1. Bonkers
If you grew up in the ’80s, you probably remember Bonkers commercials just as much as the candy itself. The chewy squares had a fruity outer shell with a burst of filling inside, and the ads showed people getting smacked by giant pieces of fruit falling from the sky. Kids loved the bold flavors and the fun of biting into something that felt different from regular taffy or gumdrops.
Bonkers were everywhere for a while, but like a lot of ’80s fads, they didn’t last. By the ’90s, they quietly disappeared from shelves, leaving fans to reminisce about their over-the-top ads and juicy flavor. Some candy companies have teased bringing them back, but nothing has stuck.
2. Marathon Candy Bar
The Marathon bar looked like it went on for miles, with its braided chocolate-covered caramel design. It wasn’t just tasty, it was interactive—kids could pull the caramel apart strand by strand. The wrapper even printed a ruler on the back to show it was a full eight inches long, which made it feel like a huge deal compared to other candy bars.
Despite its fun appeal, the bar only lasted until the early ’80s in the U.S. The complicated design and production costs likely doomed it, though a version called Curly Wurly still thrives in the UK. For American kids, the Marathon bar is a delicious but distant memory.
3. PB Max
PB Max seemed like it was destined to be a classic when it launched in 1990. It had a crunchy cookie base, a thick peanut butter layer, and was covered in milk chocolate. It was sweet, salty, and filling, which made it feel like more of a dessert than just a quick snack.
Despite selling well, the candy bar didn’t last long. The story goes that the Mars family didn’t care for peanut butter themselves and pulled the product, even though fans loved it. To this day, people still wonder why it was discontinued when it seemed like such a sure hit.
4. Slo Poke
Slo Pokes were the kind of candy that kept you busy for a long time. These caramel lollipops were sticky, chewy, and lasted forever, which is exactly what made them so appealing to kids. You couldn’t rush through one—it was the candy equivalent of slow food.
By the ’80s, they started to fade out of popularity as quicker, flashier candies dominated store shelves. Still, for those who grew up with them, the memory of unwrapping a Slo Poke and trying to make it last as long as possible is hard to forget.
5. Seven Up Bar
This bar was unlike anything else on the shelves. The Seven Up Bar had seven little chocolate squares, each filled with something different, like caramel, coconut, or mint. It was like having a box of chocolates in one single bar, making every bite a little surprise.
As fun as it was, it wasn’t built to last. The production was complicated, and eventually the costs outweighed the novelty. It quietly disappeared in the 1970s, but fans who tried it still bring it up as one of the most unique candy bars ever made.
6. BarNone
When BarNone debuted in 1987, Hershey marketed it as “the chocolate lover’s dream.” It had layers of chocolate wafers, chocolate cream, peanuts, and a chocolate coating—basically chocolate on chocolate with a nutty crunch. For kids and adults with a sweet tooth, it felt like a must-try.
Despite strong buzz, it never became a permanent fixture. Hershey dropped it in the ’90s, and while it had a brief comeback attempt in the 2010s, it never regained its old following. Today, it’s mostly remembered by candy collectors and nostalgic snackers.
7. Bit-O-Honey
This honey-flavored chewy candy had been around for decades, but it really caught on in the mid-20th century. With almond bits mixed in, it wasn’t as flashy as chocolate bars, but it was a steady favorite for kids who wanted something sweet that lasted. Parents liked it too, since it kept children busy for a while.
Eventually, it lost its edge as tastes shifted toward brighter, bolder candies. Though it’s technically still around, Bit-O-Honey is no longer the household name it once was. It’s the kind of candy you’re more likely to find in a retro candy store than at your local grocery.
8. Reggie! Bar
In the late 1970s, baseball superstar Reggie Jackson had his own candy bar. The Reggie! Bar was filled with caramel, peanuts, and chocolate, and it was marketed as the perfect stadium snack for fans. At the height of Jackson’s career, it was a hit with kids and sports lovers alike.
The problem was that candy tied to a single athlete doesn’t always last. When Jackson’s career slowed, so did the bar’s sales. It was gone by the early ’80s, but for a brief moment, it blended baseball fandom with candy aisle excitement.
9. Sky Bar
Sky Bar stood out because it offered four flavors in one. Each segment of the bar had a different filling, like fudge, caramel, peanut, or vanilla. It gave you variety in one package, which was part of its charm.
It had a long life, first appearing in 1938 and lasting into the 21st century. Still, it never quite became a bestseller and was eventually discontinued in the 2010s. For those who remember it, though, Sky Bar was a candy worth savoring.
10. Tart ‘n Tinys
These little pellet-shaped candies were small but mighty. They packed a tangy, fruity punch that made them stand out from other hard candies. Kids loved shaking the boxes like maracas before popping them into their mouths by the handful.
By the 1990s, sour candies like Warheads and Sour Patch Kids stole their thunder. Tart ‘n Tinys faded into the background and were eventually discontinued. For kids of the ’70s and ’80s, though, they’re still remembered fondly as a pocket-sized sugar rush.
11. Giggles
Giggles were Nabisco’s short-lived attempt to compete with Skittles in the late 1980s. They were small, chewy fruit candies with a colorful candy shell, and their ads tried to make them look like the next big thing. For a while, they seemed like they could hold their own against the candy heavyweights.
But Skittles and Starburst already had too much momentum. Giggles quietly disappeared by the early ’90s, and unless you were a kid during that window, you probably never even heard of them. For those who did, they were a fun, forgotten experiment.
12. Razzles
Razzles were the candy that pulled a clever trick on kids—first they were a fruity candy, and then they turned into gum. The slogan “First it’s a candy, then it’s a gum!” really summed up the fun surprise of the whole experience. They came in small pouches with bright colors, and kids loved dumping them into their mouths to see how quickly the transformation would happen.
Razzles had their big moment in the ’70s and ’80s, but by the ’90s, they had mostly disappeared from candy aisles. They pop up here and there in retro candy shops, but their quirky idea never fully returned to the mainstream. For many, they’re remembered as one of the most fun and unusual candies of childhood.
13. Freshen-Up Gum
Freshen-Up Gum was known as “the gum that goes squirt.” Each piece had a liquid center that burst with flavor when you bit down, which made it feel high-tech compared to regular sticks of gum. It came in flavors like cinnamon, spearmint, and bubblegum, and kids loved daring their friends to chew one and see the filling ooze out.
It had its heyday from the ’70s through the ’80s before fading from popularity. Part candy, part gum, Freshen-Up was one of those novelty treats you couldn’t resist trying at least once. Today, it’s mostly remembered with a smile by those who grew up during its peak.