13 Popular Snacks From The '90s We'd Like To Taste Again

Kudos Bars

If a child from the '90s wanted to persuade their parents to let them have a candy bar for breakfast, they might request a Kudos Bar. Marketed as a granola bar, it was perceived as somewhat healthier than a typical candy bar. This perception persisted despite the fact that the granola was coated in chocolate, loaded with sugar, and devoid of any real nutritional benefits. Nevertheless, it likely wasn't much worse than the numerous sugary cereals filled with vibrant food dyes that lined the shelves during that time.

Introduced by Mars, Incorporated in 1986, Kudos Bars became a beloved treat throughout the '90s. Television commercials emphasized the supposed nutritional benefits of this "wholesome" snack for children. Initially, the bars were available in three flavors: chocolate chip, fudge, and peanut butter. Eventually, Mars merged the bars with popular chocolate candies like Snickers, M&M's, and Dove. At that point, it was hard to argue that Kudos was anything more than a fancy candy bar. Then, without any explanation, Kudos disappeared. The company never provided an official reason, but by 2017, Kudos Bars were no longer found on store shelves. While we recognize that these granola bars weren't exactly healthy, many of us would love to savor that sweet treat once more. As one Reddit user put it, "I still think about these way more than anyone should ever think about discontinued snacks."

Crystal Pepsi

The '90s were an unusual era. On one side, breakfast could consist of small cookies soaked in milk. On the other, businesses were capitalizing on the health trend that was sweeping the nation. Crystal Pepsi was Pepsi's effort to provide a somewhat healthier alternative to its classic soda. The company removed the added caramel coloring from the original Pepsi and replaced it with modified cornstarch. This resulted in Crystal Pepsi, a clear carbonated beverage reminiscent of Sprite, yet still retaining the familiar Pepsi flavor. It also contained slightly less sugar than its predecessor.

It's surprising to note that Crystal Pepsi was only available from 1992 until early 1994. Nevertheless, it remains a nostalgic memory for many kids of the '90s. Some adored it, while others despised it, but most people recall it despite its brief existence. The drink made a short-lived return in 2022, although it wasn't available in stores. Pepsi organized a contest where 300 winners received six 20-ounce bottles of Crystal Pepsi, making them the last individuals to experience this clear version of the iconic soda.

Keebler Munch'ems

Keebler Munch'ems represented yet another corporate effort to create a "healthy" snack option. Marketed as "baked, not fried," according to their TV ads, these snacks quickly became a staple in many '90s kids' lunchboxes. The packaging boasted that they were "crackers that crunch like chips," and indeed, they delivered a delightful crunch with every bite. These thin, light crackers were bursting with flavor and came in various options, including sour cream and onion, cheddar, and ranch.

It's puzzling why these delicious crackers were eventually discontinued, but by the early 2000s, they had vanished from store shelves. Fortunately, you can find a comparable alternative made by Cheez-It. Cheez-It Grooves have been noted by a Reddit user to have a texture and flavor reminiscent of the original Munch'ems. Additionally, fans have discovered that Ritz Toasted Chips in Sour Cream & Onion offer a similar taste and crunch to the beloved Munch'ems.

Jell-O Pudding Pops

A child of the '90s couldn't help but feel a rush of joy upon discovering Jell-O Pudding Pops in the freezer while on the hunt for a snack. These delightful treats gained popularity in the 1980s and maintained their appeal throughout the '90s.

However, despite their success during that era, the company behind Pudding Pops, General Mills, wasn't primarily focused on frozen desserts. Producing these frozen treats was more costly for them than the profits they generated. In 2004, they sold the Pudding Pops brand to Popsicle. If you ever tried a Pudding Pop made by Popsicle, you might have noticed it just didn't quite measure up. Unfortunately, the flavor and texture changed, and they even lost their distinctive pudding pop shape, being molded instead in standard popsicle forms. Today, the Popsicle version of Pudding Pops is no longer available.

The silver lining is that while you can't purchase a box of Pudding Pops anymore, you can easily whip up your own at home. Just mix up a batch of pudding, pour it into popsicle molds, and freeze. They may not taste exactly like the original boxed version, but they'll still be delicious!

Oatmeal Swirlers

Breakfast in the '90s was undeniably more exciting. Even nutritious options were transformed into fun experiences for kids. In 1989, General Mills introduced Oatmeal Swirlers, featuring a TV ad that encouraged children to "give it a swirl" with their morning oatmeal. Oatmeal Swirlers consisted of plain oatmeal paired with a squeeze pack of jelly, allowing kids to create any shape they desired on top. This meant parents could feel good about their children eating oatmeal, while kids enjoyed the playful aspect of their meal. The squeeze packs came in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, strawberry, and cherry.

