Candy aisles are getting a bold makeover, and it’s not just about brighter wrappers. Classic sweets are being reimagined with flavors that range from the unexpectedly delicious to the downright bizarre.
Think pickle-infused gummies, spicy chocolate bars, or soda-flavored hard candy that actually fizzes. These six wild new creations are pushing the boundaries of what candy can be—and snack lovers are here for it.
1. Smarties Squashies Mixed Fruit (U.S. Debut)
Holy sugar rush! British candy fans have been hoarding these squishy, pillowy delights for years, but Americans can finally get their hands on these addictive foam candies without booking a flight to London.
Imagine if gummy bears and marshmallows had a baby – that’s what these delightful little squares feel like between your teeth. The mixed fruit flavors pack a serious punch of berry, orange, and lime that somehow taste authentically fruity rather than like the chemical nightmare of most fruit-flavored candies.
2. Cheerwine Goo Goo Cluster
Southern soda meets iconic candy in this mind-blowing mashup! The legendary Goo Goo Cluster (America’s first combination candy bar, thank you very much) has partnered with cult-favorite cherry soda Cheerwine for a collision of regional flavors that’ll make your sweet tooth stand at attention.
Beneath the chocolate coating lies a marshmallow nougat infused with authentic Cheerwine cherry flavor, surrounded by caramel and peanuts. The cherry-chocolate combo might sound like a Valentine’s Day cliché, but the distinct cherry cola tang gives it an unexpected twist that’s impossible to resist.
3. HARIBO Tropical Flavors
Vacation in a bag! HARIBO has unleashed a tropical tornado on their famous gummy bears, and your mouth is invited to the party. Forget booking that expensive Caribbean cruise – just tear open this bag and let the island vibes wash over you.
Each translucent bear delivers a punch of exotic fruit intensity: passion fruit that actually tastes like the real thing, mango that’ll make you close your eyes in bliss, and a pineapple flavor that somehow captures both the sweetness and slight tanginess of fresh fruit.
4. Reese’s Peanut Butter And Jelly Cups
Childhood lunch box staple meets candy aisle royalty! Reese’s has finally answered the question nobody knew they needed to ask: “What if we stuffed PB&J into a peanut butter cup?” The result is nothing short of revolutionary.
Unwrap one of these bad boys to find the familiar ridged chocolate cup, but bite in and – SURPRISE! – you’ll hit a layer of sweet-tart strawberry jelly nestled atop the classic peanut butter filling. The genius lies in how they’ve balanced the flavors.
5. Trolli Sour Brite Squad
Attention, sour candy fanatics! Trolli has assembled a team of weirdly shaped gummy creatures that look like they escaped from a neon-colored fever dream. These aren’t your standard worms – we’re talking bizarre little monsters with googly eyes and misshapen bodies that would make Dr. Frankenstein proud.
Each character delivers that perfect Trolli sour-sweet punch, but with amped-up flavors like blue raspberry lemonade and strawberry-watermelon fusion. The texture hits that magical spot between chewy and soft, with a crystalline sour coating that makes your taste buds do the electric slide.
6. Sour Patch Kids Strawberry-Watermelon Glow Ups
Party in your mouth, light show for your eyes! These aren’t just another Sour Patch Kids flavor – they actually GLOW IN THE DARK. Yes, you read that correctly. Turn off the lights, pop one in your mouth, and watch your friends’ jaws drop as your tongue glows like you’ve just licked a radioactive popsicle.
Flavor-wise, the strawberry-watermelon combo is summer in candy form – starting with that signature face-puckering sour blast before mellowing into sweet fruity goodness. The candy scientists somehow managed to make them glow without any weird chemical aftertaste.