8 Forgotten Candies That Once Outsold Chocolate Bars

Before chocolate bars ruled every checkout counter, there was a golden age of candy that danced to its own sugary rhythm.

Shelves once overflowed with chewy, fizzy, and fruity creations that sparked playground trades and after-school excitement.

They were treats made to surprise – a burst of sherbet here, a pop of spice there – and for a while, they were unstoppable.

1. Candy Raisins

Raisins got a makeover with crunchy candy shells in wild colors, making them way more fun than their boring chocolate-covered cousins.

Kids could pretend they were eating something healthy while actually chomping on sugar bombs.

These disappeared quietly from shelves sometime in the 90s, probably because parents caught on to the health-food disguise.

Still, that satisfying crunch followed by chewy sweetness made snack time feel like a tiny carnival in your mouth.

2. Wonka Bar

Roald Dahl’s magical creation jumped from page to store shelf, making childhood dreams edible.

Nestlé produced various versions with different fillings and flavors, riding the wave of movie magic and book nostalgia.

Discontinued in 2010, these bars made every kid feel like Charlie Bucket hunting for a golden ticket. Sure, you never found one, but unwrapping that purple foil still felt pretty special every single time.

3. Altoids Sours

Altoids went rogue and ditched the mint for mouth-puckering sour fruit flavors that came in adorable little tins. These weren’t for the faint of heart – one tin could make your entire face scrunch up like a raisin.

Discontinued in 2010, they sparked online petitions and nostalgic rants from devastated fans.

That perfect balance of sour intensity and collectible tin made them cult classics that people still hunt down on eBay today.

4. Hershey’s S’mores Bar

Hershey’s tried bottling campfire magic by cramming graham crackers, marshmallow, and chocolate into one convenient bar. No fire required, no sticky fingers – just instant s’mores satisfaction whenever the craving hit.

Launched in 2003 and gone by 2012, it never quite captured that smoky outdoor vibe people loved.

Still, biting into one brought back memories of summer nights and ghost stories, even if you were just sitting on your couch watching TV.

5. Candy Hearts

NECCO’s conversation hearts ruled Valentine’s Day for over a century, delivering chalky sweetness and awkward romantic messages in equal measure.

Kids traded them like currency, hunting for the perfect phrase to slip to their crush.

When NECCO closed in 2018, panic spread – Valentine’s without hearts felt wrong. Spangler eventually brought them back, but purists swear they taste different now.

Still, no February feels complete without those tiny, crunchy declarations of elementary school love.

6. Butterfinger BB’s

Butterfinger went bite-sized and brilliant with these crunchy little spheres that rolled around your mouth like flavor marbles.

Perfect for movie theaters, they didn’t stick to your teeth quite as aggressively as the full-sized bars.

Discontinued in 2006, they left a hole in candy aisles that Butterfinger Bites tried filling but never quite matched.

Popping a handful at once delivered that signature peanut-buttery crunch without the commitment of an entire bar – snacking genius, really.

7. Slo Poke

This caramel sucker lived up to its name, lasting forever and probably pulling out a few loose teeth along the way. Cheap, chewy, and gloriously messy, it kept kids occupied for hours on long car rides.

While harder to find now, some nostalgic candy shops still stock them.

That slow-melting caramel created a meditative candy experience – no rushing, just pure, sticky, jaw-working satisfaction that made penny candy legendary back in the day.

8. Nestlé Quik Bar

Your favorite chocolate milk became a solid candy bar, and honestly, it tasted exactly like you’d hope. Nestlé nailed that powdery, sweet chocolate milk flavor in bar form, making lunchboxes infinitely cooler.

Production stopped in the early 90s, leaving chocoholics heartbroken and confused. Why mess with perfection?

That distinct Quik taste made it stand out from regular chocolate bars, proving sometimes liquid happiness works better when you can bite it.