Welcome to Snack Drop, a (new!) column where we give you the lowdown on all of the best new-to-market snacks that have landed on our desks each month.
As editors and writers at a food magazine, we have a constant stream of products coming into the office and onto our desks. Yes, sometimes that means shiny new pans and high-tech air fryers or coffee gadgets—but a good chunk of the packages we get are filled not with gear…but with snacks.
That’s why we’re starting a new column called Snack Drop. Each month our staff will chime in on the newly launched snacks that have quickly become a part of our rotations—I’m talking new desk drawer staples and products we’re so obsessed with, we regularly order restocks (with our own money!).
This month: peanut-butter-stuffed dates, a cozy launch from a favorite popcorn brand, and the fiber-filled bars one of our editors has been eating on repeat.
Little Sesame Black Truffle Hummus
Little Sesame is my all-time favorite hummus. It’s silky and bright and tastes like someone lovingly whipped it together in their home kitchen. But when their limited-edition Black Truffle Hummus landed in the office, reactions ranged from intrigued to “no thanks, I'm good.” I quickly learned that truffle-flavored anything is incredibly polarizing.
But this is Little Sesame we're talking about! After a bit of persuading, my coworkers caved and tried it. One swoop through with warm, fluffy pita, and everyone’s eyes went wide. The creamy hummus flavor comes first, followed by a gentle whisper of real chopped Italian black truffle—not that sharp truffle-oil perfume. After demolishing the first container, I quietly tucked the second into my lunch box for later.—Olivia Tarantino, senior commerce editor
Floura Fiber Bars
After a decade covering packaged foods, I’ve eaten more disappointing snack bars than any human should. So when samples of Floura’s new fiber bars arrived (a project from Jeni Britton, the genius behind Jeni’s Ice Cream), my expectations were…low. But as the master flavorist that Britton is, I should have known better. Floura bars are exceptional.
Instead of the usual disintegrating granola situation, Floura bars are more like fruit bars. Apple paste, melon, mango, and pineapple are dotted with almonds, chia seeds, and puffed quinoa for a chewy, fruity bite with a surprising crunch. Somehow they pack in 13 g of fiber with only 8 g of sugar and zero fake sweeteners (my nemesis). I’ve been eating one almost every day as a pre-workout bite or midday snack.—O.T.
Gato Dates Peanut Butter
I’m a huge fan of both Gato Dates and peanut butter. When I first discovered the Los Angeles–based brand, which stuffs fudgy medjool dates with organic nut butter and nuts and covers them in 70% organic dark chocolate and flaky sea salt, the decadent bites used to just come in almond, pistachio, and cashew walnut butter varieties. I was willing to put my nut butter preferences aside because they were just so good, but they recently launched peanut butter and the new flavor is just as dreamy as I could have imagined. —Kate Kassin, editorial operations manager
Siete Habanero Hot Honey Chips
There is no shortage of potato chips on the market. Do we really need another option? After tasting Siete’s Habanero Hot Honey Potato Chips, I’m voting an enthusiastic yes. These kettle-cooked chips are thick enough to satisfy with a loud crunch, yet light enough to eat by the handful. The seasoning starts smoky and BBQ-like, then slides into a warm habanero heat that lingers just long enough to make you grab another chip. Honey tempers the spice, keeping it addictively fiery without being punishing. We opened a bag in the office and it was gone in minutes.—O.T.
BjornQorn x Plant People Coz-Y Corn
Our team loves BjornQorn, the Upstate New York solar-popped popcorn brand—and for the holidays, the brand is collaborating on a Coz-Y Corn with PlantPeople, a plant-based gummy brand we also love. The airy popcorn is coated with a blend of maple sugar, organic cane sugar, reishi mushroom powder, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg for a “mind-unwinding,” as they describe, effect. Whether it makes me feel cozy and calm or not, I can attest that it’s certainly just as tasty as you’d expect for a collaboration from the two brands. —K.K.
Aloha Chocolate Cherry
I’d heard about Aloha’s plant-based protein bars for years but had never tried them until I was testing for our Best Protein Bars story over the summer. Safe to say I’m now hooked. I love the chewy texture of these bars, the fact that they don’t have any monk fruit, stevia, or sugar alcohols, and the range of flavors they come in. I’ve historically been partial to the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Cup, but the new limited edition Chocolate Cherry has been giving my two longtime faves a run for their money. It’s packed with tart dried cherries and coated in real dark chocolate, so it truly tastes like a treat—while sneaking in 14 g of protein and 10 g of fiber. —Alaina Chou, commerce writer
Sweet Addison’s S’mores Cookies
The gluten-free Dallas cookie brand Sweet Addison’s has been on a roll this year with new buzzy flavors, from a cookie made with Taylor Dukes Wellness bone broth powder that packs 17 g of protein to their newest darling: a soft, gooey s’mores cookie. I like to pop this one in the microwave for 10–15 seconds so that the marshmallow filling, made from grass-fed beef gelatin and organic marshmallow root powder, oozes right out and the chocolate chips get properly melty. —K.K.