Snacks can tell us a lot about the culture of an era. In the 1980s, snack foods were fun, colorful, and often over-the-top. Many of these treats have faded away, but they remain cherished in our memories. Let’s take a trip back to some of the most iconic snacks from the ’80s that we’d love to see make a comeback.
1. Giggles Cookies
These sandwich cookies were a lunchtime staple, featuring playful smiling faces and delicious chocolate and vanilla cream filling. They were as fun to look at as they were to eat!
2. Squeezit Fruit Drinks
Brightly colored and served in a squeezable bottle, Squeezit drinks were part beverage, part toy. Kids loved sipping—or squirting—these fruity drinks, making them a hit in lunchboxes everywhere.
3. Pudding Pops
A creamy, frozen spin on pudding, these treats came on a stick and were perfect for summer days. Available in chocolate, vanilla, or swirl, Pudding Pops were a standout dessert of the decade.
4. Fruit Wrinkles
These chewy, bite-sized fruit snacks packed intense fruity flavor and paved the way for today’s fruit snacks. Their quirky name and addictive taste made them a favorite for kids and parents alike.
5. Hostess Choco-Bliss
This decadent treat featured soft chocolate cake filled with creamy frosting and covered in a rich chocolate glaze. Hostess Choco-Bliss was every chocolate lover’s dream.
6. Hi-C Ecto Cooler
A marketing genius tied this citrusy Hi-C flavor to the Ghostbusters franchise, creating an instant hit. Its vibrant green color and association with the ghostly Slimer made it a cultural icon of the ’80s.
7. Keebler Magic Middles
Keebler Elves delivered pure magic with these shortbread cookies hiding a gooey chocolate or peanut butter center. Every bite held a delicious surprise.
8. PB Max
Made of chocolate, peanut butter, and oats, PB Max was a peanut butter lover’s dream. Despite its huge popularity, it was discontinued—allegedly because the Mars family didn’t like peanut butter.
9. Planters Cheez Balls
Packaged in an iconic blue canister, these tangy, crunchy cheese snacks were unmatched. Many have tried to replicate their magic, but few have succeeded, making Cheez Balls a nostalgic treasure.
10. Bonkers! Candy
Known for bold flavors and playful ads, Bonkers candies had a chewy center wrapped in fruity goodness. Their over-the-top marketing helped solidify them as a childhood favorite.
11. Dunkaroos (late ’80s)
Combining cookies and frosting, Dunkaroos were a snack and activity in one. Kids loved dipping the crunchy cookies into sweet frosting, making them an instant hit.
12. Jell-O Pudding Roll-Ups
This inventive snack turned pudding into a roll-up, resembling a fruit roll-up but with a gelatinous texture. Though unusual by today’s standards, it was a prime example of the decade’s food creativity.
13. Oreo Big
Imagine a giant Oreo the size of your palm! Individually wrapped for convenience, this oversized cookie made a big splash, though its dunking potential was limited without a very large glass of milk.
14. Shark Bites
These gummy snacks captured kids’ fascination with marine life. The rare “white shark” gummy became a prized find, adding to their appeal. Tasty and collectible, they were a playground favorite.
15. Tato Skins
Made from real potato skins, these chips had a bold, rustic flavor. Available in classic combinations like cheddar and bacon, Tato Skins were a uniquely satisfying snack of the era.
Which of these 80s snacks would you bring back if you could?
