Oreos vs. Hydrox Cookies: Who Wins the Cookie Brand Showdown? What About Other Alternatives?

Two of the best-selling chocolate sandwich cookies on the market

Hydrox

Hydrox® is the original creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookie! 

It debuted in 1908 and was manufactured by Sunshine® Biscuits. Sunshine Biscuits was purchased by Keebler® in 1996, and in 1999, Keebler® replaced Hydrox® with a similar but reformulated product named Droxies®. 

Keebler® was later acquired by Kellogg's® in 2001. Kellogg's removed Droxies® from the market in 2003.

In September 2015, the product was reintroduced by Leaf Brands.

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• The History Of Hydrox 

Sunshine Biscuits launched the first creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookie in 1908. Hoping to evoke a sense of purity and goodness they called it Hydrox, a portmanteau of hydrogen and oxygen, the two elements that make up water. 

This was a very bad move. Therefore, as a result of poor marketing and branding Hydrox cookies did not take off in the same way as the then off-brand cookie – Oreo! 

Oreos made a name for themselves in 1912 with the launch of what was the copycat version of the Hydrox cookie. Now, for over 100 years, Oreos have been the name brand chocolate-filled sandwich cookie.

Oreos

Oreo is a brand of sandwich cookie consisting of two chocolate biscuits or cookie pieces with a sweet creme filling. 

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• The History Of Oreos

It was introduced by Nabisco on March 6, 1912, and both Nabisco and the Oreo brand have been owned by Mondelez International since 2012.

While Oreo is actually an imitation of the Hydrox chocolate cream-centered cookie introduced in 1908, Oreos far outstripped Hydrox in popularity, so much so that many think Hydrox is an imitation of Oreo rather than the other way around. 

Through extensive advertising and a trendy name, Oreo eventually surpassed Hydrox in popularity, which resulted in the Hydrox cookies being perceived as an Oreo off-brand.

The origin of the name "Oreo" is unknown, but there are many hypotheses, including derivations from the French word or, meaning "gold", or from the Greek word ωραίο (oreo) meaning "nice" or "attractive". Others believe that the cookie was named Oreo simply because the name was short and easy to pronounce.

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Details

Hydrox vs. Oreo Cookies – What’s the Difference?

1.  Hydrox vs. Oreo Cookies: The brand status

Hydrox was the original chocolate sandwich cookie, but it was Oreo (which first went on sale four years later in 1912) that ended up dominating the market.  Today, the Hydrox is little-known and the Oreo is the world's most popular cookie.

With regional varieties and limited release flavors, the biscuit brand keeps sweet tooths around the world satisfied. 

Oreo is the best-selling cookie brand in the United States and, as of 2024, the best-selling cookie globally.

It’s no surprise “Milk’s Favorite Cookie” has mastered the art of unique-flavored cookies. 

Oreo, the surprisingly vegan American sandwich cookie, is perfect in its classic rendition of two chocolate wafers stuck together with sweet crème filling … but its exploration into fun flavors has turned Oreo into a horse of a different color. Some of the best Oreo flavors include Caramel Coconut, Mint, Birthday Cake, and Holiday.

Oreo cookies are distributed worldwide through a variety of sales and marketing channels. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, they are referred to as Oreo biscuits. Many varieties of Oreo cookies have been produced, and limited-edition runs have become popular in the 21st century.

2.  Hydrox vs. Oreo Cookies: The appearance

As far as looks, each cookie features a fun design, but they are different. Oreos feature flowers with the brand name stamped right onto each cookie, while Hydrox features swirls with no name embossed on the cookie. 

3.  Hydrox vs. Oreo Cookies: The healthy ingredients

As of 2024, the ingredient list of Oreo included vegetable oil and modified palm oil.

Oreo cookies were made with lard until the mid-1990s, when Nabisco swapped the animal fat with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil., Then in the mid-2000s Nabisco decided to have the partially hydrogenated oil be eliminated from the Oreo ingredients, due to growing health concerns.

Now Amazon has started selling Hydrox cookies made by Leaf Brands. The new company uses real cane sugar in their cookies as opposed to the high-fructose corn syrup in Oreos, and doesn't used any hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, or GMOs in their cookie-making.

4.  Hydrox vs. Oreo Cookies: The taste

Both cookies are chocolate with creamy white centers, but apparently taste completely different.

Hydrox carries a stronger chocolate scent and a more pronounced cocoa taste. They are a crunchier cookie with a more dark chocolate sophisticated taste, the cream is smoother without those gritty sugar granules that OREOs have. The only reason their brand lost out of the cookie war is because of the name hydrogen and oxygen conjugation, Hydrox, is not as appealing.

The cream filling on Hydrox cookies is smoother and not overly sweet, while the Oreo cream is thick and ultra sweet.

