14 Classic Tennessee Snacks We’d Love To See Make A Comeback

Tennessee has always had a knack for flavor, and not just in its barbecue or biscuits.

Decades ago, gas stations, country stores, and lunch counters across the state sold snacks that carried their own kind of charm – hand pies wrapped in wax paper and sweets that tasted like someone’s grandma had a secret recipe.

Some have vanished, others linger only in memory, but each one captures a piece of the state’s history in a single bite.

1. Goo Goo Cluster

Born in Nashville back in 1912, this legendary candy bar basically invented the combination candy concept. Caramel, marshmallow nougat, peanuts, and milk chocolate come together in a round cluster that’s pure Southern indulgence.

Sure, you can still find them today, but they deserve way more love and shelf space than they currently get. Every bite tastes like Tennessee history wrapped in foil.

2. MoonPie

Two graham cookies hugging a pillow of marshmallow, all dipped in chocolate – what’s not to love? This Chattanooga-born treat became a lunchbox staple across the South and paired perfectly with an ice-cold RC Cola.

While MoonPies haven’t completely disappeared, their golden-age popularity needs a serious comeback tour. They’re nostalgia you can actually taste, one gooey bite at a time.

3. Oatmeal Crème Pie

Soft, chewy oatmeal cookies sandwiching a sweet vanilla crème filling – this snack cake hit different when you were growing up. Tennessee bakeries perfected this treat, making it a lunchroom trading commodity.

Little Debbie still makes them, but remember when local bakeries had their own versions? Those homemade-style oatmeal crème pies with extra filling were absolute perfection and deserve a proper revival.

4. Tennessee Whiskey Shortbread Cookies

Buttery, crumbly shortbread gets a grown-up makeover with a splash of Tennessee’s finest whiskey baked right in. These cookies had just enough boozy sophistication to make any afternoon coffee break feel fancy.

Local bakeries used to whip these up for holidays and special occasions. Now they’re harder to find than a parking spot in downtown Nashville, which is a crying shame.

5. Bacon Brittle

Sweet meets savory in the most Tennessee way possible – crispy bacon pieces suspended in crunchy, buttery toffee. This wasn’t your grandma’s peanut brittle; this was next-level snacking that made zero apologies.

Specialty shops used to sell this by the pound, and people would fight over the last bag at farmers markets. The bacon-everything trend may have cooled, but this treat deserves permanent status.

6. Salted Peanut Brittle (Southern Style)

Forget that wimpy store-bought stuff – Southern-style peanut brittle from Tennessee was thick, loaded with whole roasted peanuts, and finished with just the right amount of sea salt. Every crack and crunch echoed through the room.

Church bake sales and roadside stands used to sell this treasure by the bagful. Nowadays, finding authentic homemade brittle feels like striking gold.

7. Candied Pecans Tennessee Style

Tennessee pecans get the royal treatment with a sweet, spiced glaze that makes them dangerously addictive. Cinnamon, sugar, butter, and a hint of vanilla transform humble nuts into crunchy candy-coated perfection.

These used to show up at every holiday gathering and county fair. You’d start with one handful and suddenly the whole bag would vanish – no regrets, only empty fingers.

8. Chocolate-Covered MoonPies with New Flavors

Classic MoonPies are great, but imagine them dipped in dark chocolate or infused with salted caramel, peanut butter, or even mint. Innovation meets tradition in the most delicious way possible.

Some limited-edition flavors popped up over the years but never stuck around long enough. Bringing back creative MoonPie varieties would make snack time exciting again, one marshmallow-filled round at a time.

9. Nashville Hot Chicken Popcorn

Nashville hot chicken flavor without the mess? Yes, please. This spicy, buttery popcorn captured all that fiery cayenne goodness in kernel form, making movie nights infinitely more interesting.

A few local shops experimented with this flavor bomb, and it was glorious while it lasted. The heat, the crunch, the addictive seasoning – this snack needs to return to shelves immediately.

10. Fried Pickle Chips

Tangy dill pickle slices breaded and fried to crispy perfection became a Southern appetizer legend. These weren’t just bar food – they were a lifestyle, especially when paired with cool ranch dressing for dipping.

While some restaurants still serve them, packaged versions for at-home snacking basically vanished. Imagine grabbing a bag of these crunchy, tangy chips whenever the craving hit – pure genius.

11. Chili Cheese Dip with Cornbread Scoops

Warm, gooey chili cheese dip met its perfect match in crunchy cornbread scoop chips. This combo turned every game day into a flavor celebration, with that perfect balance of spicy, cheesy, and slightly sweet.

Packaged cornbread scoops were briefly a thing, then disappeared faster than touchdowns in overtime. Someone needs to bring back this dynamic duo for all our snacking emergencies.

12. Cornbread Muffins with Sorghum Glaze

Tender cornbread muffins got elevated with a drizzle of Tennessee sorghum syrup, creating a sweet-savory situation that made breakfast unforgettable. That dark, molasses-like glaze added depth and old-school Southern charm.

Bakeries used to sell these by the dozen, still warm from the oven. Now sorghum has become somewhat forgotten, and these glazed beauties are nearly extinct – time to fix that.

13. Praline Pecan Clusters

Buttery praline candy loaded with Tennessee pecans created clusters of pure indulgence. Each bite delivered crunch, sweetness, and that unmistakable caramel-pecan flavor that defines Southern candy-making.

Candy shops and roadside stands used to peddle these beauties to tourists and locals alike. Finding authentic praline pecan clusters now requires a treasure hunt, but they’re absolutely worth bringing back.

14. Sweet Potato Chips with Cinnamon Glaze

Thinly sliced sweet potatoes fried crispy and dusted with cinnamon sugar created a snack that straddled the line between healthy and indulgent. These chips were autumn in a bag – warm, sweet, and impossibly crunchy.

A few small-batch companies made these, then they vanished from shelves completely. Sweet potato chips with that signature cinnamon glaze deserve a permanent spot in our snack rotation.