24 Old-Fashioned Sweets That Need a Comeback
Some nostalgic candies are ready for a triumphant return. From childhood favorites to forgotten treasures, this list will take you on a sweet trip down memory lane.
Rediscover the joy of these beloved confections that deserve a comeback.
1: Abba Zabba Bars
White taffy and peanut butter unite to create this sweet and sticky candy. Though it seems like it would be chewy and hard to eat, Abba Zabba bars melt in your mouth.
2: Bottle Caps
Bottle Caps were fizzy, sweet, and exciting to eat. Though they’re a bit harder to find now than they were in their heyday, you can still purchase them from Ferrara Candy Shop.
3: Marpo Yum-Yum Marshmallow Ice Cream Cones
Created in 1936 and once known as Captain Cone’s Fun Time Treats, these marshmallow ice cream swirls are as adorable as they are delicious. Perched on a wafer cone, these fat-free “ice creams” certainly deserve a comeback.
4: Oh Henry! Bars
Oh Henry! bars came to be in 1920. Legend has it a candy shop owner invented and named the chocolaty candy after a handsome lad who frequented his shop. “Oh, Henry,” the girls would say as they tried to flirt with him, giving the shop owner his inspiration.
5: Nik-L-Nips Wax Bottles
The brightly colored Nik-L-Nips Wax Bottles weren’t entirely edible. The sweet candy syrup inside was a delightful treat, but Nik-L-Nips probably should have given instructions not to eat the wax.
6: B B Bats
B B Bats were a favorite for watching a baseball game. These long and sticky taffy treats came in vanilla, chocolate, banana, and strawberry.
7: Charleston Chew
If you’re lucky, you might find a Charleston Chew in your local candy store, though they’re not as popular as they once were. Charleston Chews was invented by a former Shakespearean actor who, upon hurting his back, decided to get into the candy business.
8: Christopher’s Big Cherry
Fans of sweet cherries and chocolate adored Christopher’s Big Cherry treats. With a sweet maraschino cherry wrapped in cherry fluff, then rolled in chocolate and peanuts, there was nothing not to love.
9: Boston Baked Beans
Though the name is admittedly strange, Boston Baked Beans have been a favorite since the 1930s. They’re made of peanuts covered in chocolate and dyed slightly red so they look like baked beans.
10: Kits
Not to be confused with today’s Kit-Kats, Kits were a fruity candy similar to Starburst. They cost a penny each, making them the perfect treat for a kid with spare change to spend.
11: Candy Cancer Sticks
They might not send the best message and are perhaps rightfully banned in many places, but in their time, candy “cancer sticks” were a favorite for kids. They didn’t contain addictive substances, but if you blew on their ends, you could create a puff of sugary powder.
12: Mary Janes
Mary Janes were peanut butter and molasses chews. Sticky and sweet, you can no longer find these candies in their hometown of Revere, Massachusetts, since the Necco plant closed in 2018.
13: Fizzies
A close cousin to Alka-Seltzer, Fizzies weren’t medicinal but Emerson Drug Co. (the makers of Bromo Seltzer) did create them. Fizzies turn water into a sweet, soda-like drink after they’re done bubbling.
14: Chick-O-Sticks
Visually, Chick-O-Sticks weren’t that appealing. They sort of resemble a meat stick in color and shape. In taste, though, the toffee crisps were delightful.
15: Turkish Taffy
Though it’s not really taffy, Turkish Taffy is chewy and sweet. This Coney Island classic has been making children happy since 1912.
16: Jujyfruit
Jujyfruit tastes like sweet fruit gummies, even though many of them are shaped like vegetables, including asparagus, tomatoes, and peas. The candy has been around since 1920 and regained notoriety in an episode of the hit show Seinfeld.
17: Big League Chew
Cornell University lefthander Robb Nelson invented Big League Chew in 1977 with the help of two fellow Maverick players, a 13-year-old bat boy named Todd Field, and New York Yankee All-Star Jim Bouton. The shredded chewing gum in a bag is loved by kids and nostalgic adults today.
18: Bit-O-Honey
If you’re a fan of sweet taffy with a nutty crunch, Bit-O-Honeys were probably a favorite. Bit-O-Honeys have been around since the 1920s for their long-lasting chew and honey-spiked flavor.
19: Atomic Fireballs
In the 1950s, when Americans were intrigued by all things nuclear, the Ferrara Candy Company launched Atomic Fireballs. Their intense flavor isn’t solely from cinnamon. Ferrara also added peppery capsaicin to increase their heat.
20: Necco Wafers
Some lucky kids today still enjoy Sweet Tarts, the descendant of Necco Wafers. Sweet and pastel-colored, Necco Wafers started delighting candy lovers in 1847.
21: Flipsticks
Candy lipstick deserves to make a comeback. Flipsticks not only featured a great cherry flavor but also dyed your lips a perfect crimson color.
22: Long Boys
Popular in the Southern U.S. in the 1950s, Long Boys were a bit like tootsie rolls. However, they came in coconut as well as chocolate flavors.
23: Zero Bars
Zero Bars is a white chocolate lover’s dream come true. Peanut, almond, and caramel nougat wrapped in a white fudge coating have made Zero Bars a favorite since their release in 1920.
24: Anise Squares
Anise may not be a popular candy flavor today, but it was once a favorite. Anise squares were hard candies adored for their licorice-like taste and supposed ability to relieve a sore throat.
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