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Retro Candy Flashback: Bonkers Fruit Chews – Bonks You Out!

Categories: Candy,Candy Videos,Classic and Retro Candy,Soft Candy




Bonkers

UPDATE: Big news: Bonkers are coming back!

I’m going Bonkers. I haven’t had my favorite candy since I was a kid, and I’ve been an adult for longer than I like to admit. I miss those chewy little two-tone blocks so much that sometimes I check eBay for an old (and probably very toxic at this point) pack.

Grape was my favorite, but I liked strawberry and watermelon almost as much. I swear I remember a limited edition pink and yellow combo—possibly strawberry and banana—but I can’t find anything to substantiate my memory. At least some of their cool commercials from the 80s are posted online, so I can take comfort in believing there’s a slight chance of Bonkers returning to Bonk You Out. I’m ashamed to admit that I’d forgotten about chocolate Bonkers until I saw this old commercial for them:

Does anybody remember the yellow ones with a pink center? So far I’ve been told I must have made up that flavor in my state of inconsolable mourning for the loss of the best fruit chews I’ve ever eaten.

The best chance at snagging some Bonkers is at Candy Crate, and they seem to share my sadness about the unavailability. Of all the candy in the world, I don’t understand why something that tasted so great and had such popular commercials faded away.

chewy, bonkers, fruit, grape, watermelon, chocolate, strawberry, retro, kids, tv, commercials



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66 Responses to “Retro Candy Flashback: Bonkers Fruit Chews – Bonks You Out!”

  1. 1
    jacob says:

    Bonkers where the stuff. It is a shame that they are discontinued. The commercials from the 80′s are classics and same for the candy it self. =(

  2. 2
    Tim H. says:

    I concur. I too was saddened when Bonkers left the market. You know how long it\’s been? I\’ve been searching the internets trying to find a two tone GUM!!! crazy after all this time, I remember this wonderful candy being a gum. I recently found my other fav as a kid. \”Fizz\”… not \”fizzies\” but the candy that came on a string package and had the fizzy center. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm MM! I miss being a kid and rotting my teeth that I was going to lose anyways. Why can\’t that process just keep happening? Oh you have a cavity? Well, here comes your new tooth. Love the site! see ya!

    RESPONSE: Your Fizzy candy sounds like Zotz to me.
    –Brian

  3. 3
    Kelly says:

    I share your sadness Victoria. I purchased a box of what I thought were the original Bonkers a few years ago.. but it turned out that they were just imposters. I have been hoping to find the original candy, but everywhere I turn it’s “discontinued.” The last time I remember having the real thing was at an amusement park off of a candy stand. However, the park no longer sells them. If you find out any good news about our beloved Bonkers, be sure to let me know! :)

  4. 4
    mrs.funkalicious says:

    This is the absolute best page I have ever come across. Seriously. If there is one thing that I can talk for hours about it is candy, and you have every base covered. 10 points for you for talking about Bonkers. Loved those commercials.

    truly,
    mrs.funkalicious

  5. 5
    Sherry says:

    I used to LOVE Bonkers. I have bought some more than once recently and I think they were the original, because they tasted the exact same to me. If I can find them again, I’ll let you know where I found them!

    Sherry in Houston, TX

  6. 6
    Kat says:

    I totally remember the yellow with the pink center flavor!!! They were my fave after the chocolate flavor of course. I still long for Bonkers gum and I am in my mid-20′s……..probably a little too old for it!

  7. 7
    Matt says:

    Bonkers what can you say they have been discontinued for how many years and to this day still not a better candy. i miss them like everybody else and also try to find them on the internet on a regular basis. I think it is impossible but I will keep trying , and if I ever do find them it would be like reuniting with and old freind, and a verry happy day in my life. BONKERS WHERE HAVE U GONE!!!!!!

  8. 8
    Candy Addict » Remembering Discontinued Candy says:

    [...] Most people I know can think of at least one beloved candy that’s no longer available, and even more people may have forgotten former favorites simply because the candy’s no longer on the market. The folks at Old Time Candy have compiled a list of dozens of discontinued sweets, and it’s worth a look, even though it’s a little sad. The loss of Bonkers is an insult to my childhood, but at least I’m not alone in remembering the tasty, fruity goodness. [...]

