chocolate and golden wafer varieties,

With various cream flavors including chocolate,

Mint,

Lemon,

And tiramisu.

Each cookie contains only 40 calories.

They are 66% thinner than the original version.

Chocolate Oreo.

An Oreo cookie with chocolate cream filling.

Mint Oreo.

A variety of Oreo with two chocolate wafers separated by a mint-flavored cream filling.

The Most Stuff.

Introduced in January 2019,

An initially limited edition Oreo was approximately four times the amount of cream filling of a standard Oreo.

After two limited runs,

It was quietly brought back as a permanent product in late 2020.

While they were first offered in traditional Oreo packages and widely available when they were limited edition,

The permanent version is only found in individual 4-packs,

As well as 12 4-pack collections within convenience store settings.

Gluten Free.

Introduced in January 2021,

Available in both traditional and double-stuff varieties.

Special edition double-stuff Oreo cookies are produced during springtime and around Halloween and Christmas.

These have colored frosting reflecting the current holiday.

Blue or yellow for springtime,

Orange for Halloween,

And red or green for the Christmas holiday.

One side of each seasonal cookie is stamped with an appropriate design.

The spring cookies feature flowers,

Butterflies,

Etc.

,

While the Halloween edition features a jack-o'-lantern,

Ghost,

Cat,

Flock of bats,

Or broom-riding witch.

The 2017 Halloween Oreo broke was this tradition,

Having orange-colored cream filling,

Albeit with classic vanilla flavor,

But carrying no seasonal designs.

In some countries,

Oreos come in a variety of flavors that are not familiar to the U.

S.

Market.

For example,

Green tea Oreos are only available in China and Japan.

While lemon ice Oreos were only ever introduced in Japan,

Or blueberry ice cream available in China,

Indonesia,

Malaysia,

Singapore,

Thailand,

And Vietnam.

Additionally,

There are alfajor Oreo cookies available in Argentina,

Composed of three Oreo cookies with vanilla filling between each,

And covered in chocolate.

Beginning in the early 2010s,

Nabisco began releasing limited edition runs of cookies with more exotic flavors.

These typically appear in stores for a short period only,

Before being discontinued,

Although some varieties have since resurfaced.

For example,

Reese's Oreos returned for a second limited run,

After they were first introduced for a limited period in 2014.

And birthday cake Oreos,

Originally introduced in 2012,

Have since become permanently available.

Some limited editions are only made available at certain retailers.

Limited edition runs usually feature a cream filling that has been flavored to replicate the taste of a specific fruit or dessert,

From familiar flavors such as lemon or mint,

To the more specific and unusual flavors of blueberry pie or red velvet cake.

They may also incorporate different varieties of cookie wafer.

For example,

Cinnamon bun Oreos featured cinnamon flavored wafers and frosting flavored cream.

In recent years,

Some limited editions have paired Oreos with other recognizable confectionery brands,

Including Reese's,

Swedish Fish,

And Peeps.

Oreo's six-person team in charge of special flavors is extremely secretive.

The company will not disclose even the group's name.

The limited edition flavors largely serve as advertising for Oreo's regular varieties.

List of limited edition Oreo flavors.

Birthday Cake.

Released February 2012 to July 2012.

Created to celebrate Oreo's 100th birthday.

Made up of two chocolate Oreo cookie wafers with a birthday cake flavored cream filling and sprinkles inside.

On one of the two wafers,

The traditional design was replaced with a birthday candle in the words Oreo 100.

The birthday cake flavor has since been reintroduced with a double stuff amount of cream filling in both chocolate and golden Oreo varieties,

Except that the cookies no longer display the Oreo 100 print.

Now permanently available.

Lemon Twist.

2012 to 2013.

A golden Oreo with a lemon flavored cream filling.

Watermelon.

Summer 2012.

A golden Oreo with watermelon flavored cream filling.

Largely unsuccessful.

Strawberries and Cream.

2013.

A golden Oreo with a cream filling consisting of two halves,

One strawberry flavored and one similar to traditional Oreo cream.

