Snack Chat May 2025

Hey, Snackology fans. Welcome to Snack Chat for May 2025.

This is the second edition of Snackology’s breakdown of all the upcoming fast food releases, new soda flavors, limited edition cookies — straight to your email inbox on the last Wednesday of every month.

We’re kicking things off with Selena Gomez getting her own Oreo cookie, following in the footsteps of Post Malone getting his own flavor back in February. (Once again, this Oreo did not contain real chunks of Post Malone.)

There’s weirdly a lot going on in the world of Pop-Tarts, with the classic breakfast pastry (if you call it a breakfast pastry, it sounds fancy) jumping into ice cream sandwiches and even Easter candy. I’ve been checking Walmart’s website every day, hoping that the Pop-Tart ice cream sandwiches become available.

Cookies

• The Oreo Brand and Global Artist Selena Gomez Dream Up an Iconic New Oreo Cookie by Selena, for Selenators (PR Presswire): “‘Making my own OREO cookie was a lot of fun. I grew up loving them, so being able to be a part of the process was a full-circle moment,’ said Selena Gomez. ‘I wanted to find a way for it to feel comforting and have a bit of nostalgia from my childhood. The cinnamon flavor gives it this horchata feel, and I'm excited for my fans to try it.’”
• Keebler’s ‘Nostalgic’ New Cookie Is Already Winning Over Fans (Parade): “Although the Choco Vanilla cookies resemble the Chocolate Elfwich the brand released years ago, this latest release isn't the same cookie, according to the brand. Although they look similar, Keebler confirmed that the new cookie’s vanilla-flavored crème is part of what makes it a standout, as does the introduction of new elf shapes with characters like Joy.”

Candy

• New Variety of Nerds Gummy Clusters Leaks, Fans ‘Concerned’ for Their Health (Marisa Losciale, Parade): “According to a description reviewed by Parade, the new subline will ‘unleash all of your senses with an epic bigger-than-ever candy experience" and is said to feature ‘a delicious strawberry punch flavor combined with the crunchy, gummy, juicy textures in a satisfying bite for a next level experience that only NERDS can bring.’”
  • 🏅 Nerds Juicy Gummy Clusters aren’t even in stores yet, and they’re already an award winner, getting honored as one of the Most Innovative New Product Awards Winners at the Sweets & Snacks Expo held this month. (Sweets & Snacks Expo)
  • 💬 “Nerds Gummy Clusters are already top tier, but adding a juicy center?!” Snackolator wrote on Facebook. “Just gimme 20 bags now!” (Snackolator)

