10 Retro Candy Bars We Hated as Kids

The candy aisle of the past was filled with options that sparked excitement—or disappointment. While some treats became favorites, others fell flat with strange textures, overpowering flavors, or odd combinations. Here are ten retro candy bars from childhood that many kids couldn’t stand, even if their parents thought they were fun.

1. Bit-O-Honey

Bit-O-Honey blended honey-flavored taffy with tiny almond pieces. While it seemed like a wholesome snack, its chewy texture made it a chore to eat, sticking to teeth and taking forever to finish.

The mild flavor was also underwhelming. Many kids would have preferred something sweeter and easier to enjoy.

2. Charleston Chew

This nougat-filled bar, coated in chocolate, was marketed as a treat you could eat frozen or at room temperature. Its texture, however, often frustrated kids, being either too tough to bite or too sticky.

The nougat itself lacked flavor compared to more exciting options, leaving many to trade it away at lunch.

3. Zagnut

Zagnut combined toasted coconut and peanut butter into a candy bar without a chocolate coating. It sounded promising but delivered a dry, crumbly texture that was hard to enjoy.

For kids used to creamy or gooey treats, Zagnut felt like eating a strange, overly dry snack with little reward.

4. Rocky Road

Rocky Road bars mixed marshmallows and walnuts in a chocolate shell. While some appreciated the combination, the texture didn’t appeal to many kids, especially those who didn’t like nuts.

The flavor was also inconsistent, with the marshmallow dominating the chocolate. It wasn’t the first choice for most trick-or-treaters.

5. Necco Wafers

Though not a bar, Necco Wafers were often found in the same candy sections. These hard, chalky discs came in various pastel colors and flavors that felt medicinal to many kids.The texture and muted taste made them less fun to eat, especially compared to bright and chewy alternatives.

6. Marathon Bar

The Marathon Bar featured a braided design of caramel covered in chocolate. While it looked unique, the caramel made it excessively chewy, taking ages to eat.

For kids who wanted quick satisfaction, the Marathon Bar was too much work. Its messy nature also didn’t help its popularity.

7. Zero Bar

The Zero Bar paired caramel, nougat, and almond with a white fudge coating. While it offered an alternative to milk chocolate, its overly sweet flavor didn’t appeal to everyone.

The white fudge coating felt waxy to some kids, making it less enjoyable compared to traditional chocolate treats.

8. Bounty

Bounty featured a sweet coconut filling covered in milk chocolate. While coconut lovers adored it, many kids found the texture off-putting and the flavor too one-dimensional.

Compared to other candy bars with multiple layers or flavors, Bounty didn’t excite those who wanted a more dynamic treat.

9. Abba-Zaba

This taffy bar, with a peanut butter center, was an acquired taste. The tough, sticky taffy made it difficult to chew, leaving kids frustrated before they even got to the peanut butter.

The mild peanut butter flavor didn’t make up for the effort it took to eat. It wasn’t a schoolyard favorite.

10. Mounds

Similar to Bounty, Mounds had a dark chocolate shell with a coconut filling. The dark chocolate was less sweet than kids expected, and the coconut texture wasn’t universally loved.

While adults appreciated its flavor, many kids would trade a Mounds for anything with caramel, nougat, or milk chocolate instead.