Snacks are the unsung heroes of These Times. They make living the same day over and over sorta fun, they occupy your mouth when you get interrupted by someone's cute-but-loud dog during a Zoom happy hour, and they happily participate in your third binge-watch of Bling Empire.
To be fair, emotional support snacks have been working hard for us since wayyy before March 2020, but living through this trying time together has only strengthened our bond. And thus, we decided it was time to honor these salty, sweet, BBQ-y workhorses for their contribution to our lives with Cosmo's first-ever Snack Awards.
Not gonna lie, it was an absolute pleasure to taste-test more than 100 bags, bars, and jars to bring you the 50 best snacks to munch on right now. This is basically the Oscars, only covered in cheese dust…which, TBH, the Oscars should consider?
Behold, our first-ever snack awards, guaranteed to make you drool (ew, sry).
Best Ice Cream
Magnum Mini Almond Ice Cream Bars
$4.97
“These bars are a sweet and salty (yes!) combo *and* little enough to get a ‘grab ’n’ go’ certification from…me.”
—Sarah Weldon, Associate Lifestyle Editor
Best Sour Candy
Sour Patch Kids
$2.94
“Let me count the ways this gummy candy is the GOAT: (1) All the teeny sour crystals make your mouth literally water. (2) The chewy little kids (creepy but tasty?) have the *most* satisfyingly sweet finish. There’s nothing closer to perfection.”
—Jessica Goodman, Op-Ed Editor
Best Spicy Snack
Flamin' Hot Crunchy Cheetos
$0.99
“This sexy bag of crunchy, mouthwateringly hot flavor bombs doubles as my favorite salad topping. Def worth the perma-orange tongue.”
—Ashley Oerman, Lifestyle Director
Best Sweet Snack
Glico Pocky Strawberry Cream Covered Biscuit Sticks
$5.56
“This might be the most delicate food ever, but its intense strawberry flavor makes it one hundred percent worth dealing with. It’s also cute, and honestly, cute snacks > uncute snacks.”
—Starr Bowenbank, Assistant News Editor
Best Cheesy Snack
Cheez-Its
$14.69 (16% off)
“We can all agree that the best part of any warm cheddar dish is its slightly overdone edges. This is actually an entire box of bite-size versions of that.”
—Katie Czerwinski, Motion Graphics Designer
Best Dip
Dean's French Onion Dip
$1.64
“It’s The Move for making anything you want taste better. Put it on a chip or that burnt piece of broccoli (lol) and everyone will love it. This creamy goodness lives in my mind rent-free.”
—Taylor Andrews, Associate Editor
Best BBQ Flavored
Cape Cod Sweet Mesquite BBQ Chips
$3.29
"First, I’ll fight anyone who says Cape Cod brand chips are not the best kettle chippy around. Second, their barbeque flavor is zesty, subtly spicy, seductively smoky, and as addictive as Cape Cod’s epic crunch. You’re gonna be obsessed!”
—JG
Best Fruity Snack
Starburst
$0.89
"Between every chew there’s a burst of tart and sweetness, especially the pink ones! Plus, the individual packaging makes them easy to share, save for later, place in every pocket, er, surface of your home."
—Mary Fama, Art Director
Best Salty Snack
Harvest Snaps Green Pea Snack Crisps, Lightly Salted
$14.99
"Just like a new Netflix show or a new crush, salt application requires restraint. Crunchy and subtly vegetable-y, these crisps deliver a teeny savory explosion to your tongue every time."
—Rosa Heyman, Deputy Editor
Best Ranch-Flavored
Ranch Corn Nuts Crunchy Corn Kernels
$1.48
"As a ranch-loving midwesterner, I know my way around ranch-y treats. So when I say that these Corn Nuts are so satisfying in every way, you can trust me. Crunchy, salty, and bursting with that zesty flavor, there’s something for everyone here."
