Spooky season is just around the corner, which means our sweet tooth is already on high alert. After all, who can resist the allure of some Halloween candy, even if it’s a month early?
All of that Halloween excitement got us thinking about the candies we used to trade other kids for when we got back from trick-or-treating. And, while we try not to live too much in the past, we couldn’t resist diving into some sweet dreams of our childhood favorites, especially those confections that seem to have disappeared over the years. Keep reading for some sweet memories of nostalgic candies that we still can’t get enough of.
Candy Buttons
Why did we think these tasted good? And why did we all continue to eat them even though they’d come off with an inch of wax paper attached to them? These questions might just be some of the mysteries of the universe.
If you’re confused by now, we don’t blame you. We’ll recap for you—imagine a skinny piece of wax paper that’s like three inches wide and about five feet long. Now imagine someone dropped little dots of brightly colored sugar all down that strip. The catch? You have to peel those pieces off before you can eat them, and nine times out of ten, they’ll bring a little extra waxy fiber with them.
Still, we’d be lying if we said these weird little dots didn’t have a special place in our hearts. After all, these seemed like the go-to solution for families with more than one kid. Someone wants a snack? Buy one package of candy buttons and start ripping it into portions. Need something to keep your kids busy during a road trip? Sounds like they’re about to get some wax paper and pure sugar.
We wouldn’t be who we are today without the sugar highs these little dots provided. As far as what eating all that wax paper did to us…we’ll just agree it’s sometimes best not to know.
Razzles
Did someone say candy AND gum in one? That’s the joy of Razzles. These fruity flavors give a big punch…well, sort of. While there’s nothing like the surprise of a candy you can keep enjoying, Razzles aren’t applauded because they’re the world’s best gum. The flavor may last 0.5 seconds…but it’s the experience of the Razzle that counts.
Maybe you find them in a quaint candy store (shout out to Sticky Fingers in East Town. We love you), or maybe you remember the big Razzle cameo in 13 Going On 30. Either way, grab it, chew it, enjoy it.
Ring Pops
So good, so impractical, and actually so disgusting when you think about the ramifications of children going about their lives with a piece of candy on their hand that they periodically put in their mouths. Gross or not, it was the apex of functionality for a child.
The variety of flavors and colors really added to the appeal from a fashion standpoint as well. These were a step up from your average Tootsie Roll or Dum Dums sucker prize at your elementary school carnival. This was the sign of a big winner. Why? You had to be especially skilled in the candy-crane department to nab one with those three-clawed scams.
Fun Dip
Remember those colorful little pouches of sugary delight? We’ll never forget dipping those sweet sugar sticks into essentially Kool-Aid powder as if we were chemists concocting the most sugary potion known to humans. It’s the only candy that made us feel like sugar scientists. Every dip was a risky experiment in diabetes-inducing deliciousness. We loved savoring the nuanced flavors of cherry, grape, and blue raspberry…and then just unleashing pure sugar childhood chaos.
Looking back, it’s hilarious how such a simple candy could be so ridiculously fun. It’s proof that sometimes, at least in the world of sweets, the sillier it is, the sweeter the memories.
Oh Henry!
Let us take you back to the 90s. Imagine walking down the candy aisle with your friends, past all of the neon wrappers and cavity-inducing snacks. Down at the bottom of the candy rack where all the old unwanted candy sits, you see Oh Henry! candy bars. You grab one as a joke, but that joke quickly becomes an obsession.
Oh Henry! bars had everything we look for in a candy—peanuts, caramel and fudge coated in chocolate. It’s no wonder they quickly became some of our favorite candy bars. They’re still around, too, believe it or not. You still can find them now and then, mostly at candy stores or a gas station. If you’ve never had one and you encounter an Oh Henry! in the wild, please try it. Thank us later.
So, what’d we forget? We know our list might be a little controversial, but we’re standing by it. Still, we want to know your thoughts. Did we bring back your sweet memories, or did we leave out your all-time fav? Let us know in the comments. You know we love to hear from you.
