Flavors That Fueled Childhoods
One day, you’re biting into your favorite childhood treat, and the next, it’s off the shelves for good, without any warning. Years later, you can still vividly remember their colors, flavors, and all those memorable moments that made up your childhood. These are the 20 discontinued snacks that lived fast and disappeared faster, but somehow continue to live rent-free in your head.
Reggie Jackson's candy bar returns at a Long Island store by Newsday
1. PB Max
PB Max was a powerhouse of unapologetic flavor until 1994. Creamy peanut butter mixed with crunchy whole-grain oats, all coated in a thick layer of smooth milk chocolate. It was rugged and rebellious, with textures that popped and tasted phenomenal.
P.B. Max (1992) by TheSonnyRetro
2. Magic Middles
Imagine biting into a cookie and discovering a warm fudge core. Magic Middles played with texture and always surprised you in a way few snacks dared to do. That rich chocolate center inside the buttery shortbread made it feel like a secret worth keeping. Yet, its production halted in 2011.
Keebler Magic Middles Commercial (1989) by Dino Drac's Retro Commercials!
3. Reggie! Bar
Named after baseball legend Reggie Jackson, this short-lived candy bar packed peanuts, caramel, and chocolate into a foil-wrapped tribute. Released in the late ’70s and fading by 1981, it was less about the flavor and more about eating a snack with MVP status.
Reggie Jackson's candy bar returns at a Long Island store by Newsday
4. Jell-O Pudding Pops
Creamy, cool, and almost too indulgent for a freezer snack, these popsicles fused pudding’s silkiness with the chill of an ice pop. They came in chocolate, vanilla, and a chocolate-and-vanilla swirl. Until their discontinuation in 2010, they transformed childhood summers.
Making Jell-o Pudding Pops - Kids Can Cook! by Kayley's Kitchen
5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pies
Green and gooey, these Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pies oozed radioactive charm. With vanilla pudding sealed inside a neon green crust, they perfectly captured the '80s cartoon chaos. When they left the market in 1991, fans were devastated.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Snack Pie Feeling Nostalgic! TMNT Pie! by DayToDayWithJay
6. Ghostbusters Hi-C Ecto Cooler
Ecto Cooler, glowing green and full of citrusy punch, earned its place as a Ghostbusters icon. Halted in 2001, it offered more than just a refreshing taste; it was a collectible experience. Each sip felt like holding the neon spirit of Ghostbusters in your hand.
EASY Homemade Hi-C Ecto Cooler Recipe! by Ghostbusters News
7. Marathon Bar
Marathon Bar’s chewy, caramel-covered rope stood out for its slow-burn satisfaction, which many people loved. It was a rewarding experience for those who took their time to savor the treat. Sadly, some Americans were not fond of a long candy bar that was difficult to eat.
Marathon Candy Bar Commercial (1975) by Bionic Disco
8. Oreo Big Stuf
This oversized Oreo, introduced in 1987, was a lunchbox legend in the late ‘80s. Several times the size of a regular Oreo, it packed 250 calories into a single creme-filled cookie. Individually wrapped and proudly impractical, it was pure dessert theater. Sadly, by 1991, Nabisco discontinued it.
Oreo Big Stuf Cookie Commercial by Forgotten Media
9. O’Boisies Chips
With their airy, ridged texture, O'Boisies Chips were unforgettable. All flavors, either the Original, Sour Cream & Onion, or BBQ, had an exuberant crunch. Even with great reviews, their production ceased in the early 2000s. The reason? The parent company, Keebler, had other interests.
O'Boises commercial (1988) by dadsoldtapes
10. Smurf Berry Crunch
Turning your milk blue made Smurf Berry Crunch a hit, especially in the ‘80s. Its berry-flavored corn and oat pieces were irresistible. Though discontinued in 1987, it became a beloved part of Saturday morning routines, thanks to its playful colors, bold taste, and clever tie-in with The Smurfs cartoon craze.
Smurf Berry Crunch (1983) & Smurf Magic Berries (1987) by Cereal Time TV
11. Jell-O-1-2-3
The three-layer dessert looked like edible science. With one pour, it separated into a creamy top, a mousse-like middle, and a gelatinous base. Popular in the ‘70s and early ‘80s, it began fading and was fully discontinued in 1996. Kraft, the maker of Jell-O, realized that this one was not as profitable as other Jell-Os.
12. Mr. T Cereal
Launched in 1984, this corn-and-oat cereal packed sweetness, crunch, and charisma. Shaped like little T’s and fortified with vitamins, this treat made breakfast feel like a power move. Discontinued in 1993, but its bold attitude never left the room.
Mr. T Cereal (1984) by Cereal Time TV
13. Pepsi AM
Pepsi AM, introduced in 1989, was marketed as the perfect morning beverage, since it offered less sugar and more caffeine. It attempted to replace coffee with soda, but that concept never quite caught on, as evidenced by the sales figures. Its production ended within a year.
14. Squeezit Drinks
Released in vibrant bottles that begged to be squeezed, Squeezit made hydration an adventure. These colorful drinks weren’t just quenching thirst. Kids enjoyed the fruit punch, especially when the bottles turned into character faces in 1992. Squeezit was the face of juicy fun and laughter until 2001.
What Happened to Squeezit Drinks? by Tasting Through Time
15. Tic Tac Cinnamon
Cinnamon Tic Tacs were small but fiery treats that never failed to offer an addictive, spicy bite. Their production ended in 2009 due to limited sales. But in their prime time, Tic Tac Cinnamon was a tiny, zesty, pill-shaped fun.
tic tac cinnamon (naughty) review by Candy Aisle
16. Pudding Roll-Ups
Those chewy strips of pudding, which ceased production in late 1988, gave a new twist to the snack game. With a texture somewhere between fudge and leather, Pudding Roll-Ups made your lunch more interesting. Their quirky, rollable shape made them unforgettable.
Pudding Roll-Ups by General Mills
17. Tato Skins By Keebler
Keebler’s Tato Skins tasted like fully loaded potato skins in chip form. They combined smoky flavors with the satisfying crunch of chips. These crispy snacks brought a bar-food vibe straight to your backpack. However, just as the 2000s began, Keebler sold the product to another company, which changed its recipe and name.
1987 Keebler Tato Skins Chip Snacks TV Commercial by ewjxn
18. Hubba Bubba Max
Hubba Bubba Max chewed thicker than your average gum to deliver a bold rush of dual flavors. Although the intense flavor faded quickly, that initial burst left a lasting impression. Despite its explosive debut, Hubba Bubba Max eventually left the markets.
WOW! Giant Hubba Bubba Max Bubble Gum!!! So Funny! (CC Available by Princess Bánh Bao
19. Fruit Stripe Gum
Fruit Stripe Gum, known for its colorful zebra-striped wrappers and Yipes the zebra tattoos, was a nostalgic favorite. Introduced by Beech-Nut, its brief but flavorful bursts enthralled many. After over 50 years, it was discontinued in January 2024, leaving fans longing for its return.
1991 - Fruit Stripe Gum - Yipes! Stripes! Commercial by Consumer Time Capsule
20. Giggles Cookies
These smiling sandwich cookies weren’t just tasty—they had personality. With fun faces stamped on top and a dual-cream filling inside, Giggles was like Oreos with a twist of humor. They left behind a generation of snackers who still smile when they remember them.
