Inside Story

Selena Gomez is partnering with Oreo to introduce a brand-new flavor inspired by horchata: Chocolate and Cinnamon Creme. In the announcement, Oreo says that the singer drew on her fondest memories to create a sandwich cookie reminiscent of a favorite childhood drink.  

As Food & Wine reports, this limited-edition horchata flavor combines chocolate and cinnamon-flavored cream with a layer of sweetened condensed milk cream swirled with cinnamon sugar. All that flavor is sandwiched between two chocolatey cinnamon cookies — and as the brand describes it, this creamy bite is “deliciously dunkable.” It’s also limited and only available on shelves while supplies last. 

“Making my own Oreo cookie was a lot of fun. I grew up loving them, so being able to be a part of the process was a full-circle moment,” Selena Gomez explains in a statement provided to Food & Wine. “I wanted to find a way for it to feel comforting and have a bit of nostalgia from my childhood. The cinnamon flavor gives it this horchata feel, and I’m excited for my fans to try it.” 

Packs of this flavor will start rolling out on June 9, but the brand expects it won’t be around for long. (Presale began this week on Oreo’s website, if you’re particularly concerned about securing your own.) They will also be available in several countries around the world — including Canada, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand. 

The Grammy-nominated artist collaborated closely with Oreo to perfect the cookie’s “sweet-and-spiced” flavor profile, inspired by one of her favorite childhood treats. Each cookie features one of six unique designs, including one that appeals to her loyal “Selenators” and another that depicts a funky musical note. A select number of cookies — approximately one out of every three boxes — also showcases the “Bluest Flame” singer’s autograph.

“We are always striving to push the boundaries of authentic and engaging partnerships and working with Selena Gomez has truly been a game changer,” Michelle Deignan, vice president of Oreo, told Food & Wine. “Featuring six distinct embossments that nod to her discography and even include her autograph, Selena’s hands-on approach, from flavor development to artistic design, ensured that this collaboration resonates deeply with her audience and will get Oreo fans excited.”

Beyond that, the brand is also making a donation to the Rare Impact Fund, which aims to benefit youth mental health by providing monetary resources to non-profits. The foundation, created by Gomez in 2020, says it is “mobilizing” $100 million to make mental healthcare more accessible. Currently, Gomez’s cosmetic line, Rare Beauty, donates 1% of all sales to the fund. 

This isn’t the first time Oreo has partnered with a high-profile musician. Earlier this year, the Nabisco-owned brand released a best-of-both-worlds sandwich cookie with Post Malone. His Taste Twist cookies — still available on the Oreo website and through select retailers — feature a Golden Oreo and a chocolate version, with a rich salted caramel and shortbread cream in between. 

Sounds like there’s no shortage of snacking options this summer.

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Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com