I spent last week in Las Vegas. Or at least I did for work. It was the Sweets & Snacks Expo, which is basically my Super Bowl. Thousands of people crowd a convention center floor, haggling over shelf space while brands try to sell the next big thing. Big names showed up, like Hershey and Lay’s. Some celebrity cooks showed up too. But the real action is in the smaller startups trying to make it big.
The theme this year was clear. People want nostalgia. Not just the same old stuff, though. They want “new-stalgia.” Familiar comfort food but with better ingredients. Better flavors. Better texture. Or limited edition drops that disappear fast.
I ate hundreds of these snacks. Most were okay. Most were forgettable. These ten? They stopped me dead.
The sweet stuff first
Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding
You know the banana pudding. It’s iconic. Rich, creamy, perfect ratio of wafer to custard. Usually you need a plane ticket to New York, Chicago, or LA to get a slice. That changed. Now it comes in a pint. You buy it frozen. Thaw it at home. No flight necessary.
The banana flavor tastes actual. Natural, even. The vanilla wavers absorb the moisture just right.
Buy it: DoorDash, $10.99.
Scoot Frozen Peach Lemonade Pouches
Summer is coming. Bring this with you. These feel like adult Otter Pops. Naturally flavored, resealable. Comes in three flavors, but the peach is the winner. It has that sweet-tart balance you look for.
Store them in the pantry. Freeze them a few hours before your picnic. It makes any outdoor gathering better.
Buy it: Amazon, $18.99.
Snickers Mini Almond Bars
Mini is the way. These bars have everything Snickers usually does, plus a creamy vanilla ice cream center. Caramel ribbon, roasted almonds, milk chocolate shell. All in a bite size that’s easy to share. Or not easy to share if you’re me.
Next party I attend? I’m bringing two boxes. Maybe three.
Buy it: Walmart, $4.88.
Wonderful Chocolate Toffee Pistachios
Danger level: High. Unshelled pistachios dipped in toffee then dark chocolate. The chocolate adds bitterness. That balances the sweetness. Without it, this would be cloying.
The bag reseals, which helps. But it won’t help. You’ll eat them all. One sitting. Guaranteed.
Buy it: Walmart, $5.86.
Savory snacks and weird mixes
Calbee Roasted Miso & Garlc Chips
Hundreds of chip samples were handed out in Vegas. This was the one I circled back to. Miso. Garlic. Soy sauce. Brown sugar. Earthy. Deep. Not greasy, despite being a potato chip.
If you are tired of salt and vinegar, try this. It hits different.
Find it later this year in stores.
Long Weekend Carrot Ginger Soup
Instant soup has a reputation problem. Usually it’s salty cardboard. Soggy. Weird aftertaste. Long Weekend isn’t like that. Their carrot ginger version is complex. Creamy. Citrusy notes. Even buttery.
Freeze-dried premium ingredients. You can dress it up with scallions or chili oil. Feels like a meal, not just a snack.
Buy it: Long Weekend website, $34.96.
Snak Club Espresso Martini Mix
Espresso martinis are trendy. Usually that means expensive drinks. This is a snack mix. Roasted almonds, coffee-flavored cookies, yogurt chips. Chocolate-covered espresso beans.
Somehow it tastes like the cocktail. Just without the $16 bill at the end.
Find it later this year in storeS.
Poshi Petite Pickles
Craving pickles but hate the jar? These pouches have cucumbers, vinegar. Just that. Crunchy, like fresh jarred pickles, but dry. No brine. No mess.
Shelf-stable too. Good for hikes. Good for cheese boards. They make pouches for cauliflower and beans too.
Buy it: Thrive Market, $3.98.
The candy corner
Mallow Pop Dehydrated Mini Marshmallows
Everyone eats the Lucky Charms marshmallows and throws away the cereal. Mallow Pop figured out we want to keep the marshmallow. Dehydrated, colorful mini ones in cheerful pouches.
Rainbow. Vanilla. Chocolate. Even a squeezable fluff. Toss them on cereal. Yogurt. Ice cream. It’s whimsy in a bag.
Buy it: Walmart, $20.46.
Hi-Chew Retro Remix
Hi-Chew is launching two nostalgic flavors. Root Beer Float. Rocket Pop. The Root Beer one has cherry and ice cream flavors surrounding a root beer core. The Rocket Pop one does blue raspberry, lime, and a crunchy cherry center.
Three layers in each chew. Classic candy, updated.
Find it later this year on shelves.
Why do we keep eating things that disappear in thirty seconds?
That’s the question these snacks pose. They aren’t meals. They aren’t nutrition. They’re hits of dopamine wrapped in plastic. Some work better than others.
Which one would you try? Probably the banana pudding. Everyone will say banana pudding.
