National US ice cream festivities mirrored in Europe

The US is marking national ice cream cone day today, with celebrations also catching on elsewhere around the world, including in Germany, according to the country’s BDSI trade body, writes Neill Barston.

According to the European group, its home nation has regarded the category as particularly significant, with major brands continuing to have a strong presence across the continent. 

Indeed, as the BDSI noted, the humble ice cream cone has a colourful history, with recipes dating back to the 1880s in the UK, when  English cook Agnes Marshall published a recipe for edible cones – but only as an accompaniment to ice cream, not as a container.

One of the most promising candidates for the invention of the edible ice cream container is Italian-born Italo Marchioni. At the end of the 19th century, he emigrated to the USA and sold his legendary lemon ice cream on Wall Street in New York’s financial centre. Initially, he served ice cream in reusable cups, but cleaning them proved problematic in the hot New York summer.

Furthermore, Marchioni recognised the need for a practical, hygienic, and edible solution and filed a patent for a waffle-shaped ice cream cone on December 13, 1903. One year later, the ice cream cone gained international recognition at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Visitors could enjoy ice cream in waffles at around 50 stands – a culinary innovation that quickly spread.

As the BDSI added, today ice cream in a cone is an indispensable part of everyday life. The ice cream cone – also called a “Hörnchen” or “Waffle” in Germany, “Stanitzel” in Austria, and “Cornet” in Switzerland – is not only delicious but also practical, as it keeps your hands clean while eating ice cream.

In addition to the classic cone, there are other variations such as waffle bowls or cups. In Austria, the cone also serves as the basis for popular dessert variations, such as those filled with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Whether interpreted in a nostalgic or modern way, the ice cream cone stands worldwide for carefree enjoyment, inventiveness, and, above all, a taste of joie de vivre.