The Sweet Chaos of National Ice Cream Day
National Ice Cream Day, celebrated every third Sunday in July, isn’t just a reason to indulge in a double scoop of rocky road. In 2025, it’s a full-blown TikTok extravaganza, where creators, brands, and even celebrities turn frozen treats into viral moments. From gravity-defying cones to heartwarming confessions, the platform has transformed this holiday into a global stage for creativity, humor, and a sprinkle of absurdity. Let’s break down the trends, confections, and star-studded surprises that made Ice Cream Day 2025 unforgettable.
TikTok Trends That Stole the Show
TikTok thrives on fleeting, addictive trends, and Ice Cream Day 2025 was no exception. Creators leaned into the holiday’s playful spirit, blending nostalgia, humor, and innovative visuals to capture millions of views. Here are the standout trends that flooded For You Pages (FYPs):
The “Wrong Order” Ice Cream Challenge Returns
Remember the 2023 Ice Cream Challenge where shop workers lobbed soft-serve at each other’s heads over “wrong orders”? It’s back with a vengeance. Videos from places like Main Street Creamery in Missouri show employees dramatically tossing scoops—sometimes with whipped cream for extra mess—while fake customers gasp or giggle. One clip from Route 66 Creamery, with over 23 million views, shows two workers collapsing in sync after a vanilla scoop missile hits its mark. “THE WAY THEY BOTH FLEW BACK 😭,” a commenter wrote, summing up the internet’s delight.
- Why it works: The mix of slapstick comedy and staged outrage is peak TikTok—short, shocking, and endlessly rewatchable.
- How to join: Film a fake customer complaining about their order, then cut to the employee yeeting ice cream at a coworker. Timing is everything.
Ice Cream Cone Cakes Go Next-Level
Forget plain cones—TikTokers are baking cakes inside them. The Ice Cream Cone Cake trend, popularized by creators like @loveisbakeable, involves filling waffle cones with colorful batter, topping them with frosting, and decorating them to mimic real ice cream. In 2025, bakers took it further with elaborate themes—think galaxy-inspired cones with edible glitter or matcha-flavored cones stuffed with ube jam. These videos rack up views for their ASMR-like baking process and jaw-dropping reveals.
- Why it’s hot: It’s a dessert deception that’s both creative and customizable, perfect for showcasing personal style.
- Brand tie-in: Companies like Häagen-Dazs jumped in, teasing limited-edition cone cake kits on their TikTok accounts.
“My Favorite Scoop” Emotional Montages
Not every trend is about chaos. The “My Favorite Scoop” trend uses soft, emotional audio—like Logic’s “1-800-273-8255”—to pair ice cream with heartfelt stories. Creators share clips of themselves enjoying a cone while overlaying text about personal triumphs or struggles, like “This scoop got me through my breakup” or “Celebrating my first sober summer.” It’s a wholesome contrast to the platform’s usual frenetic energy, resonating with viewers craving authenticity.
- Why it resonates: It taps into TikTok’s growing love for vulnerability, turning a simple treat into a symbol of resilience.
- How to join: Pair a slow-motion clip of eating ice cream with a text overlay about a meaningful moment, set to a nostalgic or emotional track.
Crazy Cones That Broke the Internet
Ice cream cones in 2025 aren’t just vehicles for scoops—they’re edible art. Restaurants and creators leaned into bold flavors, wild presentations, and social media-friendly aesthetics. Here’s what had everyone screaming for ice cream:
Nitro Ice Cream Cones
Nitrogen-frozen ice cream, with its smoky, theatrical preparation, is a TikTok darling. Dessert bars like Nitro Scoop in Los Angeles create cones with ultra-creamy textures and Instagram-worthy fog effects. One viral video showed a pistachio nitro cone topped with gold leaf, captioned “Worth the $12 price tag? YES.” The trend’s staying power comes from its experiential appeal—diners film the process as much as the final product.
Global Flavor Mashups
Chefs are pulling from international cuisines to create cones that tell a story. Think cinnamon wafer cones filled with ricotta ice cream and orange sauce, inspired by Sicilian cannoli, or spicy kuli kuli gelato cones from Nigeria’s Melting Moments. TikTokers went wild for a Miami shop’s ube and matcha swirl cone, with over 2 million likes for its vibrant purple-green aesthetic. These global flavors reflect a broader trend of cultural exploration through food.
- Standout example: Cornetto Stellati’s Sicilian Cannoli cone, designed by Michelin-starred chef Martina Caruso, blends tradition with TikTok flair.
