These Products Were Rated the Best New Snacks of 2019
Updated: Nov. 03, 2023
This year brings a new wave of snack foods from the biggest brands in the game (plus some newcomers). Find out what the best snacks are according to snacking industry experts.
What makes the perfect snack?
Is it salty or sweet, crunchy or chewy? According to pros at the Sweets & Snacks Expo 2019, it’s a little bit of all of those things. Recently, a panel composed of experts and snack industry leaders judged the mouth-watering qualities of over 300 new and upcoming snacks. Here are the winners—plus a few semi-finalists that our editors couldn’t help but include.
Kit Kat Duos Mint + Dark Chocolate
Chocolate Winner
Chocolate and mint make for an iconic combination—it’s what makes these desserts so tasty. But what happens when you combine those flavors with crispy wafers? You get the winner of this year’s Most Innovative New Product Award for Chocolate. This candy bar is crispy, crunchy and delightfully refreshing. You’ll have to wait until the end of 2019 for this one, but this stocking stuffer is definitely worth it.
Available Holiday 2019.
Peeps Lemon and Marshmallow Flavored Jelly Beans
Non-Chocolate Winner
Peeps kicked off 2019 with a whole host of new marshmallow chick flavors. While we were busy sampling these new flavors (which include orange sherbet, root beer and coconut), the confectioner was busy releasing its award-winning lemon-marshmallow jelly beans. These jelly beans combine the classic Peeps marshmallow flavor with tart lemon for a new hybrid Easter treat.
Purchase here while supplies last.
Available seasonally.
Starburst Duos Fruit Chews
Non-Chocolate Winner
A common refrain at the 2019 Sweets & Snacks Expo was that “consumers want more.” That’s precisely what Starburst delivers with its new line of Duos fruit chews. Each candy contains a two-flavor combo: strawberry-watermelon or blue raspberry-lemonade. Both pairings deliver and are an absolute must for Starburst fans.
Justin’s Organic Almond Butter Covered Almonds & Justin’s Organic Cashew Butter Covered Cashews
Non-Chocolate Honorable Mention
Peanut butter has taken a back seat to different types of nut butter this year. (Here’s our comprehensive guide.) This protein-packed snack puts almond and cashew butter to good use, enrobing their nut counterparts for a sweet-and-salty experience you’ll go nuts for.
Available at Whole Foods, Sprouts and other retailers nationwide.
Tru Fru Whole Raspberries Freshly Frozen & Immersed in Premium White and Milk Chocolate
Sweet Snacks Winner
At the 2019 Sweets & Snacks Expo, Tru Fru released this addition to their product line. Fresh raspberries are frozen and coated in white and milk chocolate. Once removed from the freezer, these snacks taste like an indulgent treat. The berries are tart and juicy—the perfect pairing for sweet white and milk chocolates. If you can’t make it to Target for a few days, make one of these chocolate-covered fruits at home.
Available in Target stores (not available to ship).
Cheez-It Snap’d
Salty Snacks Winner
Cheez-Its are a classic go-to snack because they capture our need for something crunchy, salty and cheesy. Learn how to make our copycat recipe at home. For folks looking for an even crispier, crunchier, cheesier option, Cheez-It produced its new line of Snap’d products in four flavors: Double Cheese, Cheddar, Sour Cream & Onion, White Cheddar & Bacon and Jalapeno Jack.
Pringles Wavy
Salty Snacks Honorable Mention
Pringles, like Cheez-Its, also upgraded its basic product offering. The classic crisp-maker developed a new line of Pringles Wavy—potato crisps that are a bit thicker than the original formula but with satisfying waves. This new crisp is just what you want when you crave Pringles flavor but also want a bit of heft for dipping and dunking. Get them in four flavors: Classic Salted, Applewood Smoked Cheddar, Fire Roasted Jalapeno and Sweet and Tangy BBQ. (Here’s how we rank all of Pringles’ classic flavors.)
Just the Cheese Aged Cheddar Bars
Savory Snacks Honorable Mention
Sure, we love cheese-flavored and cheese-topped snacks, but we were interested in seeing these 100% cheese snack bars from Just the Cheese. Made of 100% Wisconsin cheddar, these bars are baked and packaged for easy snacking. They contain eight grams of protein to keep you feeling full, plus they’re keto-friendly. If you’re looking for more delicious snacks that happen to be low-carb, check out our full list of keto foods you can buy on Amazon.
