1. Alpine White Bar
Hershey’s Alpine White Bar was one of those ’80s creations that felt fancy at the time. It was a smooth white chocolate bar filled with tiny almond pieces, making it stand out from the usual milk chocolate options. The commercials leaned heavily into a snowy, romantic vibe, which only added to its unique place on candy shelves.
For kids, it was a little different than their usual candy bar picks, but plenty of adults loved it too. Sadly, it didn’t last long and quietly disappeared, leaving behind only nostalgic memories. Fans who remember it often say nothing has quite captured that same almond-and-white chocolate combination since. It’s one of those snacks that instantly brings back the flavor of the ’80s if you were lucky enough to try it.
2. Keebler Pizzarias
These crunchy chips had one of the most memorable ad campaigns of the ’80s. The Keebler Elves promised that these pizza-flavored chips were “the taste of real pizza in a chip.” And honestly, they weren’t lying. The seasoning had that cheesy, tomato-y kick that kept kids grabbing handful after handful.
They were so different from the regular chips on the market, which probably explains why they earned a bit of a cult following. But just as quickly as they showed up, they vanished from store shelves. Fans still remember them as one of the best savory snacks of the era. If you ever tried them, you can probably still imagine that flavor dust stuck to your fingers.
3. Hostess Chocodiles
Hostess Chocodiles were basically chocolate-covered Twinkies, which sounds like an invention straight out of a kid’s dream. They were smaller, individually wrapped, and coated in a thin layer of chocolate that gave the spongy cake inside a richer taste. For many, they felt like an upgrade to the classic snack cake.
The problem was distribution. Hostess mainly sold them on the West Coast, so not everyone got a chance to try them before they started fading away. When they did pop up in other regions, people went wild for them, but it wasn’t enough to keep them alive. Today, they’ve made a couple of limited comebacks, but they’ve never fully returned to their ’80s glory.
4. Planters Cheez Balls
You could always count on finding these neon-orange cheese puffs in a shiny blue canister. Planters Cheez Balls had the kind of artificial tang that made them irresistible, even if they left your fingers completely orange. They were a favorite at parties and sleepovers, where one canister was never enough.
They hung around into the ’90s, but their true heyday was in the ’80s when they were still fresh and new. Eventually, Planters discontinued them, much to the disappointment of snackers everywhere. While a limited revival happened, it never felt quite the same. For many, the original will always be tied to those ’80s afternoons and movie nights.
5. Jell-O Pudding Pops
Thanks to commercials starring Bill Cosby, Jell-O Pudding Pops became one of the coolest treats of the ’80s. They had a creamy texture that was different from regular popsicles, almost like frozen pudding on a stick. Kids loved them, and parents often kept boxes of them in the freezer for hot summer days.
But despite their popularity, they disappeared, leaving behind a lot of confusion. People still wonder how a product that popular could fail. The reality was that sales just didn’t stay strong enough to justify production. Still, if you grew up in the ’80s, there’s no forgetting the taste of a chocolate pudding pop fresh out of the freezer.
6. Hostess Pudding Pies
Hostess was all about indulgence in the ’80s, and their pudding pies proved it. These were handheld pies filled with chocolate pudding and wrapped in a sweet, glazed crust. They were heavy, messy, and absolutely delicious for anyone with a sweet tooth.
They stood out because they weren’t the usual fruit-filled Hostess pies. Kids especially loved them because they felt more like a dessert than a snack. Unfortunately, they were short-lived and faded out quietly. Every now and then, a retro snack fan will bring them up, and the reaction is always the same: “Why did they ever stop making those?”
7. Hi-C Ecto Cooler
Released as a tie-in with Ghostbusters, Hi-C Ecto Cooler quickly became one of the most beloved drinks of the ’80s. It was a neon green citrus drink with Slimer on the box, and it looked as fun as it tasted. For kids, it was like drinking a piece of the movie itself.
It didn’t matter that the flavor was basically repackaged citrus punch. The branding made it unforgettable, and lunchboxes everywhere were filled with those juice boxes. It eventually vanished in the ’90s but left such a mark that fans still bring it up. In fact, it’s one of the few snacks that’s had nostalgic revivals, though never permanently.
8. Doritos Jumpin’ Jack Cheese
Doritos has released dozens of flavors over the years, but Jumpin’ Jack Cheese was an ’80s favorite that people still talk about. They had a bold Monterey Jack seasoning with a peppery kick that set them apart from the regular Nacho Cheese or Cool Ranch. For adventurous snackers, they were a welcome change of pace.
The flavor never became a permanent part of the Doritos lineup, which left fans scratching their heads. Many remember buying them in the late ’80s and then realizing they just disappeared. They’ve popped back up in limited runs since, but nothing beats that first wave. The ’80s truly were their prime moment.
9. O’Boisies
Potato chip lovers might remember O’Boisies, the baked potato chips from Keebler. They were crisp, bubbly, and had a hearty potato taste that made them stand out in a sea of greasy fried chips. The slogan “O’Boisies, they’re O’Boisterous!” was catchy enough to stick in people’s heads for years.