Parents, recognizing a clever marketing tactic, often provided their children with regular oatmeal alongside a jar of jelly or some strawberry syrup. However, kids knew there was nothing quite like the experience of drizzling a squeeze pack of sugary jelly over instant oatmeal that came in a fun package. Nostalgia for Oatmeal Swirlers has resurfaced on Reddit, with one user expressing, "So glad other people remember this stuff!!! Wish they would make it again!!!" Unfortunately, Oatmeal Swirlers didn't survive beyond the '90s and have not been seen since.

Philadelphia Snack Bars

The abundance of copycat Philadelphia Cheesecake Snack Bars available online indicates just how much people long for these delicious treats. These chilled delights featured a creamy cheesecake topping resting on a graham cracker crust. They came in classic cream cheese flavor or with a delightful strawberry filling running through the center. Other varieties included white chocolate raspberry cheesecake and chocolate chip. Although these bars were introduced in 1999, which might stretch the definition of a '90s snack, they are simply too delicious to overlook.

Kraft discontinued these bars in the mid-2000s, and they have yet to make a comeback. One Reddit user reminisced, stating that Philadelphia Snack Bars are, "still the best thing I've ever tasted." Another commenter shared, "My mom used to hide these in the back of the fridge, but I always found them." It seems that the trend of moms concealing these treats from their kids was quite common back then.

While the snack bars may no longer be available, if you enjoy baking, you can find numerous copycat recipes online to try your hand at recreating them. Although it won't quite replicate the thrill of tearing open a box and sneaking one while hiding from your mom, it will surely evoke some fond memories.

Kellogg's Cinnamon Mini Buns Breakfast Cereal

In the 1990s, sugary cereals dominated the breakfast aisles of grocery stores, but some parents opted against purchasing these nutritionally lacking (and often overpriced) options for their children. If you were fortunate enough to have a parent who allowed you to pick your own breakfast cereal—or if you found yourself at a friend's house with more lenient rules—you might have enjoyed the sweet experience of having cinnamon buns with milk in the morning. Kellogg's Cinnamon Mini Buns cereal debuted in 1991, and in a bid to appeal to parents, it was promoted as a "healthy" breakfast choice. The television commercial for the cereal touted it as part of a "complete breakfast," while print advertisements described it as "just corn and whole grain oats with plenty of the cinnamon crunchy flavor they love."

However, Cinnamon Mini Buns cereal didn't stick around for long; it was available for only about two years before being discontinued. While it may not be exactly the same, the idea of mini cinnamon rolls as a cereal still exists today. Kellogg's introduced a Cinnabon cereal that appeared and disappeared several times, but it is currently discontinued. On the other hand, General Mills offers a Cinnamon Toast Crunch Rolls breakfast cereal that bears some resemblance to the original.

Nestle Butterfinger BB's

Everyone agrees that bite-sized snacks are simply more enjoyable. Following in the footsteps of candies like M&M's and Reese's Pieces, Nestlé introduced Butterfinger BB's in 1992, a BB-sized version of their beloved candy bar. However, by 2006, Butterfinger BB's had disappeared from store shelves. While people adored these round chocolate treats, their downfall may have been linked to the meltable outer chocolate coating. Unlike M&M's, which resist melting in your hands, BB's could quickly become a sticky mess, especially on warm days.

Despite the inconvenience, many still long for this candy. One Reddit user remarked, "Butterfinger BB's are among the most nostalgically missed candies of the '90s. They had a classic buttery and crunchy flavor that could elevate a simple movie and popcorn night." The candy gained even more traction thanks to a marketing campaign featuring "The Simpsons." Unfortunately, they are no longer available. The closest alternative today is Butterfinger Bites, but they lack the iconic ball shape and don't quite capture the same essence.

Keebler Pizzarias Pizza Chips

This nostalgic snack from the '90s was so cherished that a dedicated Facebook group has formed to advocate for its revival. Within this group, members attempt—though often unsuccessfully—to find a replacement for the beloved Keebler Pizzarias Pizza Chips. The challenge in finding a substitute lies in the fact that these chips were not just your average pizza-flavored snacks; they were crafted from real pizza dough and offered a variety of flavors, including Cheese Pizza, Zesty Pepperoni, and Pizza Supreme.

While the Keebler elves touted in a 1991 TV ad that it "tastes like real pizza," the truth is that Pizzarias didn’t quite replicate the taste of pizza. However, that doesn’t diminish their deliciousness. As one group member reminisced, "Pizzerias were incredible. I can never forget their flavor. It's etched in my memory." Unfortunately, Keebler Pizzarias vanished from store shelves in the early 2000s following Keebler Foods' acquisition by Kellogg. Despite the fervent nostalgia and pleas from fans for its return, nothing quite like it exists on the market today.