Fruit Punch.

2014.

A golden Oreo with fruit punch flavored cream.

Cookie Dough.

March 2014.

A chocolate Oreo with cookie dough flavored cream filling.

Root Beer Float.

July 2014.

A golden Oreo filled with root beer flavored cream.

Pumpkin Spice.

September 2014.

A golden Oreo with pumpkin spice flavored cream filling.

Red Velvet.

February 2015.

First released in February 2015 and since reintroduced.

Two red Oreo cookie wafers with cream cheese flavored cream filling,

Designed to emulate the popular red velvet cake.

Also,

A golden Oreo with pumpkin spice available in Indonesia.

Key Lime Pie.

July 2015.

Two graham flavored Oreo cookie wafers filled with key lime flavored cream filling.

Cinnamon Bun.

January 2016.

Two cinnamon flavored cookie wafers filled with frosting flavored cream filling,

Designed to emulate a cinnamon bun.

S'mores.

Summer 2016.

Two graham flavored cookie wafers with a double layer of cream filling,

One layer chocolate flavored,

And one layer marshmallow flavored.

Inspired by the traditional campfire snack.

Fruity Crisp.

June 2016.

A golden Oreo with a fruity and colorful rice crisp cream filling,

Similar to Fruity Pebbles.

Blueberry Pie.

June 2016.

2017.

Two graham flavored cookie wafers with a blueberry flavored cream filling.

Swedish Fish.

August 2016.

A chocolate Oreo with a red cream filling,

Flavored to resemble the red colored Swedish Fish candy.

Originally released exclusively through Kroger stores in the United States.

Peeps.

February 2017.

February 2018.

Originally released for Easter 2017.

A golden Oreo filled with pink marshmallow Peeps flavored cream.

Second version released in February 2018,

Made with Peeps embossed chocolate Oreo cookie wafers and purple marshmallow Peeps flavored cream filling.

Waffle and Syrup.

May 2017.

A golden Oreo with a ring of vanilla cream filling and a blob of maple syrup flavored cream in the center.

Exclusive to Albertsons stores in the United States.

Salted Caramel.

2018.

A golden Oreo with a salted caramel flavor cream filling.

Firework.

Two classic Oreo cookie wafers with Pop Rocks candy within the cream,

Released around the 4th of July in the United States.

Peppermint Bark.

October 2018.

Two classic Oreo cookie wafers with a double stuffed amount of peppermint flavored cream with red sugar crystals.

Easter Egg.

January 2019.

A chocolate Oreo in an oval shape to resemble an egg,

With purple colored cream filling and four Easter related designs on the wafer.

A bunny in a basket,

A baby chick wearing bunny ears,

And spots and stripes to resemble the painting of an Easter egg.

Chocolate Marshmallow.

January 2020.

Includes marshmallow pieces in the cookie wafers and chocolate marshmallow cream filling.

Caramel Coconut.

January 2020.

Caramel cream filling with coconut flavor and coconut pieces.

Supreme.

March 2020.

Double stuffed Oreos branded by Supreme.

Oreo Thing Prints.

1996.

Two classic Oreo cookie wafers with the top wafer displaying one of 10 designs,

Featuring an Abysco Thing,

The company mascot from 1995 to 2000.

Lady Gaga.

January 2020.

Salmon colored cookie wafers with malachite green filling.

Same flavor as a golden Oreo.

Released to promote Lady Gaga's album Chromatica.

2020.

Strawberry Frosted Donut.

March 2021.

A golden Oreo with two layers of cream filling,

Made up of one layer of glittery pink strawberry flavored cream and one layer of donut flavored cream.

Hot Chicken Wing.

Exclusive to China.

Wasabi.

Exclusive to China.

As well as the following that are exclusive to China.

Crispy Tiramisu.

Carrot Cake.

Jelly Donut.

Mississippi Mud Pie.

Pina Colada.

Oreo Thins.

Exclusive to China.

As well as Banana Split.

Peanut Butter and Jelly.