Fast food

• I Tried Shake Shack’s New Fried Pickles & Have BIG Feelings (Amanda Mactas, Delish): “One of the chefs in Shake Shack's Innovation Kitchen calls them a "warm pickle explosion," and I agree, they're dill-licious. These fried pickles have all the elements that take a fried pickle from good to great. There's a tangy bite of acid, a slight hint of heat, a substantial crunch, and, of course, fresh dill pickle flavor. Not only is the flavor perfectly executed, but the outer fried breading holds up extremely well — my fried pickles never got soggy, even over the 20 minutes that I kept going back for more, even after my full stomach kept telling me to stop.”
• The Next Step in Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Era: New Mike’s Hot Honey Diablo Sauce Is Here (PR Presswire): “A fusion of Taco Bell’s bold and smoky Diablo Sauce with the silky-smooth richness of Mike’s Hot Honey, a first-of-its-kind sauce innovation for Mike’s Hot Honey, it challenges you to forget everything you thought you knew about hot honey. Delivering a devilishly sharp heat that's pleasantly intense, the Mike’s Hot Honey Diablo Sauce is breaking new ground being the first time the beloved hot honey brand has ever collaborated to create a brand-new, unapologetically spicy take on the condiment sweeping the nation.”
• The Golden Age Of The Fried-Chicken Sandwich (Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic): “If, six years ago, the fried-chicken sandwich was a novelty worth standing in line for, today it is a fact of eating in America. From 2019 to 2024, fried-chicken-sandwich consumption increased 19 percent at American restaurants, while burger consumption dropped 3 percent, according to industry analysis firm Circana. Over that same period, some 2,800 fast-food and fast-casual spots devoted to chicken cropped up across the country — and about 1,200 burger joints disappeared.”
• Krispy Kreme pauses its doughnut rollout with McDonald’s (Jordan Valinsky, CNN): “The doughnut chain announced in its earnings release Thursday that it is “reassessing the deployment” of the rollout, temporarily stopping at 2,400 locations. The deal was intended to expand the reach of Krispy Kreme, which has far fewer locations than McDonald’s and relies on grocery and convenience stores for most of its sales.”
• Tim Hortons partners with actor Ryan Reynolds on breakfast boxes (Tara Deschamps, The Globe and Mail): “‘When I visited the Tim Hortons Test Kitchen, I took my role very seriously, by which I mean I ate an irresponsible amount of eggs. And honestly? I regret nothing,’ said Reynolds in a news release.”
  • 🍪 I didn’t publish a Snackology review of the new Mike’s Hot Honey Diablo Sauce, but I did try it when it came out on Thursday. It’s good stuff. Mike’s Hot Honey is everywhere these days, and it really makes sense that Taco Bell jumped on that bandwagon. (Snackology)
  • Taco Bell Just Quietly Released 5 New Menu Items (Bailey Fink, AllRecipes): “So, before you head out to try the new sweet and spicy sauce, make sure you know what else you order from the Bell. As of May 22, Taco Bell is serving new Loaded Steak & Jalapeño Topped Fries at restaurants nationwide, as well as testing a Cantina Chicken Quesadilla Rollup, Cantina Chicken Quesadilla, Crispy Chicken Taco and Crispy Chicken Burrito at select locations.”
  • Taco Bell menu adds more items customers demanded (Fernanda Tranco, TheStreet): “In March, Taco Bell revealed 30 new menu items it would introduce in 2025, along with many exciting partnerships. However, this fast-food chain is full of surprises, and either inadvertently or intentionally, it left out a few new additions to keep consumers on their toes.”

Other snacks

• Bush’s Beans and Bluey Team Up to Launch New Bush’s Bluey Baked Beans … For REAL LIFE (Bush’s): “Inspired by bean antics in fan-favorite episodes, Bush’s Bluey Baked Beans bring iconic Bluey moments off the screen and onto the plate. Whether it’s serving up baked beans in your own ‘Fancy Restaurant’ or picking up beans for dinner like the ‘Grannies,’ the new product turns mealtime into playful, flavor-packed fun.”
• Pop-Tarts expands into freezer aisle with ice cream sandwiches, pints (Gabe Hauari, USA Today): “‘Pop-Tarts is a brand built on delicious flavors and playful spirit — and this frozen debut captures that energy perfectly,’ said Frances Alvarez, SVP of brand management at Beanstalk, the exclusive global licensing agency for food and beverage for Kellanova.”

• Like I mentioned before, the snack world seems to be all in on Pop-Tarts, with a Pop-Tarts Frosted Strawberry flavor of Peeps on the way next spring too. (Candy Hunting)
• Doritos Just Dropped a New Flavor and Fans Say They ‘Need About 10 Bags’ (Samantha Dillard, Allrecipes): “In a Reddit thread from two months ago, one person gave users a sneak peek at the upcoming release. ‘They won't be released until May, but I have a friend who let me try some. They are fire. The taste makes me think of Cool Ranch + Queso,’ they wrote. Fans flocked to the comment section to ask for details on the drop and share their excitement. ‘Can’t wait for this release! I love queso-flavored chips, so this should be up my alley,’ wrote one user.”
• Miller High Life and the Planters Brand Are “A Match Made In The High Life” (PR Newsire): “‘A Match Made in the High Life is much more than just a partnership between two iconic American brands,’ said Yemi Gilland, associate brand manager for the Planters brand. ‘It’s a celebration of the moments that bring us together — whether it’s a backyard barbeque or a night out at the local bar. We’re excited to join forces with Miller High Life to create an unforgettable summer experience for our fans.’”
  • 🍪 Snackology Review: Is cracking open a can of Miller Lite Pringles the perfect way to jump into summer? “Unfortunately for this CVS — and I’d imagine pretty much every other CVS — we were a team of 20-something-year-olds making a few bucks over minimum wage. Our store was understaffed. And we didn’t have time to handle boxes of Pringles tubes as delicate merchandise when we were frantically unloading totes.”