Orbitz

Orbitz was a beverage that truly anticipated future trends. Nowadays, tapioca pearls, popping boba, and fruit jellies dominate the bubble tea scene, but back in the '90s, it was unusual to see orbs bobbing in your drink. Orbitz took inspiration from the lava lamp revival of that era, packaging its drink in bottles shaped like lava lamps, complete with floating gel balls. It offered a range of distinctive flavors such as vanilla orange, black currant berry, and raspberry citrus. If you were around during the '90s, you might be surprised to learn that this drink was only available for about a year, from 1997 to 1998. However, its brief existence didn't prevent people from creating lasting memories associated with it.

While it may evoke thoughts of boba tea, Orbitz was quite different. The floating balls were not made from tapioca; instead, they were crafted from gellan gum, and the liquid surrounding them had a similar density to keep the balls suspended. Reactions to the drink were mixed—some adored it, while others detested it. Today, Orbitz is steeped in nostalgia, with unopened bottles available for purchase on eBay. While many people use these bottles as decorative items, you can also find videos of individuals sampling vintage bottles on YouTube.

Planters PB Crisps

For many years, the Planters brand exclusively offered peanuts. It wasn't until the 1980s that they expanded their product line to include cashews. In 1992, the company ventured into new territory with the introduction of Planters P.B. Crisps, a delightful peanut-shaped cookie made from graham crackers and filled with a creamy peanut butter center. These treats were a hit, also available in chocolate and peanut butter and jelly flavors. Unfortunately, they were only available for a few years during the mid-1990s.

Unlike many other discontinued products, Planters acknowledged the public's desire for more. In 2017, Jim from Planters responded on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "We appreciate the love for P.B. Crisps; unfortunately, there was not enough consumer demand for us to continue producing it. TY!" It's surprising that P.B. Crisps faced low sales, especially with so many fans today advocating for their return (there's even a website dedicated to bringing back Planters P.B. Crisps). This site makes a compelling case for Hormel Foods, the current owner of Planters, to revive P.B. Crisps, calling them an "utterly delectable mid-'90s snack food." Given the lack of recent updates from Planters, it seems unlikely that P.B. Crisps will make a comeback on store shelves anytime soon.

Hostess Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pies

In the mid-1980s, Hostess expanded its beloved fruit pie collection by introducing a pie filled with pudding instead of fruit. Hostess pudding pies quickly became a favorite among children, with one Reddit user recalling, "They had these in our school cafeteria. It was a mad dash to get in line for one before they sold out for the day! I absolutely loved them!" The standard pudding pies were available in flavors like chocolate and vanilla. However, Hostess truly outdid itself when it teamed up with the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" franchise to create a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Pie.

The only distinction between the TMNT pie and the regular vanilla pudding pie was the vibrant green icing that adorned the treat. The combination of the immensely popular "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and a pudding pie was an immediate hit. One Redditor reminisced, "I'm 41, and I remember these vividly. I can almost taste them just by looking at the picture." Unfortunately, the green Ninja Turtle pies were intended for a limited run and disappeared shortly after their debut.

As for the regular Hostess pudding pies, they vanished around the same time the TMNT pies were introduced. Today, you can still find Hostess fruit pies, and various other brands offer different types of pudding pies, but nothing quite compares to the classic Hostess Pudding Pie. We'll conclude with a comment from a Facebook user who said, "These Hostess pudding pies just hit differently."

Betty Crocker Sodalicious Soda Pop Fruit Snacks

Betty Crocker's Sodalicious Soda Pop Fruit Snacks were more than just your average soda-flavored gummy candy; they featured a sugary coating designed to "pop" in your mouth like a fizzy drink, as noted by the General Mills Archives Team. Introduced in 1991, these original treats even included scratch-and-sniff stickers in every package. While the Sodalicious fruit snacks were "made with real fruit," their flavors were inspired by popular sodas such as root beer, orange, and cherry cola.

Regrettably, these fruit snacks were discontinued in the late '90s. Many Reddit users still reminisce about them, with one recalling, "You had to bite the top off the bottle and pretend you were drinking it, of course." Another user commented, "They're fantastic; the texture is like a gummy/Swedish berry/fruit snack. The root beer ones were the best, in my opinion."

The General Mills Archives Team reports that Betty Crocker continues to receive requests from fans to bring back these beloved candies. Unfortunately, there has been no news regarding their return.