Snack makers have never been afraid to get weird, and sometimes that’s a good thing. Over the years, US brands have released bizarre mashups in the name of innovation, some of them bold and others questionable. Here are 10 of the weirdest snack mashups to ever hit American shelves.
10. Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle Chips
Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle Chips initially raised eyebrows but quickly won over a legion of fans. Released in 2019, this pairing brought together the fiery heat of the Flamin’ Hot brand and the tangy flavor of dill pickles. The result was surprisingly addictive, it even earned a permanent spot on store shelves.
9. Tajin x Pop-Tarts
The collaboration between Pop-Tarts and Tajín, the beloved Mexican chili-lime seasoning, reflects the growing trend of blending sweet, salty, and spicy flavors. This 2024 mashup involved the creation of a special Tajín-infused frosting and filling for the Pop-Tart pastry. This collab was a bold move for both brands, and it emphasized the increasing influence of international flavors on the American snack market.
8. Peeps-flavored Pepsi
In 2023, Pepsi and Peeps joined forces to create a beverage that was vibrant and controversial. Peeps-flavored Pepsi was a limited-edition soda that aimed to capture the sweet, marshmallow-y flavor of the Easter candy. The reviews were mixed; some praised the soda’s unique sweetness, while others found it to be a bit too much.
7. Mustard-flavored Skittles
This bizarre mashup was a promotional item for National Mustard Day, and it did get people talking. The candy featured the classic chewy texture of Skittles but with the tangy, savory flavor of French’s mustard. It was a flavor combination that pushed the boundaries of what a candy could be. While it’s unlikely that this flavor will become a permanent addition to the candy aisle, it was stunt that will be hard to forget.
6. Brach’s Turkey Dinner Candy Corn
Brach’s has a long history of producing seasonal candy corn flavors, but in 2021, they took things to a whole new level with the Turkey Dinner Candy Corn. It was a complete Thanksgiving meal in a bag, with candy corn pieces flavored like turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans, apple pie, and even coffee. The novelty factor was high, but the “eat-ability” of the candy was questionable, with many consumers claiming the flavors to be a bit too savory.
5. IHOP and Lay’s Rooty Tooty Fresh n’ Fruity Potato Chips
In 2024, IHOP and Lay’s teamed up to create Rooty Tooty Fresh n’ Fruity potato chips. This mashup was inspired by IHOP’s iconic breakfast dish, and the chips aimed to taste like strawberry-topped pancakes with a hint of bacon. It was a bold attempt to capture the essence of an iconic breakfast meal in a chip, and it did create a flavor profile that was both sweet and savory.
4. Pink Lemonade Kit Kats
Hershey’s is known for releasing limited-edition Kit Kat flavors, but the pink lemonade variety was a particularly surprising and refreshing twist. This featured the classic wafers of a Kit Kat, but with a sweet and tangy pink lemonade-flavored creme. The taste was unexpected but it made perfect sense for the warmer months when it was released.
3. Van Leeuwen Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Ice Cream
This 2021 mashup was a bold move that blurred the lines between dinner and dessert. The ice cream, which was made with Kraft’s cheese powder, was a surprisingly delicious creation that captured the savory flavor of the iconic comfort food. It was a flavor that was both nostalgic and novel, and it quickly became a viral hit.
2. Sour Patch Kids OREOs
That’s right, OREO and Sour Patch Kids teamed up in 2024 to create a cookie that was as colorful as it was controversial. The Sour Patch Kids OREO featured the classic vanilla creme filling with the addition of colorful Sour Patch Kids-flavored bits. This created a treat that was both sweet and sour, generating a huge amount of buzz among fans of both brands. It was playful, imaginative, and a reminder of the endless possibilities in snack food innovation.
1. Coffee-Flavored Doritos
Just when you thought you’d seen it all, Doritos Australia released a coffee-flavored version of the iconic tortilla chips. The chips were described as having a cinnamon-y, coffee taste that was sweet and salty. The flavor combo was a far cry from the brand’s usual cheesy and spicy offerings, but it left a lasting impression on the snack food world. This also proved that for Doritos, the sky’s the limit in flavor innovation.
