1. Planters Cheez Balls
These neon-orange little puffs of crunchy cheese goodness used to be everywhere, and for a while you couldn’t walk past a vending machine without spotting the bright blue canister. They were messy, they left your fingers stained for hours, and yet that was half the fun. You’d pop the lid and immediately get hit with that strong, salty cheese smell that kids loved and parents hated. It wasn’t just a snack, it was a ritual—digging down to get every last crumb from the bottom.
When Planters discontinued them in the early 2000s, fans were crushed, and people started hoarding old cans like collectibles. Years later, they made a brief comeback, but they never really regained their vending machine dominance. Nostalgia is powerful, though, and plenty of people still talk about them like they were the crown jewel of vending snacks. If you were lucky enough to grab one back in the day, you probably still remember that taste.
2. Hostess Pudding Pies
Imagine a handheld pie, but instead of fruit filling, it was stuffed with chocolate or vanilla pudding. Hostess thought of everything, even coating the crust with a sugary glaze so you’d get that first crunch before hitting the creamy middle. They were perfect for vending machines because you didn’t need a fork, just the courage to handle all that sweetness.
Kids loved them, but adults often felt they were just a bit too much, which might explain why they didn’t stick around. Still, if you were a kid in the ’80s or ’90s, finding one in a vending machine was like hitting the jackpot. People still reminisce about them as one of those indulgent, over-the-top treats that never quite found their way back.
3. PB Max
In the early ’90s, PB Max made a splash with commercials bragging that it wasn’t just for peanut butter lovers. It was a candy bar with a crunchy cookie base, covered in peanut butter and topped with chocolate, and for a while, it was a vending machine star. People loved the combination, and it quickly became a favorite for kids trading snacks at school.
But surprisingly, PB Max didn’t last. Rumors swirled that the Mars family simply didn’t like peanut butter products, so they killed it despite its popularity. To this day, people bring it up as one of those “why did they ever stop making that?” snacks. For anyone who grew up with it, seeing that wrapper in a vending machine always brought excitement.
4. Keebler Pizzarias Chips
Before Doritos ruled the pizza-flavored chip scene, Keebler gave us Pizzarias in the early ’90s. They were made from real pizza dough, baked into crispy chips, and dusted with seasoning that actually tasted like pizza. They were bold, tangy, and unlike anything else in vending machines at the time.
Kids swore by them, but they had a short run before fading into snack history. Part of the appeal was how different they were—less greasy than potato chips but more flavorful than most crackers. If you spotted them in a machine, you knew you were getting something unique. To this day, fans still call for their return.
5. Space Food Sticks
These chewy, energy-bar-like snacks were inspired by the space race and actually marketed as astronaut food in the late ’60s and ’70s. They came in flavors like chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel, and the packaging always made them look futuristic. Vending machines loved them because they were portable and had a long shelf life.
But as the novelty of space food wore off, so did their popularity. They became more of a curiosity than a go-to snack. For those who grew up with them, though, tearing into a Space Food Stick felt like you were part of the Apollo missions. They remain one of the strangest vending machine staples to disappear.
6. Doritos 3D
When Doritos released their puffed, three-dimensional chips in the mid-’90s, they instantly caught everyone’s attention. They came in flavors like Nacho Cheese and Jalapeño Cheddar, and the crunch was addictively different. Kids loved bragging about finding them in vending machines, because they felt a little more special than the regular flat chips.
Sadly, their popularity didn’t last as long as fans hoped. They were discontinued by the early 2000s, though a modern revival has brought them back in limited form. Still, the originals had a kind of magic that vending machine junkies will never forget. Opening that little bag felt like you were getting the future of snacking.
7. Planters PB Crisps
If you ever stumbled upon a vending machine with PB Crisps in it, you probably grabbed two bags. These were peanut-shaped cookies filled with creamy peanut butter, and later chocolate and honey flavors too. They were crunchy, sweet, and satisfying in a way few snacks managed.
Fans went wild for them, but for reasons no one really understands, they vanished by the late ’90s. Today, collectors sell unopened bags for ridiculous prices online. The memory of seeing them behind the vending machine glass still makes people nostalgic. They weren’t just a snack, they were a phenomenon.
8. Skor Bar
Skor Bars weren’t quite as common as Snickers or Kit Kats, but when they showed up in vending machines, they were a treat. The buttery toffee center coated in chocolate was rich and crunchy, and they felt a little more “grown-up” compared to other candy bars. Kids who tried them often felt like they’d stumbled on something special.
Though you can still technically find Skor in stores, their heyday in vending machines has long passed. They’ve been overshadowed by bigger brands and rarely make appearances anymore. For many, seeing a Skor Bar drop into the tray felt like winning a prize. They were one of those snacks that seemed to disappear without warning.
9. Kudos Bars
In the ’80s and ’90s, Kudos bars were everywhere, often promoted as a “healthier” alternative to candy. They had granola bases but were loaded with chocolate chips, M&Ms, or peanut butter toppings that made them taste like dessert. Kids loved finding them in vending machines because it felt like a sneaky way to get candy without actually buying candy.
Eventually, though, they fell into that awkward space where they weren’t quite healthy enough for parents but not indulgent enough to compete with real candy bars. By the 2000s, they quietly disappeared. Fans still remember them fondly, especially those colorful wrappers. For vending machine regulars, Kudos felt like the best of both worlds.
10. Choco Bliss
If you wanted something really decadent, Choco Bliss cakes from Hostess were the answer. They were layered with cake, frosting, and chocolate coating, and biting into one felt like a sugar overload. In vending machines, they always stood out as the snack that looked a little too good to be true.
Unfortunately, they didn’t last long in the market, making them a forgotten gem of the snack world. People still remember them as being indulgent in the best possible way. They were like vending machine gold, the kind of snack you’d brag about to your friends if you managed to snag one.
11. BarNone
BarNone was a chocolate lover’s dream when it hit vending machines in the late ’80s. It had layers of chocolate wafers, chocolate cream, peanuts, and a milk chocolate coating. The texture was unlike anything else, and it quickly developed a fan base.
Sadly, it was discontinued after just a few years, leaving fans baffled and disappointed. For those who tried it, though, the memory of biting into all those layers still lingers. BarNone is one of those snacks that vending machine fans still talk about wistfully.
12. Munch ‘ems
Munch ’ems were marketed as a baked snack cracker, but they had the crunch of a chip, which made them perfect for vending machines. They came in flavors like sour cream and onion and cheddar, and they were light enough that you didn’t feel too guilty about eating a whole bag.
Though they had a strong run in the ’90s, they eventually faded away, outpaced by flashier snacks. Still, for kids who grew up with them, Munch ’ems felt like the cool cousin of potato chips. Spotting them in a vending machine was always a good sign you’d picked the right machine. They may be forgotten now, but their crunch is hard to beat.