From Caffeinated Marshmallows to Old Bay Goldfish, These Are Coolest New Foods & Drinks of Summer 2023
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You put the same dozen or so items on your grocery list each week, and after a while, that routine can go from comfortable to snoozy (spaghetti and meatballs, again?). Mix things up by adding something new to your cart—virtually or when you’re shopping IRL—with one of these new releases. We got the scoop on more than 70 products launching this season, then narrowed it down to what we’re deeming the buzziest, coolest new foods and drinks of summer 2023. Fire up the grill and your group chat—your next cookout is going to be epic.
Our Top 5 New Foods & Drinks at a Glance:
How We Chose the Coolest New Products
We reached out to publicists, scoured grocery-hunting blogs and Instagram accounts, taste-tested and took in recommendations from editors to compile the new launches we’re most excited about—and couldn’t wait to share with you, too.
The Top Food Trends of 2023, According to Whole Foods
The Coolest New Foods & Drinks of Summer 2023
1. Alouette Grilling Brie
How do you make baked brie even better? Grill it instead. No, seriously. Brush this 4.5-ounce wheel with olive oil, warm for just a few minutes, and you've got a soft, buttery cheese that will be the hit of your charcuterie board. (It also just happens to be the right size to slice horizontally and serve atop burgers, if you want to go all out this summer.)
2. Olipop Strawberry Vanilla
If it seems like Olipop is popping up everywhere these days, well, it is. We're already predicting the Strawberry Vanilla flavor will be the "it" drink of summer, especially now that it starred in Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice's "Barbie World" music video. It's fruity, creamy and refreshing—all while delivering a dose of probiotics to help you avoid that post-soda bloat.
3. Talenti Dark Chocolate Mini Gelato Bar
You may not be strolling the streets of Venice this summer (bummer), but you can enjoy gelato on the go, thanks to these Talenti bars. They're rich and creamy—featuring certified Kosher, non-GMO ingredients—and just the right level of decadent to feel like you're treating yourself on a scorching day. Mister Softee could never (sorry, Softee).
4. Banza Bucatini
Long before the infamous bucatini shortage of 2020, people were begging Banza to make its chickpea-based, gluten-free pasta in the tubular shape. Well, the brand has delivered, and its wheat-less version contains a whopping 5 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein per serving (the traditional kind is typically about 2 grams of the former, 7ish of the latter). All the better to enjoy our Spicy Bucatini Amatriciana with, no?
5. Churro Kit Kats
For years, we’ve yearned for the sheer variety of Kit Kat flavors sold in Japan, and it seems like Hershey has heard our cries, rolling out new flavors on the regular. Its latest, Churro, is loaded with the cinnamon sugar flavor you’ve come to associate with the treat (thanks to its crème coating) and the wafers offer a similar, subtle crunch.
6. Little Bites Chocolate Party Cakes
Tested among three kids—ages four through seven—and the reaction was universal: “Can we have another, please, please, please, PLEEEEASE?!” Imagine the joy of a confetti cake, only chocolate. And in mini muffin form.
7. Omsom Saucy Noodles
We’ve all had soggy, overly salty store-bought noodles that just made our sad desk lunch…well, sadder. Omsom’s first launch since its May 2020 debut, Saucy Noodles, will make you rethink what you know about the prepackaged stuff. There’s no powder seasoning mix here—just four sauce packets (in flavors like Soy Garlic, Coconut Lemongrass Curry, Garlic Black Pepper and Chili Sesame)—and thick, air-dried noodles designed to complement them without turning to mush six seconds into your meal.
8. Seven Sundays Oat Protein Cereal
What happens to the leftover oats from making oat milk? Some are finding a second life, being “upcycled” into Seven Sundays’s new oat protein cereal. These little o’s have three times the protein and twice the fiber as the whole oat, the brand says, and they come in four flavors: chocolate and sea salt, super fruity, simply honey and maple cinnamon.