  9. 9
    meghan says:

    Hey guys. I was browsing for candy for me and I found this link. You may still be able to buy these bonkers, I am not sure. I never liked them so I have not tried. Hope this helps. http://www.candyshoppe.ca/shop/Candy_Bars.htm

    RESPONSE: Those are fake Bonkers – they are not the original ones.
    –Brian

  10. 10
    Jean says:

    I remember these. I was only about 4 or 5 the last time I remember having the real bonkers. I have had the other ones which were by far not the same as the originals but I guess they are better than none at all, anyways I cant find them anymore either.
    My grandfather used to buy them for me when I was little.

    I hate when they discontinue everything good. Just like Rootbeer Flavor Aid. I miss that stuff too.

  11. 11
    Bonkers Lover says:

    Don’t be fooled by the imposter Bonkers candies shown in the picture above, they are NOT the originals made by Nabisco. Kelly already mentioned this. The originals were famous for their inner layer center, these imposter remakes did not have these plus they were made by Joyco and NOT Nabisco.

    I loved the commerical as a young kid. I loved the candy as well. They were so good. It’s sad to see that some new company tried to impersonate Bonkers with candy not at all similar to the originals. The new generation of kids should give this candy a try if Nabisco were only to bring them back. I could imagine if they did, and air that same commercial these days for the advertisement.

    Does anyone know who that lady’s name was in that commercial and does anyone know if she is still alive and well?

  12. 12
    KP says:

    I just recently wrote to Nabisco asking if they would consider bringing yummy bonkers back to the market. I think if enough of us wrote to them, then perhaps they would do it.

  13. 13
    Sam says:

    OH MY GOD I Can’t believe there are other people that remember the wonders of Bonkers! WHERE ARE THEY??!! I’m 25 years old but I remember eating those things like it was yesterday. And I think the last time I had Bonkers was when I was maybe 5, it’s tragic. Tell me who to write to and I’ll do it!! I will never understand the decision to discontinue the most amazing fruit candy ever…..LONG LIVE BONKERS!!

  14. 14
    Aimee says:

    My husband and I have been reminiscing about Bonkers. I am sad to find out that they stopped making them. Victoria, I remember the Strawberry Banana two-tone ones. I am 90% positive that they were the only two-tone ones in the bunch.

  15. 15
    Crystal says:

    I had been looking for Bonkers forever. I had been looking for the grape Bonkers with no luck. I did find Bonkers on candycrate.com. Hope this helps.

  16. 16
    Lauren says:

    Mmmmmm Bonkers. I too have been longing for those wonderful candies. I bought some of those imposter Bonkers a few years ago just praying they would be the real ones…I was sadly disappointed. =( Grape was my favorite.

  17. 17
    Amber says:

    I LOVED BONKERS! I had no clue they discontinued it until recently when I had a serious CRAVING for Bonkers. That was one of the BEST fruit chews EVER. i like them better than Starburst. I’m surprised that at least the Willy Wonka Candy Co. hasn’t bought it so that it makes a spectacular resurfacing…..

  18. 18
    nicole says:

    Bonkers were my favorite! I couldn’t remember the name of them and I spent a good hour with a co-worker figuring it out! I too remember the strawberry/banana ones. Mmmmm I want Bonkers!

  19. 19
    Mike says:

    Those remake bonkers are so bad. The last time i had anything the resembled a bonker was a bagged candy called “Crazy Cores” it might have been spelled like “Krazy Kores” or something i dont remember but they tasted exactly like bonkers. I think i would kill to have a pack lol

  20. 20
    Bri says:

    Oh my goodness!!! I cant belive i found this page.My family moved from N.Y to In. when i was little and i never had my favorite candy Bonkers again!!I cant say I am shocked so many people feel the same they were the absolute best!!My next trip is to the Nabisco web site to plead our case!May God Bless You All!

  21. 21
    Lindsey says:

    Tim H. they still make Zotz. Candy Addict even covered them!

  22. 22
    Tracy says:

    I have been looking for these for years and am so saddened by their being dicountinued. I also remember the two-ton candy because besides the grape, they were my favorite. I am sad to say I do not remember the chocolate ones or the commercials.

    To the person that asked who to write to, I actually went to the Nabisco website (like some others) and made a request to bring the candies back, even if just on a limited basis. If enough people write in they may just consider it. Lets all hope for their return. I would love to share my favorite childhood candy with my son.