Mystery,

Which is a churro flavored option.

Team USA.

2020.

A chocolate filled Oreo with three layers,

Triple stuffed,

Of filling.

Colored red,

White,

And blue.

Released to promote the United States Olympic team.

Mint.

Reese's.

2014.

The Most Stuff.

2019.

Regular Oreos with four times the amount of cream filling.

Triple Double Chocolate Mint.

A chocolate Oreo with chocolate and mint cream filling.

Android.

Green Cream Filling.

Promotional flavor with Google.

Coconut Delight.

Regular Oreos with coconut cream filling.

Exclusive to Indonesia.

Strawberry Milkshake.

Strawberry Cream Filling.

First introduced in Canada.

Later released in the United States.

Strawberry.

Available in Chile,

Indonesia,

Malaysia,

The Philippines,

And Singapore.

Green Tea.

Available in China and Japan.

Lemon Ice.

Exclusive to Japan.

Orange Ice Cream.

2011.

Available in Indonesia,

Malaysia,

Singapore,

And Thailand.

Oreo DQ Blizzard Cream.

April 2010.

Promoted the 25th anniversary of the Dairy Queen Blizzard.

Oreo Trio Chocolate.

Exclusive to Mexico.

Oreo Pokemon.

2021.

US.

2024.

Asia.

Promotion for the Pokemon franchise.

One side of the wafer has one of 16 Pokemon,

Including Pikachu and the rare Mew.

Introduced in 2021 in the United States and 2024 in Asia.

Oreo Batman.

2022.

Promotion for 2022 film The Batman.

Has a Batman face on the wafer.

Available in Europe,

Canada,

Mexico,

And Australia.

Oreo Blackpink.

2022-2023.

Pink colored cookie wafers with dark chocolate cream filling.

A special package is available with an exclusive photo card.

Promotion for the Korean girl group Blackpink.

First available in Indonesia.

Later in the Philippines,

Thailand,

Malaysia,

Singapore,

Vietnam,

And South Korea.

The Most Oreo Oreo.

2023.

Cream filling contains small bits of Oreo cookie wafer.

Oreo Cajeta Coronado.

May 2024.

Exclusive to Mexico.

Oreo Coca-Cola.

September 9,

2024.

Part of a campaign was Coca-Cola,

Which made its own Oreo flavored Coca-Cola product a match.

Post Malone Oreo Cookies.

January 2025.

Advertising campaigns.

You can still dunk in the dark.

When the lights went out during Super Bowl XLVII in 2013,

Oreo immediately parodied the event on social media with a you can still dunk in the dark post.

The post earned 15,

000 retweets and 20,

000 Facebook likes in an hour.

Oreo Daily Twist.

Oreo Daily was a social media campaign celebrating Oreo's 100th birthday.

Every day from June 25th to October 2nd,

Oreo posted ads of their cookies transformed into something new to celebrate national holidays,

Pop culture milestones,

And key moments in American history.

Using reinvented Oreo cookies,

Ads in the campaign honored the Mars rover landing,

Elvis week,

The invention of Pac-Man,

And the release of The Dark Knight in theaters.

Dunk Challenge.

In 2017,

NBA player Shaquille O'Neal starred in an Oreo commercial to promote their hashtag Oreo Dunk Sweepstakes.

In the ad,

O'Neal can be seen performing an aerobatic slam dunk of an Oreo cookie into a glass of milk.

Fans could show off their own dunking abilities for the chance to win prizes.

Reviews

I haven’t had Oreos in forever but I do love them. I heard about 30 seconds of this and was out. 😂😂
Thank you, Benjamin! 😻

Not my favorite cookie… but it made me smile when you said that it was Nabisco’s answer to Hydrox Sunshine, which preceded it by 2 years! And which is the sandwich cookie I grew up with loving! And arguing with classmates that it was far superior to Oreos! 😄😆😂
Thanks Ben for doing a good job at making me smile and then putting me to sleep!! 💤💤💤

Awesome, I heard a little then crashed. I love Oreos!