The Nearly Forgotten Boxed Mix Everyone In The '70s Used For Desserts

Desserts in the 1970s were a mixed bag that boasted everything from classic name-brand candies to Watergate salad (which tasted better than it looked). The decade was also no stranger to novel versions of whipped topping. Though it has since fallen into relative obscurity, a boxed mix called Dream Whip was once a popular option for those looking for a whipped cream alternative.

Dream Whip was introduced in 1956 by General Foods Corporation. The product came in a box with envelopes of a shelf-stable powder, and consumers were instructed to mix it with vanilla and milk to make a quick and easy filling and topping for desserts. Some Reddit users who ate Dream Whip as kids say that its taste and texture didn't compare to real whipped cream, but it was a passable substitute that was easy to whip up, true to its nature as a convenience food. Its affordability also contributed to its appeal, and it was frequently advertised and sold with 7-cent coupons attached. Commercials played up its low cost and effortless preparation compared to real whipped cream.

This whipped topping mix was often marketed as a companion to the iconic dessert Jell-O, which General Foods also owned. Additionally, Dream Whip offered a perfect answer to the demand for processed convenience food, which peaked in the 1970s. However, other products eventually eclipsed its popularity.

Released in 1966 by a division of General Foods, Cool Whip gained popularity as another convenience product that made it easier to serve appealing desserts with a rich texture. However, it differed from competitors in an essential way: Unlike Dream Whip, it came ready to use, eliminating the need for mixing or whipping. Reddi-wip hit the market in 1948 before Dream Whip and Cool Whip, but it has stayed prominent among consumers whereas Dream Whip didn't; only three years after its release, it pulled in $7 million in yearly sales. Its popularity was likely because of the convenience offered by spraying whipped topping out of a nozzle, a feature shared by many canned whipped cream brands in stores today.

Though Dream Whip remains on store shelves, it's been surpassed by its ready-made counterparts. It has become the subject of nostalgic social media posts, though some baby boomers who ate it in their youth continue to use it in frosting recipes. If you want to know what all the fuss was about, you might try it as a replacement for Cool Whip in a retro no-bake chocolate pie to indulge in a truly vintage dessert.