—MF
Best Meaty Snack
Sweet Chipotle Beef Jerky
$5.99
"Hear me out: This tastes exactly like you’d think candied meat would be like—in a really delicious way. You’ve got the subtle sweetness of the cured meat plus a chipotle kick of flavor you know and love. You’re going to want to lick the bag."
—SW
Best Chocolate-y Snack
Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes
$2.99
"All chocolate should come in the shape of a heart, with gooey filling, and wrapped in a lil package (my version of “meal prepping). Maybe it’s something you ate when you were 10, but don’t sleep on them now that you’re a Very Mature Adult."
—TA
Best Sour Cream and Onion
Lay's Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
$10.87
"Flavored chips should always be light and thin for maximum flavor-to-chip ratio. With these all the focus is on the deliciously savory sour cream and onion flavor that coats the delicate potato wafer."
—Erika W. Smith, Senior Astrology Editor
Best Pretzel
Dot's Homestyle Pretzels, Original Seasoned
$5.99
"These tiny sticks of deliciousness pack a big-time punch. The buttery pretzels are coated with a subtly spicy and garlic-y seasoning blend that is every bit as mysterious as the whereabouts of Carmen Sandiego."
—MF
Best Chip
Zapp's Voodoo Kettle Potato Chips
$13.99
"The ZEST, the CRISP, the HEAT. It’s as if your favorite barbecue chip merged itself with your favorite spicy chip and became the perfect crunch that’s not at all hard on your molars and yet still delivers on the ASMR chomp front."
—Kim Duong, Shopping Editor
Best Cookie
Entenmann's Chocolate Chip Cookies
$3.19
"Raise your hand if as soon as you start craving chocolate chip cookies, you lose all motivation to bake them. In those times of darkness, the crispy yet chewy cookies are a bite-sized hug saying, 'I got u, boo.'"
—KC
Best Popcorn
Birthday Cake Drizzled Popcorn
$7.99
"Wish you could live like a birthday queen every day? This sweet kettle popcorn covered in rainbow-colored sprinkles has the same energy! It’s gorge, tastes like a decadent birthday cake, and is fun to eat. What more do you even need?"
—Jenna Bencea, Senior Visual Editor
Best Candy Bar
Dove Silky Smooth Milk Chocolate
$1.49
"There are a ton of candy bars in the checkout line of the grocery store, but this is the only one that deserves an award. It’s simple, satisfyingly sweet, creamy, and there’s no weird chemical-y aftertaste (you know what I’m talking about)."
—AO
Most Addicting Snack
BOOMCHICKAPOP Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn
$2.99
"She's a Goldilocks of snacks. This kettle corn is sweet but not too sweet, salty but not too salty, crunchy, yet slightly pillowy. That's why, if you’re hanging out with me, each bag lasts about .02 seconds."
—MF
Best Instant Noodle (It's a tie!)
Samyang Carbo Hot Chicken Ramen
$18.99
"If you don’t love spicy things, this ramen is NOT for you. Despite, nay, because of its truly hell-ish intensity, it’s got a serious lip-smacking flavor. Pro tip: Add the sauce little by little to make sure you can handle it. Then, mix any leftover sauce with mayo for the perfect dip."
—Patty Camerota, Social Media Editor
Best Instant Noodle (It's a tie!)
Nongshim Shin Black Noodle Soup
$16.86
"Jam-packed with spicy pot-au-feu flavor (fancy, huh?!), this cup features perfectly slurpable noodz, tongue-tingling broth, and dehydrated veggies that ooze umami."
—PC
Best Classy Snacking Experience
Mint Chocolate Milano Cookies
$2.98
“The buttery, chocolaty, minty layers melt in my mouth, and suddenly, I’m in white tie waiting for the duck confit course to be served.”
—SW
Best Drugstore Impulse Buy
Peanut M&M's
$0.99
“You’ll never regret exiting those sliding glass doors with a bag of nuts covered in chocolate…covered in candy. It’s the perfect snack to rip open and enjoy right there in your car.