Hydrox readily takes the fat and sugar gunk round, utilizing real sugar all the way through where the Oreo combines the gritty stuff with corn syrup. The result is a smoother creme that’s got a subtle tang and a bit less cloying sweetness.

Compared to Oreos, Hydrox cookies have a less sweet filling and a crunchier cookie shell that is reportedly less soggy in milk.

5.  Hydrox vs. Oreo Cookies: The texture

The Hydrox cookie is more crunchy with a stronger chocolate taste, while Oreo cookies are a little more crumbly but with more sweetness. 

The Hydrox brand outer cookies are reportedly a little crunchier but taste more strongly of chocolate — which could help them hold up better when dunked in milk. Oreo cookies may be crumblier, but they also have a slightly sweeter flavor.

After five seconds in milk, the Oreo cookie was ready to fall apart. The Hydrox cookie was still relatively crisp. If you’re in a hurry for some mushy milk-soaked sandwich cookie, Oreo is your best bet. If you prefer a little crunch, go for Hydrox. Or stick with Oreo and up your dunking game.

6.  Hydrox vs. Oreo Cookies: The color

They’re the same size and shape, about the same thickness and even their colour is almost identical. 

Hydrox is just darker and less uniform. The Oreo cookie is lighter and more prone to crumbling.

7.  The Winner

Technically, since neither cookie bothered to throw a punch, it’s a tie. It all comes down to personal preference, and I could go either way. I’m going to give it to Hydrox however, because the Oreo logo is upside-down. 

That said, I was completely taken aback by Hydrox’s taste and quality. But why do kids love Oreos so much? One big reason is that they come in a variety of flavors. From the classic cookies and cream to mint chocolate and birthday cake, there is an Oreo flavor for everyone. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can even make your own Oreo flavor combination. 

Oreos, meanwhile, stormed ahead with a slew of innovations over the years: Oreo flavors (including "mystery" ones), tie-ins with McDonald's, Double Stuf and Supreme varieties. There’s red velvet Oreo’s, mint, chocolate, peanut butter, cinnamon roll, birthday cake, etc. If you’re looking for cookies they’re almost impossible to miss.

Using the original recipe that gave Oreos something to compete with, Hydrox cookies have rich chocolate wafer and deliciously creamy center.

Comparison table

Another 9 Best Off-Brand Oreos You Can Buy and Try

Looking for brands like Oreo? We've researched the 30 top alternatives to Oreo and summarized the best options here in this Oreo competitors grid.

Compare Oreo's features and pricing vs. other cookies brands. Some alternatives for Oreo cookies are mentioned in the section below.

Here's a ranking of the best non-branded Oreos, according to our reviews.

#1. Joe Joes by Trader Joe’s vs OREO

Trader Joe's Joe Joes tops the list of the best Oreo swaps.

Unlike other crumbly, off-brand Oreos, these Trader Joe's cookies have a dense texture that's super chewy, so the chocolate powder won't fall out with every bite.

Anyone who loves Joe Joe's loves these slightly chewy wafer cookies. This is different than the classic crunch of an Oreo cookie.

Also, chocolate wafers are considered to have a more authentic chocolate flavor. The cookies don't have that rich chocolate flavor, though.

TJ's Joe Joe's is also known for their creamy center fillings. Joe's has a softer filling compared to the firmer creme of Oreo. These cookies also contain more creaminess than the original Oreo. The snowy cream inside the filling tastes similar to homemade vanilla icing, with flecks of vanilla beans.

The cookies themselves are etched with a subtle floraldesign. 

TJs' tropical-themed, ocean-blue box doesn't create an air-tight seal like theclingplastic wrap used by the Oreo, allowing humidity to penetrate the packaging and soften the crispy sandwich cookies. 

Another delicious option is their seasonal mint Joe Joe's. While not everyone has a Trader Joe's in their city, at reasonable prices around $3 a box, they're worth keeping an eye out for when you come across them.

#2. KaleidOs by Kroger vs OREO

Sometimes off-brand products make compromises with packaging. Surprisingly, KaleidOs have the same type of high-quality resealable closure that the brand-name cookies have.

This is the most worthy competitor to traditional Oreo. The off-brand Oreo is a more affordable option, with almost identical flavor and texture.

These cookies are priced at just over $3 for the same size package as Oreos. 

Compared to Oreos, the KaleidOs are lacking some of that unique artificial Oreos flavor and instead have more of a “chocolate milk” flavor.

The chocolate wafers have a milder chocolate flavor. However, the creamy center filling is distinctly sweeter than Oreo brand cookies.

KaleidOs go stronger on the creme filling flavor and softer on the outside wafer.

Oreos are made with unbleached enriched flour, while Kaleidos are made with enriched flour.

