Taste can be such a powerful sense. Take a bite of a certain meal or sip a certain beverage, and in an instant, you’re transported to the time and place where you enjoyed those foods in the past.
But what happens when our favorite foods are discontinued? How can we harken back to those great childhood memories?
Well, we go on the internet, wax poetic, and find others with whom we can reminisce. Here are 10 beloved ’80s snacks we wish we could still enjoy—along with the memories and reactions of the people who grew up eating them.
Our Favorite Snacks From the 1980s
Nabisco Giggles
Introduced in the ’80s and then discontinued by the ’90s, this short-lived Nabisco product was designed to put a smile on your face—literally. The chocolate cookies have different laughing and smiling faces. Two different creams, vanilla and fudge, are sandwiched between the cookies. With their goofy faces and fun commercials, these treats were a favorite among young kids in the 1980s.
“Better than Oreos, there I said it,” said a fan on Reddit. “OMG I 100 percent forgot about these,” said another. “They were so good!”
One Redditor even said that the beloved Trader Joe’s Oreo copycat cookies, called Joe-Joe’s, reminded them of this childhood treat.
Fruit Corners Fruit Wrinkles
In the summer of 1986, Fruit Wrinkles were introduced to the nation. They were designed to be a healthier fruit snack. According to this email from a General Mills employee, each box of Fruit Wrinkles contained six pouches with real fruit gummies inside and was said to be a strong source of Vitamin C. It was introduced in four flavors: cherry, lemon, orange, and strawberry.
“I LOVED these and totally forgot about them,” said one Redditor. “Thank you for unlocking this memory for me,” said another. “I had completely forgotten how much I devoured these as a kid. I can’t find any fruit snacks these days that come close to tasting as good as these.”
Keebler Tato Skins
Released in the mid-1980s, Keebler Tato Skins quickly became a family-favorite snack. It was made with real potatoes and potato skins, and was part of Keebler’s popular potato snack lineup, which also included O-Boises and Hula Hoops.
This was a thicker potato chip that was available in familiar flavors such as baked potato, sour cream and chives, and cheese and bacon. Eventually, these were rebooted for TGI Friday’s (and are still available to purchase), but it is said to have a different flavor profile, and the new formula is “less generous with the powder, draining the snack of its original appeal,” according to this Food52 article.
“Not sure why they went away,” said one Redditor. “I thought I was keeping them in business. So good!”
“Salty and crunchy and good,” said another. “I wonder why they stopped making them. I always loved them.” Another fan shared that a bag of Tato Skins and a can of Diet Apple Slice was “their jam” in the ’80s after finishing dance class.
Carnation Breakfast Bars
Carnation Breakfast Bars were released in the mid-1970s and discontinued in the ’90s, so if you were a kid in the ’80s, there’s a big chance you had one of these snacks. The bar featured a crunchy interior surrounded by nuts and a milk chocolate coating. The commercial even states that one Carnation Breakfast Bar and a glass of milk gives as much nourishment as a slice of toast, two pieces of bacon, and a fried egg!
“The only problem with these Carnation Bars was you could eat 15 of them if you didn’t stop yourself,” said one Redditor. Another fan said they have been trying to find “something, anything” that rivals these Carnation Breakfast Bars, and have found nothing that comes close.
Dooley’s Filled Snack
These popular ’80s chips were a fun combination of chips and dip. It had a potato chip shell stuffed with dip fillings, like sour cream and onion. They had a similar shape to a Combo—but lighter and potato-based instead of pretzel-based.
“The sour cream and onion Dooley’s were so good,” said one commenter. “I miss them. They weren’t around long, I don’t think so, probably most people don’t remember them, but they were the bomb. I was a kid and made sure I had them in my lunch bag a lot lol.” Another fan stated that Nacho Cheese was their favorite flavor of Dooley’s. “I used to use my allowance to get two bags [of Dooley’s], a 1 liter of Coke, a Mama Celeste pepperoni pizza, and a GI Joe action figure every Saturday,” shared another.
Keebler O’Boisies
Nowadays, Keebler is so associated with sweet snacks like Fudge Stripes or E.L. Fudge Originals, it’s hard to believe the brand once had a robust savory portfolio. One of their many potato products was O’Boisies, a flaky and crunchy chip.
The name was a combination of the phrase “oh, boy,” and Boise, the capital of Idaho, which is the leading potato producer in the U.S. According to Potato Grower Magazine, O’Boisies, and many other Keebler potato snacks, were developed by Miles Willard, and, at one point, all of Keebler’s potato products used about two percent of the potatoes grown in the United States.
“We’re talking about the peak of potato-based snacks right here,” said one Redditor. “So salty. I can taste them now just thinking about it,” said another. “I wish they would bring these back.” Other fans shared that the Keebler chips were all delicious, and many used part of their allowance to buy a bag or two each week.
Hostess Chocodile
Chocodiles were a popular ’80s riff on the famous Hostess Twinkie. For decades, fans have claimed that it’s a different recipe than a traditional Twinkie. But on an episode of Food Network’s “Unwrapped,” a Hostess employee did confirm it was indeed just a chocolate-covered Twinkie. So while it is a discontinued product, it could be something you DIY at home.
“My life revolved around these when I was 13,” said one Redditor. Another Redditor remarked on how affordable Chocodiles were in the 1980s. “These were 25 cents when I was a kid,” they said. “Boy, what a dollar could get you back in the ’80s!”
Oreo Big Stuf
We know all about Oreo Double Stuf Cookies, but what about Big Stuf? This fun snack from the 1980s took a normal Oreo cookie and blew it up—about the size of a big ice cream sandwich, or three inches in diameter, according to this Food52 article. Each cookie was individually wrapped, great for throwing in a lunchbox or backpack. By 1991, these treats were kaput—but it’ll live in our memories forever.
“I loved Big Stuf,” said one Redditor. “Individually wrapped, one on my break every day when I worked at Walgreens. 33 cents a piece.” Another Redditor shared that they thought the cookies were amazing. “They were so much better than regular Oreos, and regular Oreos back then were much better than today’s Oreos,” they said. “The cookie was slightly more tender than the small Oreo’s cookie, and the ‘creme’ filling was really good.”
Doritos Salsa Rio Chips
Late-night host Jay Leno was the brand ambassador for this innovative Doritos flavor. The name really explains it all: These chips were made with a powder that tastes like salsa with notes of tomato, onion, peppers, etc.
“Salsa Rio was the best flavor ever put out by Doritos, and anyone who thinks otherwise should be in jail,” said one Redditor. “Does anyone else pray for them to return?”
“These were the BEST Doritos EVER made and I could not stop eating them cause they were so freakin’ good back then,” said one fan on YouTube. Another chimed in and wants to bring this flavor back, calling it the “best chip ever.”
Keebler Swirly-Q’s Cookies
Keebler really had a moment in the ’80s, and these Swirly-Q’s were no exception. Swirly-Q’s featured a shortbread cookie, swirled with a “river of real chocolate,” according to the commercial. But they were discontinued before the ’90s. Those Keebler elves were too busy making their other products!
“These really need to come back,” said one fan on Facebook. “I loved them back then as a kid, but now I know I’d love them with my coffee or tea.”
“OMG, I have been trying to remember the name of these forever,” said another. “Memory unlocked!”
Dining and Cooking