—JG
Best for Snacking By Yourself
Philadelphia Bagel Chips & Cream Cheese Garden Veggie Dip
$2.69
“Why would you want to share crispy, snacky bagel chips and melty cream cheese with anyone? WHY?”
—SW
Best Vending Machine Snack
Doritos Nacho Cheese
$3.99
“I can name about 82 tough days in my life that I survived solely because a bag of these was waiting for me in the Cosmo vending machine. They hit every single taste bud and are always worth your last buck.”
—SW
Best Picnic Snack
Hidden Valley Ranch French Onion Dip
$3.49
“It’s small enough to pack in your cooler and smooth enough to leave chips unbroken and blankets crumb- (read: ant-) free.”
—Emma Baty, Associate Entertainment Editor
Best Stress-Eating Snack
Blue Diamond Oven-Roasted Dark Chocolate Almonds
$9.73
“Stress calls for tasty salt, soothing chocolate, and the ability to mindlessly munch while on deadline. Behold: all three.”
—Lauren Puckett, Editorial Administrative Assistant
Best Having People Over Snack
French Onion Dip
$1.98
"The thing about this dip is that it's so good that you can’t let other people sit by and not experience it. It’s also friendly to all types of dippers, like chips, pretzels, veggies, or, ya know, spoons."
—KC
Best Five-second-rule-proof Snack
Triscuits
Triscuit amazon.com
"The subtly salty flavor is perfect for even the fanciest of cheeses, and the tightly woven shredded wheat makes it basically indestructible until it hits your mouth. So, yeah, go ahead and eat it after it hits the floor. Worth it."
—JG
Best Snack for Reality TV
Topped Tiramisu
$4.99
"This high-class cup filled with gooey mascarpone goodness, shortbread cookies, and espresso fudge, was basically made for judging reality TV stars from the comfort of your couch."
—KC
Best Snack for Scary Movie Night
Twizzlers
$2.09
"Anxiously gnawing on these chewy, fruity licorice sticks soothes every impending jump scare. And if you bite both ends—they double as a straw for your movie drink of choice"
—Khadija Horton, Digital Designer
Best for Nostalgia Vibes
Cheddar Goldfish Crackers
$1.89
"These hit just as hard now as they did in my youth. Actually, probs harder. They have the golden (lol) ratio of cheese, saltiness, and crunch, so you can feel satisfied snacking on them just as much as you did then, now, and forever."
—KC
Best Airplane Snack
Birthday Cake Granola Bites
"Those branded peanuts just don’t cut it. Instead, opt for these scrumptious granola balls that taste like funfetti birthday cake and come in easily portable packets that fit in your bag."
—LP
Best Book Club Snack
Trader Joe's Sea Salt & Turbinado Sugar Dark Chocolate Almonds
$10.02
"Each crispy almond is engulfed in dark chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt and turbinado sugar (it tastes sorta like caramel). Each bite will make you feel like the heroine in your latest romance novel—and they pair well with wine."
—MF
Best Snack for Crying
Nutella
$10.42
"What’s a better way to spend your precious cry sesh than with a jar of chocolatey Nutella? Grab a spoon and put on some Phoebe Bridgers—we’re going to have SadGirl™ fun."
—Kara Miller, Designer
Best Road Trip Snack
Sweet & Salty Trail Mix
$4.45
"Trail mix is always the move—especially this one. It has basically every food group (nuts, dried fruit, and candy are food groups, right??), will sustain you for hours, and is appropriate to eat all times of day."
—Mariah Schlossmann, Editorial Business Assistant
Best Snack for Gossiping with Friends
Trader Joe’s Chili and Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips
$16.95
"Imagine a Dorito, but rolled up into a micro taco shape—and make it spicy. They’re perfect to have in your hands while making overly dramatic gestures to go along with your story."
—EB
Best Game Night Snack
Hint of Lime Tostitos
$3.49
"Fact: Hint of Lime Tostitos have so much flavor on their own that you don’t even need to risk salsa or guac drip on your precious Cards Against Humanity Expansion Pack."