Plus, if you need more filling or chocolate flavor, Kroger sells two kinds of Double Filled sandwich cookies in both regular and chocolate creme filling.

#3. Goodie Girl Cookies vs OREO

If you need a gluten-free Oreo option, these are worthwhile Oreo substitutes.

These cookies are gluten-free, egg- and dairy-free, and contain no artificial colors, preservatives, or corn syrup, but they come in fewer packs and come with a higher price tag.

These cookies are a little softer than traditional Oreos and have a crumbly texture.

The filling tastes a little different than the typical cream fillings, with a sweeter, more vanilla flavor.

The cookies are a little lighter in color than Oreos, and the chocolate taste is not bad.

#4. Chocolate Sandwich Cremes by 365 Everyday Value vs OREO

While many other off-brand options vary in cookie texture, this Whole Foods 365 does a great job of offering the cookie with the texture that most resembles an actual Oreo.

Plus, they're also the closest to the overall taste of an Oreo. The cookies are thick and crunchy and full of chocolate flavor.

The biggest difference with Whole Foods cookies is the creamy center. It's slightly sweeter than the original Oreo cookie and has a more pronounced vanilla flavor.

The cream filling is a little thinner compared to the cookie, but still provides a good balance. They’re made with a cane sugar frosting, which is a major change.

You can order all three cookie flavors online through Amazon for just $4 a box.

This brand has its own unique flavors, with a chocolate wafer and a vanilla wafer with a vanilla cream center. So if you can't decide between vanilla and chocolate, you can have both with 365 Mismatched Sandwich Cremes.

#5. Twist & Shout by WalMart vs OREO

For less than $3, this pack of cookies from Walmart is a great low-cost Oreo swap.

Cornstarch is included in the ingredients list for these cookies, which may be responsible for the slightly off texture. Cookies are crunchier and more crumbly than Oreos.

These cookies may be named Twist & Shout, but they are not quite as easy to twist as the real deal. Chocolate wafers, on the other hand, are a bit drier than real Oreos.

The dense nature of these cookies makes them perfect for dipping in milk as they retain their shape and texture.

The off-brand Oreos look identical to the real thing, even down to the textured design on the outer chocolate cookie.

At only about ⅓ the price of a real Oreo, it's worth a try.

#6. Newman-O’s Crème Filled Chocolate Cookies vs OREO

Newman's Own is known for its salad dressings, pasta sauces and pizzas. But the brand also sells a line of Oreo look-a-likes with an original flavor, along with peanut butter, mint, chocolate and vanilla flavor options. 

Newman's Own offers a healthy alternative to more processed Oreo cookies.

Almost all of these off-brand cookies are made with organic ingredients. Organic unbleached wheat flour, organic sugar and icing sugar, organic cornstarch and organic palm fruit oil. When you read the label of Newman’s O’s you know with confidence that you will not be eating any artificial ingredients.

Newman's O's have a creamy, frosting-like filling that's softer and tastier than an Oreo's creamy center.

However, the cookies don't taste as chocolatey and sweet as traditional Oreos. The cookies are a light brownish red, much lighter than Oreos.

The texture is also more crumbly. The cookies had a crunchy texture with a thick filling. 

That said, the healthy snack sacrifices some of the taste and texture offered by more processed cookies.

#7. Back to Nature Classic Creme Cookies vs OREO

As the brand name suggests, this alternative Oreo brand is among the healthier ones. Unlike Newman's Own cookies, these cookies contain no organic ingredients.

However, they do use all-natural ingredients. The ingredient list includes unbleached wheat flour, cane juice, raw sugar, palm oil, safflower oil, cocoa powder, and brown rice syrup—all familiar, unprocessed ingredients.

Back to Nature cookies have a firmer chocolate wafer texture than classic Oreo cookies.

It's also a less pronounced chocolate flavor.

For those looking for a more natural cookie option, the filling might taste too sweet.

However, the brand also sells a Double Creme version for those who prefer more filling.

#8. Famous Amos vs OREO

This off-brand version offers extra thick filling compared to other brands.

Also, the filling is not overly sweet. Thus, the extra creamy filling can be enjoyed without feeling too sweet.

Since 1975, Famous Amos Bite-Size Cookies continues to win the hearts of cookie lovers worldwide!

This brand is known for its firm and crunchy texture. So if crunchy cookies aren't your thing, this brand might not be for you.

However, if a crunchy texture paired with an extra creamy filling sounds like the perfect combination, Famous Amos is for you.

#9. Simple Truth Chocolate Sandwich Cookies vs OREO

This option from Kroger is free of preservatives, artificial flavors and high fructose corn syrup, but also changes the taste and texture.

Chocolate Cookies have a very crunchy texture.

The cookie to filling ratio is a bit off as the filling was so thin.

Tastes good, but would have been better with more chocolate flavor.

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