7 Of The Best & Most Nostalgic Canadian Snacks That Every Canuck Needs To Try At Least Once
The Great White North has a lot of things going for it, from beautiful landscapes to a variety of different poutines, but let's not forget about all the iconic Canadian snacks.
Some of the snacks found in Canada are special because you can't find them anywhere else in the world. But what would you consider the best Canadian snack that reminds you of your childhood?
As an adult, snacking looks a little different, but if you could eat all your favourite childhood snacks, which ones would make you feel the most nostalgic?
We asked our team of experts what their favourite and most nostalgic Canadian snacks are, and they had a whole list of them to share.
So, if you're a newcomer to Canada and want to know what to pick off the shelves at your local grocery stores, here are seven Canadian snacks that our team of experts call the best and would definitely give them a sense of nostalgia.
Hickory Sticks
@ongsquad Canadian snacks PART 1: Hickory Sticks #canadiansnacks #hickorysticks #mukbangchips #fritolay
For those that don't know, Hickory Sticks is a Canadian chip that tastes absolutely delicious and is highly addictive. Don't tell us we didn't warn you.
"I love a salty julienned potato stick," a Narcity writer shared.
The chips are unlike others because they are small, thinly chopped potato sticks, making the eating process enjoyable and addictive.
Each bite is perfectly seasoned with a BBQ-like tanginess, but they are also salted to perfection with the right amount of crunch.
If you want to, you can add these chips to your sandwiches and salad to give them that added crunch — no one would judge you for doing it.
Jos Louis
@thecanadianshow #JosLouis needs to step up quality control eh!? #canadiancakes #vachon #canadianjunkfood #canada #canadiancheck #thecanadianshow #eh #chocolatecake
Jos Louis is a perfectly wrapped cake in the form of a circle, and it's one of Canada's beloved snacks.
The Canadian snack consists of two chocolate sponge cake rounds with a creamy filling within a milk chocolate shell, some say it's similar to the May West dessert.
A Narcity expert said Jos Loius "was my favourite thing ever as a kid, so good."
The cakes made their debut in Canada in 1932 and have been around since, but people have definitely jazzed up the way they eat the delicious cakes to make them a bit more innovative.
Some use it to make an ice cream sandwich but add vanilla ice cream to the middle. At the same time, others simply just freeze it and enjoy it later.
Passion Flakie
@nhi_v0 I have a lime obsession 💚@jenny.amanowicz thank you for letting me know about this! #canada_life🇨🇦 #fyp #passionflakie #tiktokfood #lime
Passion Flakie, as the name suggests, is a flakey pastry filled with cream and mainly fruit. Some flavours include caramel, three fruit and apple-raspberry.
The crispy and pastry-like Canadian snack was made in Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce in Quebec and has been around since the 1980s.
These squares seem like the perfect addition to a kid's lunch box, and we say let's keep them in your work drawers, too.
The pastry is so famous that it's pretty common for Canadians to make their versions at home. But can you compete with the original?
Garlic Fingers with Donair Sauce
Garlic fingers, also known as garlic cheese fingers, are a Canadian classic popular on the East Coast of the country. They originated in Halifax in the 1960s. Those have become commonplace nationwide, but eating them with Donair Sauce is an Atlantic Canadian special.
This combo is so uncommon across the provinces that it might seem absurd, but it's considered quite the staple on the East Coast.
A Narcity expert from the East Coast said, "I will never stop telling everyone outside of the East Coast how good it is!!!"
Donair sauce consists of evaporated milk, white vinegar, garlic powder, sugar and salt. It might sound gross, but people love it!
Dunkaroos
@kylekruegerr Reply to @trevorsajack2004 you guys have pretty good suggestions 😅 #dunkaroos #snack #tastetest #food
Dunkaroos is a famous snack food for most 90's kids who grew up in Canada because not only is the packaging iconic, but the flavours are delicious too.
The snack consists of cookies and frosting. The cookies are meant to be dunked in the frosting and enjoyed.
Nowadays, not only can you get your adult hands on the iconic vanilla cookies and vanilla frosting with sprinkles, but they also have chocolate and Cinnamon Toast Crunch versions.
Narcity Creator Sarah Rohoman ranked all her childhood snacks and said, "Dunkaroos were by far my favourite of the snacks I tasted from my childhood."
Fruit Rolls-Ups
@elenabthefoodie How to eat a Fruit Roll-Up!
Even though Fruit Rolls-Ups aren't only found in Canada, our team of experts believe they are one of the best Canadian snacks.
The snack consists of a corn syrup base that's flat and fruit-flavoured. It's rolled up into a tube-like structure and the mystery of how to eat it properly has yet to be solved.
How someone eats fruit roll-ups defines a bit of their personality and will forever be an ongoing conversation.
According to some TikTokers, you can (and should) roll things into it, like ice cream, more candy or even an egg. While others simply roll it into a ball and bite into it.
Pizza Pops
@yeeda_q Rating Instant Foods | Pizza Pops
Pizza Pops are Canadian snacks that are basically a calzone, which — for those who don't know — is basically a rolled-up pizza.
Pillsbury is the company behind the Canadian snack, and even though they are distributors worldwide, Pizza Pops are only found in Canada.
Pizza Pops are filled with more than just cheese and tomato sauce, even though that option is available. If you want more exciting snacks, you can get Pizza Pops stuffed with taco stuffing, three cheeses, pepperoni and more.
A Narcity expert said, "Pizza Pops (specifically the pepperoni ones) were the best. They're still around and are actually just as delicious."