9. Recess Zero Proof Canned Mocktails
Fact: Most mocktails taste like overpriced Juicy Juice. Recess set out to change that stigma, with an alcohol-free sampler pack that includes palomas, mules, mojitos and margaritas. Each can clocks in at 25 calories, with just 3 to 4 grams of added sugar (5 to 7 grams total), so they’re not saccharine-sweet, either. They’re crisp, tangy and refreshing.
10. Fever-Tree Classic Margarita Mixer
OK, maybe you want a real marg, but you’re not up for squeezing all those limes. That’s where Fever-Tree’s new mix comes in. We’ve been a fan of the brand for its not-too-sweet mixers, which is why we’re pumped that they’re expanding into non-carbonated options. This mix is a blend of Spanish sea salt and Mexican limes, making it bright and zesty, rather than sugary sweet and neon green. All you need to do is add your fave tequila.
11. XOMarshmallow Caffeinated Marshmallows
The 3 o’clock slump is hitting and you’re craving something sweet—reach for these latte-flavored marshmallows. No, really. Two ‘mallows contain 27 mg of caffeine, roughly as much as a shot of espresso.
12. Chamberlain Coffee Sweet Otter Cake Batter Blend
By now, you’ve mastered brewing your own cold brew. But when you’re in the mood for something fancy, reach for Chamberlain’s latest drop, which features notes of birthday cake and vanilla buttercream. Bonus: It requires zero special equipment. Just add one sachet per eight ounces of water to a pitcher, stick it in your fridge for 12 to 24 hours and enjoy.
13. Old Bay Seasoned Goldfish
People went so wild over this limited-edition Goldfish flavor that the brand brought it back for summer 2023—and even hired Lisa Loeb to rerecord her ‘90s hit “Stay (I Missed You)” as an ode to the saltine-based crackers coated in the black pepper, paprika, celery salt and red pepper flake blend. It’s expected to sell out quickly, so if you’re interested, add ‘em to your cart, stat.
14. Nestlé Toll House Dark Chocolate Plant-Based Morsels
Not us, gobbling these plant-based sweets by the fistful. OK, that is us, but once you try these rich-yet-not-bitter dark chocolate bits (which are 100 percent chocolate and feature zero preservatives), you’ll start doing the same. Find them, and a semisweet variety, in grocery stores this June.
15. Jovial Foods Stelline Pasta
Missing pastina? Same. Jovial Foods’s Stelline pasta is a solid alternative, albeit a smidge bigger than that Ronzoni classic. It’s made with 100 percent organic, gluten-free brown rice, and it’s hitting grocery stores now, so you can get back to making buttered noodles or chicken and stars soup ASAP.
16. Dove Promises Molten Lava
Could you visit a flair-bedecked chain restaurant or go on a cruise ship in the late ‘90s and early aughts without encountering molten lava cake? It was a dessert phenomenon that swept the world as mightily as the Spice Girls, and now, it’s getting a reunion tour…albeit in the form of bite-sized milk chocolates. And—dare we say it?—this twist is even better. The chocolate-y caramel filling captures the gooey core the dish is famous for, minus the oft-dry cakey exterior the original dish tended to have.
17. Montchevre Hibiscus Berry Goat Cheese
Technically, this flavor debuted last August, but it's wrapped in all-new packaging this summer—and if you slept on the flavor last year, you won't want to this year. It's a little fruity, a little floral and delightfully tangy all-around.
18. Jet-Puffed Color-Changing Marshmallows
These pink and blue marshmallows change colors (to orange and green, respectively) as they heat up. For real. Your s’mores will never be the same. Or at least through September, because that’s how long they’ll be available in stores.
19. Chloe’s Mini Vanilla Sandwich Cookies
Dairy- and gluten-free shoppers, we’ve got a literal treat for you: Chloe’s is making its way to the freezer aisle, with 80-calorie ice cream sandwich cookies. (FYI: They’re made with oatmilk, so they’re just as creamy as traditional ice cream.)
20. Natalie’s Tangerine, Pineapple, Aloe, Sweet Basil Juice
This five-ingredient drink is designed to give you a jolt of vitamin C (thanks to fresh oranges and tangerines) and an immunity boost from the aloe vera and pineapple. As for the sweet basil? That rounds out the flavor, giving it a light, herbaceous quality.
