The Frosty has been a fixture on Wendy’s menu since the chain’s debut in the 1960s. You don’t need me to tell you that the dessert is part of the heart and soul of the restaurant, but you might not know all the lore behind it.
The idea for the Frosty was first inspired by a recipe sold at a Cleveland race track. It was advertised simply as “Secret Formula, Frosted Malt.” According to Wendy’s, the recipe wasn’t all that much of a secret and was actually pretty easy to recreate. So that’s just what Wendy’s did: They swirled together chocolate and vanilla soft serve to create the malty dessert we know and love and dip our fries in today.
Though the classic flavor lineup is not going anywhere, it’s safe to say the Frosty has come a long way from its debut. And now, as it turns 55 years old, it’s entering a new golden age.
The Flavor Innovation Team Never Sleeps
In the last year alone, the Wendy’s innovation team has been hard at work cranking out new Frosty flavors. In March, the chain dropped an Orange Dreamsicle Frosty—which blends orange and vanilla flavors—to kick off spring. By June, the Triple Berry Frosty had replaced its predecessor on menus. The pink frozen treat featured a medley of fruit flavors, like blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry.
The new arrivals hardly stopped there. Wendy’s introduced a Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty in honor of SpongeBob SquarePants’ 25th anniversary in September, and then followed that up with a fall-appropriate Salted Caramel Frosty, which just dropped on November 12.
Here’s why this shift toward new imaginative flavors feels so monumental. Up until 2024, Wendy’s had only introduced four new flavors in the U.S.—ever. Period. And that includes the classic vanilla Frosty we’ve all come to know as a staple. The restaurant is clearly shifting its strategy, and it’s working.
American Frosty Fans Are Getting Jealous Over International Flavors
Just when we thought the grass was pretty green in America, it’s looking greener overseas. Wendy’s introduced a Strawberry & Creme Frosty in early 2024 in 16 countries, before releasing a Mango Crumble Frosty and Mango Frosty with Tajin.
And while fresh flavors might be new for the U.S., the restaurant has always been creative with its international flavors, according to Reddit. Canada saw a Caramel Latte Frosty and Caramel Apple Frosty; the Philippines had the KitKat Frosty Frappe; there was a Piña Colada Frosty in the Bahamas; and a Churro & Fries version in Aruba. The list goes on and on and on, with Grape Nerds, Key Lime Pie, Purple Taro, Hershey’s Sea Salt Caramel, and more flavors. In fact, it’s as if the U.S. is finally catching on to just how popular these Frosty flavors can be.
“When is [the US] gonna get something good,” one fan wrote on Instagram after it was revealed that Trinidad and Tobago was getting a Chocolate Covered Pretzel Frosty.
“Nothing good ever comes to the USA Wendy’s,” another chimed in.
“US @wendys please, I’m begging you,” a third person said.
Is the Frosty Trying to Compete With the McFlurry?
Fast food brands trolling each other on social media is hardly new—it’s become the norm in recent years—Wendy’s took specific aim at McDonald’s and its own frozen treat earlier this year.
“Using data from McBroken.com, Wendy’s saw that dessert fans are faced with ice cream machine outages all too often and knew just what the fix was—a Frosty! Wendy’s knows that when fans are craving a sweet treat, they deserve to have a reliable and delicious option,” the company said in a statement announcing their own $1 deal.
Wendy’s has seemingly crept in on Micky D’s territory before when introducing its Frosty mix-ins a few years back—which looked a lot like the McFlurry’s toppings. So is Wendy’s ramped-up Frosty flavor strategy just another attempt at toppling its biggest competitor?
Megan Schaltegger is an NYC-based writer. She loves strong coffee, eating her way through the Manhattan food scene, and her dog, Murray. She promises not to talk about herself in third person IRL.