12 Boomer-Approved Candies To Look For At Dollar Tree

If you're in the mood for a bit of nostalgia, take a walk down the candy aisle of your local Dollar Tree. Sure, we're nostalgic for the days when things at Dollar Tree really did cost a dollar, but it's the selection of candy that really takes you back — especially if you're a boomer. Baby boomers are the segment of the U.S. population born in a post-World War II baby boom from 1946 to 1964. Today, they make up 20% of the population, and the beloved flavors of their childhood are decidedly vintage.

There's a little bit of everything at Dollar Tree, and the candy selection is extensive. From mints that have been on the market for over a century to some of the best new candies of 2026, it's the perfect place to stock up on snacks before you head to your grandparents' house. Sneak in theater boxes of classic treats the next time you head to the movies (way cheaper than at a concession stand!), or browse the Dollar Tree website to stock up on full cases of your favorites. To get you inspired, here's a round-up of boomer-approved candies to grab on your next Dollar Tree run.

Just the idea of black licorice can be divisive among candy consumers, but what does it even taste like? The flavor comes from licorice root, which has a medicinal and pungent flavor, like amped-up anise or fennel. While there are haters in every age group, older shoppers are more likely to enjoy black licorice than their younger counterparts.

Purchase Wiley Wallaby Gourmet Black Licorice for $1.25.

Circus Peanuts are another old-school candy everyone loves to hate. The banana-flavored marshmallows have a bright orange hue and a puffy peanut shape that doesn't make much sense, but that hasn't stopped over 100 years of fans. These candies have been around since the late 19th century and are still going strong.

Purchase Melster Circus Peanut Candies for $1.25.

Introduced in 1949, just as the first baby boomers were getting their last baby teeth, Smarties are sweet, bite-sized candy wafers that come perfectly packaged in a rainbow roll. They're still a staple in candy bowls and Halloween hauls today, and now come in three flavor varieties: Original, Tropical, and X-Treme Sour.

Purchase Smarties Original for $1.25.

These melt-in-your-mouth peppermint puffs are straight out of the candy bowl on a restaurant's host stand — or the depths of your grandmother's purse. Red Bird Peppermint Candy Puffs have been made in North Carolina since 1890, and the iconic red stripes are still applied to the candy by hand.

Purchase Red Bird Handcrafted Peppermint Candy Puffs for $1.25.

Move over, black licorice. Red Vines' sweet raspberry flavor has been tempting candy connoisseurs since the 1950s, and that iconic bucket of chewy candy straws is still on shelves today. Note that Red Vines aren't actually licorice (there's no licorice or anise flavor involved), though there is a black licorice variety.

Purchase Red Vines Chewy Candies for $1.25.

Malted milk is synonymous with '50s-era soda fountains, and Whoppers malted milk balls hit the scene around the same time. These chocolate-coated candies are all about the crunch, with a toasty malted milk center that might make you nostalgic for a bygone era.

Purchase Whoppers Malted-Milk Balls for $1.25.

Tootsie Rolls were beloved by Frank Sinatra, and if it's good enough for Ol' Blue Eyes, it's good enough for just about any boomer you might run into. These chewy chocolate treats were included in soldiers' rations in World War II, and were even used to patch bullet holes in armored vehicles in the Korean War.

Purchase Tootsie Roll Candy in a Bank for $1.25.

Are you craving a whole maraschino cherry, surrounded by cherry cordial and tucked into a chocolate shell? You might be a boomer. Cella's has been making cherry cordials since 1864, and these seriously old-school confections are still popular today.

Purchase Cella's Chocolate Covered Cherries for $1.25.

Andes Crème de Menthe chocolates are the perfect after dinner treat. They're a little sweet bite to finish the meal, plus a hit of mint to freshen your breath. Olive Garden agrees, offering an Andes mint after every meal — a mint that seems to be the restaurant chain's own custom recipe.

Purchase Andes Crème de Menthe Thins for $1.25.

Nothing reminds me of childhood afternoons at my grandmother's house quite like these foil-wrapped strawberry candies. The shiny strawberry-patterned wrapper is eye-catching, while the sweet strawberry flavor is beloved by grandparents and grandchildren everywhere. Be sure to tuck a few into the pocket of your sweater for your own grandkids to find in a few decades.

Purchase Coastal Bay Confections Strawberry Flavored Hard Candy for $1.25.

There's something about individually wrapped hard candies that just screams "boomer." Created in Werther, Germany, in 1909, Werther's Caramels are still made in Germany over 100 years later. The iconic ad campaigns cement the candies' status as a boomer favorite, from a grandfather and his grandson sharing a sweet treat to invoking childhood nostalgia.

Purchase Werther's Original Caramel Hard Candies for $1.25.

Mary Jane molasses and peanut butter candies are a staple on the shelves of retro candy stores. The wax paper-wrapped treat pairs sweet and stretchy molasses with a nutty peanut butter taffy, and is all but guaranteed to stick to your teeth.

Purchase Mary Jane Molasses & Peanut Butter Candy for $1.25.