21. Goodles Hey Hey Elote Mac and Cheese
You love elote. You love mac and cheese. Have both in a single bite with this elevated boxed mac, which is creamy and cheesy, yet also boasts the tanginess of cojita cheese, sweetness of summer corn and chile heat. Oh, and it’s Kosher certified, low-GI and packs 15 grams of protein per serving, plus 8 grams of fiber.
22. Favorite Day Grillable Brownie S'mores
Come summer, we want to throw everything on the grill, and Target understands. This slab of brownies comes in its own aluminum pan, so you don’t have to step away from the flames to prep dessert. (But you can also heat them in the oven.) Topped with milk chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows, it’s just begging to be roasted until gooey.
23. Hoop Tea Spiked Iced Tea 3-Liter Pouches
Forget bringing a box of rosé or whipping up big batch cocktails for your next cookout—Hoop Tea makes prepping for Happy Hour all too easy with its 3-liter shareable Spiked Tea pouches, available in classic iced tea, watermelon, mango and peach flavors.
24. Hostess Kazbars
Holy layers of flavor, Batman! Hostess's latest creation is part cake, part multi-layer bar...and we have it on good authority that they're dangerously delicious. The Triple Chocolate bars feature chocolate cake sandwiching cocoa creme and sweet crunchy bits, and the whole thing is coated in chocolate fudge. Keep an eye out for them at a grocery store near you.
25. Pebbles Crunch'd Cereal
Fact: Fruity Pebbles are wildly addictive—and now they're easier to snack on throughout the day. The latest iteration features the same flavor, only supersized into nickel-sized star shapes. They don't get soggy in milk as quickly as the original, either.
26. Cholula Hot Smoky Chipotle Salsa
Your go-to hot sauce now makes taco seasonings and salsas, and we can't get enough of the smoky chipotle flavor. It's got a slow-building heat that's dangerously addictive.
27. Infinite Monkey Theorem Rosé
Canned rosé can taste like fizzy juice, but thankfully, Infinite Monkey Theorem bucks the trend. Editors loved its berry notes and balance of effervescence and acidity, making it a refreshing drink for every poolside party this summer.
28. Pringles Harvest Blends Multigrain Farmhouse Cheddar
Pringles, you've changed—and we're not mad about it. Harvest Blends features four new varieties of chips, each with a sweet potato or multigrain base, though we're partial to the Farmhouse Cheddar flavor. The combo of black beans, toasted sweet grains, aged cheddar and a touch of salt give it a solid balance of sweet and savory notes. You can find it in grocery stores now.
29. Loverboy Limoncello Spritz
Take it from our associate food editor, Taryn Pire: "If crisp, clean wines and bright, citrusy cocktails are your thing, you need to try Loverboy's limoncello spritz. Made with monkfruit and fruit juices, it's just sweet enough without being cloying. The orange wine base brings each can to a crushable 6 percent ABV, while gentle bubbles up the refreshment factor just right."
30. Super Mario x Oreo Cookies
That's a-him, Mario! On an Oreo cookie, no less. The Nintendo star—and all this friends and frenemies, minus one noteworthy character—are making their debut on the classic sandwich cookie. While the presale for this collab sold out in 48 hours, there's good news for the rest of us: Packs will be available in major grocery stores—and big box chains like Walmart—for a limited time. Keep an eye out, and take on the #SuperMarioOREO challenge to save Princess Peach...and maybe achieve TikTok fame (for at least 15 seconds).
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Candace Davison is PureWow’s vice president of editorial, overseeing food, home and major franchises, like the PureWow100 review series and the Happy Kid Awards. She’s covered all things lifestyle in her 10+ years of digital media experience, though she has a weakness for baking (she has *opinions* on stand mixers), DIY-ing and gadgets, all of which she shares on PureWow and her social media accounts. Davison has published multiple cookbooks, and her work has appeared in O, The Oprah Magazine, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Cosmo, Esquire and Delish, among other publications.