11 Retro Snacks From The 1970s That Deserve A Comeback
Remember when snack time meant pulling out something weird, wonderful, and totally groovy?
The 1970s blessed us with treats that were bold, bizarre, and absolutely delicious. While some have stuck around, others vanished into the mists of time, leaving behind only sweet memories and empty wrappers.
Let’s take a delicious trip down memory lane and explore the munchies that need to make a triumphant return to our pantries!
1. Jell-O Pudding Pops
Bill Cosby made everyone want one, but honestly, who could resist a frozen pudding on a stick? Creamy, dreamy, and perfectly portable, pudding pops turned dessert into a handheld adventure that didn’t drip everywhere like regular popsicles.
Kids begged their parents to stock the freezer with boxes of chocolate, vanilla, and swirl varieties. The texture sat somewhere between ice cream and frozen pudding, creating something entirely magical. Snack time never felt so sophisticated yet simple!
2. Pop Rocks
Imagine candy that literally explodes in your mouth! Pop Rocks brought science class straight to snack time, crackling and popping like tiny fireworks on your tongue.
Rumors swirled about kids whose stomachs supposedly exploded after mixing them with soda, but that only made them more legendary. Every pack delivered a wild, tingly sensation that made eating feel like an adventure.
Sure, you can still find them occasionally, but they deserve permanent shelf space in every candy aisle again!
3. Cheese Balls
Giant barrels of artificial orange goodness ruled party tables and TV rooms across America. Cheese balls weren’t just snacks but conversation starters, sitting proudly on coffee tables like edible centerpieces.
You’d stick your whole hand in, emerging with fingers coated in neon orange dust that somehow tasted like heaven. Nobody cared about the mess or the questionable ingredients. Each crunchy sphere delivered maximum flavor with minimum effort, making every gathering instantly better!
4. Ding D’s
Wrapped in shiny foil like tiny edible presents, Ding D’s turned lunchboxes into treasure chests. Peeling back that metallic wrapper felt like unwrapping a gift you gave yourself.
The chocolate cake hugged a creamy white filling so perfectly balanced that every bite felt like a celebration. Hockey puck shape aside, nothing compared to sinking your teeth into that soft, sweet perfection. Snack cakes today just don’t hit the same way!
5. Deviled Ham Spread
Okay, hear us out on this one! That little can with the devil logo might sound sketchy now, but back then, it was sandwich gold.
Slather it on crackers or white bread, and suddenly you had a protein-packed snack that tasted surprisingly good. Sure, nobody really knew what went into making it, and the texture was questionable at best. But nostalgia has a way of making everything taste better, and this quirky spread deserves another shot at glory!
6. Twinkies
Golden sponge cake filled with mysterious cream that supposedly lasted forever? Sign us up! Twinkies became American icons, showing up in lunchboxes, gas stations, and apocalypse survival kits.
While they never truly disappeared, they’ve lost some of that 1970s magic. Back then, biting into one felt special, not just convenient. The cake was softer, the cream sweeter, and the whole experience more satisfying than today’s version. Bring back the original recipe, please!
7. Fruit Roll-Ups
Who decided to turn fruit into edible stickers? Whoever it was deserves a medal! Fruit Roll-Ups transformed snacking into playtime, letting kids peel, stretch, and mold their food before devouring it.
Peeling that sticky sheet off the cellophane felt oddly satisfying, like unwrapping something precious. You could roll it up, fold it into shapes, or just stick it to the roof of your mouth and let it slowly dissolve. Pure, sugary genius!
8. Vienna Sausages
Mini hot dogs in a can sound weird until you actually try them. Vienna sausages offered portable protein that didn’t need refrigeration, making them perfect for camping trips, road adventures, or just weird afternoon cravings.
Pop open that can, drain the mystery juice, and you had instant satisfaction. Kids loved them cold, straight from the can, while adults pretended they were fancy appetizers. Questionable? Absolutely. Delicious? Surprisingly, yes!
9. Funyuns
Onion rings got a makeover and became something even better! Funyuns delivered all that savory onion flavor without any actual onions, which somehow made perfect sense in the 1970s.
Crunchy, addictive, and impossible to eat just one, they left your fingers gloriously greasy and your breath questionable. But who cared when they tasted this good? Every bag disappeared faster than you could say artificial flavoring, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!
10. Hostess CupCakes
Before cupcake shops charged seven dollars for fancy frosting, Hostess sold perfection for pocket change. That signature white squiggle on chocolate frosting became more recognizable than most company logos.
Peel back the wrapper to discover moist chocolate cake hiding a surprise cream filling inside. Some people ate them in layers, others demolished them in two bites. Either way, happiness was guaranteed. Modern versions exist, but they lack that special 1970s charm we desperately miss!
11. Cracker Jack
Baseball games and Cracker Jack went together like peanut butter and jelly. Caramel-coated popcorn mixed with peanuts created the ultimate sweet and salty combo before that was even trendy.
But let’s be honest, everyone really wanted the prize hidden inside. Digging through sticky popcorn to find that tiny toy made every box feel like a treasure hunt. Today’s prizes are lame temporary tattoos, but back then, you got actual miniature toys worth keeping forever!