—KC
BEST SNACK BAR
Larabar Almond Cookie Energy Bar
$4.19
“This sweet and chewy bar made from almonds, dates, and apples is actually really filling thanks to all the fiber and healthy fat—love to see it. Take as needed with cold brew and a walk around the block when hanger or midday boredom strikes. (I’m not a doctor, but this works.)”
—AO
Best When-Nothing's-In-Your-Fridge Snack
Special K Red Berries
$3.88
“It’s 3 p.m. on a Saturday and I still haven’t gone to the store. This crunchy, slightly nutty cereal with real strawberries comes through every time.”
—AO
Best for Ruining Your Appetite
Fiber One 70 Calorie Chocolate Fudge Brownies
$14.99
“This soft chocolate square of heaven might be smaller than 2" by 2" in size, but holy freakin’ cow, does she pack a rich punch. So much, in fact, that she requires a glass of milk.”
—SB
Best Organic Situation
Annie's Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks (Berry Patch)
$9.99
"Fruity snacks = genius. They're like a slightly less sugary candy but made from real fruit, and this one's got the ~organic~ kind, which I could definitely use more of. IMO, it's the sweet snack to meet all post-dinner needs."
—EB
Best Veggie-based
Hippeas Vegan White Cheddar Organic Chickpea Puffs
$2.99
“Yes, a bag of crunchy, finger-lickingly cheesy chickpea puffs counts toward my daily vegetable (okay, legume) quota. Tyvm, I will not be taking questions.”
—SB
BEST CAN’T-MAKE-UP-YOUR-MIND SNACK
SkinnyDipped Peanuts: Peanut Butter and Jelly
$25.53
“These deliver both nutty and jammy flaves in a pretty pink bite. (Seriously, they’re, like, really pretty.) Also, there’s more protein and less sugar in each serving than in most candy-coated peanuts, so I’m obsessed with them.”
—JB
Best post-breakfast snack
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cliff Thins
$5.78
"These crispy, not-too-sweet bars take the edge off hanger before my next adult meal. And the little bits of white chocolate nuggets are pure freaking bliss."
—AO
Best plant-based ice cream
Vanilla & Sticky, Sweet Salted Caramel Scoops
$8.99
"Coconut, Murasaki sweet potato, organic maple syrup, organic vanilla, and Himalayan sea salt make this vegan ice cream taste like pure, non-dairy heaven. I’m not even lactose intolerant, I just love it!"
—SW
Best Protein Snack
Perfect Bar: Dark Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter
$27.55
"Nope, this is not your average chalky protein bar. Creamy peanut butter, chocolate chips, and sweet honey are delivered in every bite. And, as if you need further convincing, this bar is just as good on the go as it is savored with your morning coffee."
—JB
Psst, before we go: The best snacks for your furbaby!
Best For Good Boys (Dogs)
Lick You Silly All-Natural Nutterdoodles
$18.98
“My 1-year-old beagle mix is so, so stubborn. But these grain-free peanut butter and honey dog biscuits, which are small enough for little guys, convince him to do anything. And they smell like Girl Scout Cookies.”
—LP
Best Bone
Purina Busy Bone
$10.59
"My pup son is a notoriously picky eater (won’t even take my gracious offering of fries!), so I was SHOCKED to see him eagerly gnawing on one of these. It kept him distracted long enough for me to open a few packages right in front of him (he has a thing for bubble wrap). A true blessing."
—KD
BEST FOR KITTY CATS
Friskies Party Mix Tender Crunchy Chicken & Waffles Cat Treats
$1.59
“Upgrading my cats’ boring, not so-sure-what meat-this-is treats for this bougie little waffle and
drumstick-shaped nuggets of deliciousness made everyone happy.”
—MF
Hey there! This story originally appeared in the April 2021 issue of Cosmopolitan. So if you like what you see (wink), subscribe here!
Best Snacks 2021 - Cosmo's First-Ever Snack Awards - Cosmopolitan
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