Sour Patch Kids Twin Tube Freezer Pops
Novelty/Licensed Winner
Otter Pops, Zooper Doopers, freezies—whatever you call them, freeze pops are a childhood classic. And now they’re getting a bit of an update with Sour Patch Kids-inspired flavors and mouth-puckering tartness. Grab a package this summer and they’re sure to be a hit among kids at the backyard barbecue.
Not yet released nationwide.
Hostess Dessert Kit
Novelty/Licensed Honorable Mention
What’s more guilty pleasure than a Twinkie? Or more decadent than a Hostess Cupcake? The answer: Hostess’ new dessert kits. The kits bring home the flavor of classic childhood treats like Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Orange Cupcakes. Inside you’ll find a flavored pudding mix and Hostess’ signature cream filling made for layering to your heart’s delight—much like these swoon-worthy layered desserts.
Not yet released nationwide.
Trolli Sour Brite Candy Corn
Seasonal Treat Winner
Not a fan of candy corn? Try Trolli’s new take on the Halloween essential. This gummy brand combines the iconic shape of candy corn with the puckery flavor of Trolli’s other sour products. Look for these candies this fall.
Available seasonally.
Reese’s Milk Chocolate and Peanut Butter Lovers Cups
Seasonal Treat Honorable Mention
Almost everyone likes chocolate and peanut butter, but let’s be honest—everyone likes one a bit more than the other. That’s where Reese’s limited edition chocolate and peanut butter lovers cups come in. One offers a bit more peanut butter than a classic Reese’s and the other a bit more chocolate. These snacks aren’t available all year, so keep an eye out at your local retailer for when they make an appearance.
Available seasonally.
Tru Fru Whole Raspberries Freshly Frozen & Immersed in Premium White and Dark Chocolate
Gourmet Winner
You’re not having deja vu. Tru Fru won again in the Gourmet category at the 2019 Sweets & Snacks Expo, this time for its dark chocolate-cloaked frozen raspberries. The sweet yet tangy raspberries go great with dark chocolate. It’s that combo that makes our reader favorite ganache-topped cake so popular.
Available in Target stores (not available to ship).
Ferrero Golden Gallery Signature
Gourmet Honorable Mention
The company responsible for the classic hazelnut candy is introducing a new product line this September: Ferrero Golden Gallery Signature. This new assortment of packaged candy contains eight new chocolate confections like Biacoretti (white chocolate filled with a crisp, amaretto center), Coffee Maestria (dark chocolate with Arabica coffee) and White Opera (a white chocolate cup filled with hazelnut filling and topped with puffed rice). The new product will be sold in 12- and 24-piece assortments for gifting. Love indulgent hazelnut treats? Try these recipes at home.
Available September 2019.
Tic Tac X-Freeze
Gum and Mints Winner
Looking for a Tic Tac with a bit more oomph? You’ll want to pick up Tic Tac’s new X-Freeze product when they hit the market this fall. These not-so-tiny mints are 50% larger than their classic counterparts and they deliver longer-lasting freshness thanks to cooling crystals.
Available fall 2019.
Ice Breakers Duo Orange Mints
Gum and Mints Honorable Mention
Tic Tac may have been crowned the winner in the Gum and Mints category, but we editors were major fans of Ice Breakers Duo Orange Mints. (Who doesn’t love an orange treat?) These little sugar-free candies were a lot of fun. On one side is your classic, smooth mint and on the other, a textured sweet and tart citrus flavor. Combined, you get a fruity, refreshing treat.
Look for these soon in a store near you.
Trolli Sour Crunchy Crawlers
Best in Show Winner
These sweet-sour candies were named the best for good reason—Trolli invented a texture that’s positively addicting. The Sour Crunchy Crawlers are chewy, like your traditional sour gummy worm, but wrapped in a thin crunchy shell. Combined with a sweet-and-sour flavor, it’s the movie night candy we can’t wait to show off. (And if you can handle these, you might be able to take on the 10 sourest foods in the world.)
Not yet released nationwide.
Note: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
