15 Best Nostalgic Snacks and Candies

The imminent demise of Hostess Brands and the Twinkie got us thinking: What other beloved snacks have gone the way of the dodo—and which ones are still around to strike our snacking fancy?

Take a trip down memory lane with the following nostalgic foods. And who knows—maybe you can introduce your grandkids to an old favorite!

Year launched: 1978
Still being sold? No

What started as a sports-drink experiment for the University of Florida Gators football team, soon spiraled into a national sensation and eventually to this chewing gum. GatorGum was billed as “the thirst-quenching gum for the sports-minded,” and originally claimed to be a dry-mouth cure for athletes. Available in lemon-lime and orange flavors, the chewing gum was manufactured by Fleer Corporation and was discontinued in the early 2000s.

Year launched: 1985
Still being sold? Yes and no.

Built by the Keebler elves for your 1980’s and '90’s snacking pleasure, these skin-on potato chips captured the essence of "baked potato appeal!" with Cheddar & Bacon, Sour Cream & Onion, Steak & Potato, Barbecue, and Baked Potato flavors. Fortunately for fans, T.G.I. Fridays Potato Skins (into which the Tato Skins brand was incorporated) are readily available in select flavors. The original versions are available at select locations and retailers.
Available (expensively) at Foodservicedirect.com

Year launched: 1908
Still being sold? No

Ever wonder what inspired the Oreo? Try the 1908 Hydrox! Known for being a sturdier cookie (all the better to dunk them with), Hydrox was “America’s first crème filled chocolate cookie.” And while popular, it just never quite caught on the way Oreo has.

Year launched: 1917
Still being sold? Yes

Originally conceived as the “working man’s lunch,” MoonPies were created in response to local coal miners' requests for a solid, filling lunch that's easy to eat. These marshmallow sandwich cookies are now popular with kids and adults, alike—nearly a million MoonPies are produced and distributed every day, in original chocolate, banana, and vanilla flavors, and in new mint and peanut butter Crunch versions.
Available at http://moonpie.com/

Year launched: 1987
Still being sold? No

An 80’s delicacy that brought the joys of dessert to your morning cereal bowl, Ice Cream Cones cereal was available in Chocolate Chip and Vanilla flavors. Each sweet, bite-sized piece was shaped like real ice-cream cones and were hawked by a cartoon mascot named Ice-Cream Jones.

Year launched: 1937
Still being sold? Yes

Introduced through a sky-writing campaign in 1938 (then, quite an innovation!), these chocolate bars consist of four distinct sections filled with peanut, vanilla, caramel, and fudge nougat. In 1945, when the WWII blackouts and curfew were lifted on Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), Necco's Sky Bar advertisement in Times Square was one of only six signs at the ready to light up right away.
Available at Oldtimecandy.com

Year launched: 1982
Still being sold? No

These sweet 80s treats had “all the goodness of pudding, frozen on a stick.” Who could resist a treat with a spokesperson like Bill Cosby? Developing a nostalgic sweet-tooth? Try making your own at home using Popsicle sticks and Jell-O brand pudding!

Year launched: Early 1940’s
Still being sold? Yes

Reminiscent of a Butterfinger candy bar (minus the chocolate), Chick-o-Sticks are described as "homemade peanut butter in a crispy crunchy hard candy shell with mouth-watering toasted coconut on the outside." This long-lived, Texas-native candy has been around since the Great Depression and and was originally named "Chicken Bones."
Available at Oldtimecandy.com

Year launched: Early 1930’s
Still being sold? Yes

In search of a "different-flavored candy," confectionist Charles Howard created Choward’s Violet Mints, the candies with the floral scent and flavor. Other vintage candies from the same company include "after smoking and eating" mints and Scented Gum in flavors like spearmint, wintergreen, lemon, and violet.
Available at Chowardcompany.com

Year launched: 1930’s
Still being sold? Yes

These sweet peel-able candy buttons are “as fun to look at as they are to eat,” according to NECCO, which acquired the product in 1980. Welcomed into American homes almost 80 years ago, these colorful buttons are still sold on paper strips in lemon, lime, and cherry flavors.
Available at Oldtimecandy.com

Year launched: 1923
Still being sold? Yes, but not for long

Yodels, Funny Bones, Yankee Doodles, Devil Dogs. Until it was bought by rival bakery Hostess in 1987, Drake's Cakes produced and distributed these and other snack cakes to its legion of fans across the Northeast. Sad news of the year: Hostess Brands announced their closure November 21, 2012, which means Devil Dogs could be on the way out — unless an even bigger bakery company swoops in and saves them.
Available at Amazon.com

Year launched: 1980s
Still being sold? No

When Bonkers were still available in stores, fans described these sweet chews as a fruitier, layered alternative to Starburst candies. So why did they die, while Starburst thrived? Legend has it that after parent company, Nabisco, stopped producing Bonkers TV commercials (which were universally appreciated for being hilarious), sales dropped and the product eventually disappeared from shelves. Fortunately for Bonkers fans, Leaf Brands, LLC, recently acquired the trademark and plans to reintroduce the classic brand in June 2013.

Year launched: 1980s
Still being sold? Yes

Whistle Pops are probably one of the only music-producing candies that have stood the test of time. It’s a semi-hard candy with flavors ranging from green apple to strawberry, cherry, and watermelon.
Available at Airheads.com

Year launched: 1998
Still being sold? No

What child could resist cookies for breakfast? Oreo and Post joined forces in 1998 to create what many described as the best cereal in cereal history: Oreo-flavored cheerios with marshmallow-flavored sprinkles. If fans thought dunking a cookie in milk was a great thing, they realized a cereal version would hit all the high points, too. Unfortunately, the cereal disappeared when Post and Kraft stopped co-branding in 2007.

Year launched: 1973
Still being sold? No

What was the longest candy bar in the history of candy bars? Well, in 1973, none measured up to the Mars Marathon bar. Measuring a whopping 8 inches, and later a 15-inch limited version, the candy bar broke strides in the candy market. The wrapper even included a ruler, just for skeptics. Although Mars resurrected the Marathon name as an energy bar, the original chocolate-coated caramel-braided goodness was discontinued in 1981.