These chips managed to feel lighter while still delivering on flavor. They were a hit in their time but quietly disappeared as other baked chip competitors started entering the market. People often compare them to today’s baked chips but agree they had a unique taste. It’s another case of a snack that was gone too soon.
10. Nabisco Giggles
These sandwich cookies were a staple of the ’80s lunchbox. Giggles had smiling faces stamped into the top cookie, and inside was a creamy chocolate and vanilla filling. They were playful, sweet, and felt different from Oreos, which gave them an edge.
Of course, they also had commercials that made the “giggle” part of their name hard to forget. Despite their popularity, they slowly faded away as Oreo continued to dominate the market. Kids who grew up with them still remember peeling the two halves apart and licking the filling. They’re one of those snacks that screams ’80s fun.
11. Hostess Choco-Bliss
Choco-Bliss was a decadent snack cake that Hostess introduced in the ’80s. It was a layered chocolate cake topped with frosting and marketed as a rich alternative to their other treats. For chocoholics, it was heaven in a wrapper.
The problem was that it was almost too rich, and maybe that limited its long-term appeal. But in its moment, people loved it, and many still mention it whenever forgotten Hostess snacks come up. Like a lot of ’80s Hostess experiments, it vanished quietly. Still, if you were lucky enough to try it, you never forgot it.
12. Fruit Wrinkles
Fruit snacks exploded in popularity in the ’80s, and Fruit Wrinkles were one of the more creative options. They were chewy, wrinkled pieces of fruit-flavored candy that looked like little raisins but tasted much sweeter. Parents loved that they had “fruit” in the name, which made them seem healthier than candy.
Kids, of course, didn’t care about that—they just liked how fun they were to eat. Sadly, they didn’t last as long as other fruit snacks like Fruit Roll-Ups or Gushers. They disappeared before the ’90s really took hold, but anyone who ate them can probably still picture the bright packaging.
13. Quackers
These duck-shaped crackers were Nabisco’s answer to Goldfish. Quackers came in a small box and had a salty, cheesy flavor that made them addictive. Their duck design gave them a playful edge, and many kids traded them at lunch.
Despite being cute and tasty, they never managed to outshine Goldfish, which continued to dominate. By the early ’90s, they were gone completely, but their brief run in the ’80s made them memorable. Snackers who grew up with them often look back on Quackers with a smile. They were one of those little things that made the decade fun.
14. Squeezit Drinks
Technically more of a drink than a snack, Squeezit was still a lunchbox staple in the ’80s. These plastic bottles were filled with colorful juice drinks, and you had to twist the top off and squeeze them to drink. The flavors were bright, sweet, and unapologetically artificial.
They were fun, messy, and felt like an upgrade from regular juice boxes. The packaging made them memorable even more than the flavor. They hung around into the ’90s but eventually faded away. Still, if you were a kid in the ’80s, the feeling of squeezing one into your mouth is unforgettable.
15. Bonkers Candy
Bonkers were chewy fruit candies that looked a lot like Starburst but had a twist. Each piece had a fruity outer layer and a bold, juicy filling inside that made them taste extra intense. The commercials in the ’80s were just as memorable as the candy, with giant pieces of fruit dropping on people after they took a bite.
Kids loved the playful ads almost as much as the candy itself. They came in flavors like grape and watermelon, which made them feel different from the typical strawberry and lemon everyone else offered. Despite the hype, they fizzled out by the early ’90s. Today, they’re remembered as one of the most creative candies of the decade.
16. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pies
The late ’80s were peak Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mania, and Hostess knew exactly how to cash in. They released green-glazed pies filled with vanilla pudding, all tied to the popular cartoon. Kids didn’t care if they looked a little strange, the chance to eat something tied to the Turtles made them a must-have.
They were sticky, messy, and completely over the top, which is probably why they were such a hit. The pies disappeared once the Turtles craze started to cool down. But for kids who grew up in that moment, they’re a core memory. Just the sight of the green frosting could take you right back to Saturday morning cartoons.
17. Sizzlean
Sizzlean wasn’t candy or cookies, but it was a quirky snack-time favorite in plenty of ’80s households. Marketed as a “healthier” alternative to bacon, this meat product came in strips that cooked up in a pan just like the real thing. Families would fry it up on weekends, and it often ended up on sandwiches or breakfast-for-dinner plates.
While it didn’t taste exactly like bacon, plenty of kids grew up eating it and never realized it wasn’t the real deal. It promised less fat but still had that salty, smoky bite that made it satisfying. Eventually, it disappeared as people stopped buying into the “fake bacon” idea. Still, for those who had it, the name Sizzlean is unforgettable.
18. Tato Skins
Tato Skins were thick, hearty chips that claimed to taste just like potato skins from a restaurant appetizer plate. They were marketed as being made from real potato skins, which gave them a rustic edge compared to regular chips. Flavors like cheddar and bacon were especially popular and gave snack time a bit of indulgence.
They had a crunchier, more substantial texture than the airy chips kids were used to, making them stand out. While they survived into the ’90s under different brands, their big moment was in the ’80s. Eventually, they were replaced by other chip fads and disappeared. Fans who remember them still say they were the closest thing to a baked potato in a bag.