- Why it’s trending: These cones are photogenic and shareable, perfect for foodie influencers chasing clout.
Sustainable Scoops
Eco-conscious cones are gaining traction, with brands like Dandelion using organic dairy and fair-trade ingredients. TikTok creators amplify these efforts, filming “day in the life” videos at sustainable ice cream shops. One viral clip showed a Portland parlor’s cacao fruit and lime cone, made from the pulp surrounding cocoa beans, paired with the caption “Tastes good, feels good.”
Celebrity Moments That Melted Hearts
Ice cream and celebrities? A match made in viral heaven. National Ice Cream Day 2025 saw A-listers and influencers joining the fun, often in unexpected ways.
Selena Gomez’s Ice Cream Date
Selena Gomez, no stranger to TikTok, posted a candid video enjoying a mango ice pop with friends, captioned “Single and living for these.” The clip, set to her own song “Single Soon,” sparked a frenzy of fan edits recreating her laid-back vibe. It tied into the viral Propitious Mango Ice Cream trend, where influencers hunted for the photogenic Chinese pops. Gomez’s post alone garnered 10 million views, proving her knack for turning simple moments into cultural touchstones.
Snoop Dogg’s Ice Cream Truck Cameo
Snoop Dogg, fresh off his 2024 Olympics meme fame, surprised fans by popping up in a Los Angeles ice cream truck handing out free cones for National Ice Cream Day. TikTokers captured the moment, with one video showing Snoop serving a nitro cone while rapping to “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” The clip’s caption, “Snoop making my summer,” summed up the internet’s obsession. His appearance tied into a broader trend of celebrities embracing community-focused content.
Charli XCX’s “Apple” Dance with a Twist
Charli XCX’s “Apple” dance from her Brat album was already a TikTok staple, but Ice Cream Day saw creators remixing it with cones in hand. Charli herself joined in, posting a video of her dancing with a double-scoop cone, captioned “Brat summer, but make it creamy.” The trend exploded, with fans adding cone props to their choreography, blending her high-energy vibe with the holiday’s sweetness.
Why Ice Cream Day Resonates on TikTok
So, why does a holiday about frozen dessert blow up on TikTok? It’s more than just sugar lust. Ice cream is nostalgic—it evokes childhood summers, first dates, and late-night cravings. TikTok amplifies this by turning a universal treat into a canvas for self-expression. Whether it’s a creator throwing a scoop for laughs or sharing a tear-jerking story with a sundae in hand, the platform thrives on blending the mundane with the profound.
Data backs this up: TikTok’s 2024 Year in Review noted that food-related trends, like cucumber salads and chocolate bars, consistently drive engagement. Ice Cream Day taps into this, with hashtags like #IceCreamDay2025 and #CrazyCones amassing over 500 million views combined. Brands are catching on, too—Later’s 2025 trend report highlights how dessert-focused content, especially with “before-and-after” transitions, boosts engagement by 30%.
How Brands and Creators Can Ride the Wave
Want to join the Ice Cream Day frenzy in 2026? Here’s how to make your mark:
- Lean into Humor: Create a staged “wrong order” video or a funny “day in the life” at an ice cream shop. Keep it short and punchy.
- Showcase Innovation: Experiment with bold flavors or sustainable ingredients. Film the process for TikTok’s ASMR-loving audience.
- Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with local creators to showcase your cones. A single post from a micro-influencer can reach thousands.
- Tap into Nostalgia: Use retro filters or emotional audio to tie ice cream to personal stories. Authenticity wins every time.
For brands, the key is subtlety. As Ramdam notes, tacking on promotional content kills the vibe. Instead, weave your product into the trend naturally—like a quick shot of your shop’s logo in a viral challenge.
The Future of Ice Cream Day
National Ice Cream Day 2025 proved that a simple scoop can spark global conversations. From nitro-fueled theatrics to Selena Gomez’s chill vibes, TikTok turned a niche holiday into a cultural juggernaut. Looking ahead, expect even wilder cones—think AI-designed flavors or AR filters that let you “taste” a scoop through your phone. The platform’s love for food trends shows no signs of slowing, and ice cream, with its universal appeal, will likely stay at the forefront.
So, what’s your Ice Cream Day vibe? Are you throwing scoops with your coworkers, baking a cone cake, or sharing a heartfelt story with a sundae in hand? Whatever your flavor, TikTok’s ready to make it go viral. Grab a cone, hit record, and join the sweetest party on the internet.