  23. 23
    werd says:

    thank you so much for POSting this
    brings back great memories

  24. 24
    Andrew says:

    Oh man I would kill for some Bonkers candy.I used to buy them ever week at a gas station with my dad on the weekend when we would get gas or the weekend newspaper.
    I think the last time I found them in California where I am still at was in like 1993.
    I think the strawberry was my fav. Its been so long

    Everbody should write or email Nabisco

  25. 25
    Katie says:

    I happened upon this site after goggling bonkers a candy in which I loved so much growing up and to this day still think about… and after being utterly delighted to find ppl not only know of bonkers but also seemingly miss them as much as I do(lol, well as much as one can miss a candy) and it occurs to me, why where they ever discontinued and well they should totally bring them back! … BRING BONKERS BACK!

  26. 26
    Rachel says:

    OH I LOVED GRAPE Bonkers, I really really Miss them…SOOO SAD!

  27. 27
    Lauren says:

    I love love loved Bonkers! I always purchased these every chance I could when I was little! How is it that no candy manufacturers have tried to bring them back?!?! I wish there was an internet petition we could send out for this….. lol

  28. 28
    Shannon says:

    I thought I was a lost soul. I’m a questioner, and I always ask groups of people I meet what there favorite candy is in hopes of finding a fellow Bonker fan. Never not one has even known what I was talking about. Me, I’m a strawberry girl. Every Saturday I would go to the candy store next to the bowling alley. Ah…the chewy lovin’ how I miss you. I can’t believe I finally found out that it is truly over. I need to go mourn. I loved you Bonkers!!

  29. 29
    Bill says:

    I remember them too-in fact, I took a date to a mall back in ’85 and they had the Bonkmobile!! We crawled through a panel van that had giant vinyl fruits inside-kinda like crawling through someone’s insides, but still fun! Anyone know whatever happened to it?

  30. 30
    Seth says:

    I wish they would bring Bonkers back to the market. I couldn’t remember the name of them, but I always remembered they they were similar to Starburst but were two-toned. I was born in ’81 and remember buying them until the early 90s. I remember that they were not always distributed in every store. Possibly why they didn’t catch on.

  31. 31
    Marisa says:

    MAN, I MISS BONKERS SO MUCH THAT I EVEN WENT OUT OF MY WAY TO GOOGLE THEM AND CAME ACROSS THIS SITE!!! THEY NEED TO COME BACK!!!

  32. 32
    Josie says:

    I just bit into a Strawberry Watermelon chew from a pack of California Baja flavored Starbursts and had an 80s flashback. I couldn’t put my finger on it until I googled 80s candy and found this site. I’m so disappointed the real Bonkers are discontinued!

  33. 33
    carl says:

    hey there

    i have some bonkers candy boxes flavors i have are island fruit
    citrus fruit
    camel apple

    not bad huh

    i not sure if ill have any left of rare stuff

    jammer232001@yahoo.com

  34. 34
    carl says:

    ok i have been swamped for the cand i now have a few sinngle packs left if u hurry ..

  35. 35
    O'Neal says:

    I STILL crave this candy and the closest I have come to remembering it is smelling a Grape flavored White Owl cigar tube. Sounds crazy, I know! But def brought back the nostalgia!

  36. 36
    justin says:

    i loved bonkers!!! i also went through the bonkmobile way back when it stopped at angola ny by the drive in. it was so fun! i would love to see a picture if someone has one out there. at the end of the bonkmobile they passed out water color sheets of the bonker fruits that had its own water colors on the page! just wet with a brush and paint! gotta miss the 80s and bonkers!!!

  37. 37
    Bonnie says:

    I want my bonkers back too!! I recently found a similar candy from Japan called Hi-Chew. They are two toned and come in strawberry and grape. They are available at all the grocery stores in asian populated area. If you are in the Toronto area T&T supermarkets have them!

  38. 38
    Roshanda says:

    O.M.G I was looking to see if I could find Bonkers again and I ran across this site. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one that used to love those juicy squares I’m 25 now and I still long for those wonderful Bonkers candies. Nabisco please HEEEEELLLLLLPPPP! So that my sis can quit picking with me that she found them when she really hasnt.

  39. 39
    Diana says:

    I remember the yellow with pink center too!!! I also get told I must be making that up or it was a dream lol. Those are the ones I crave the most! What in the world was in those Bonkers that we are still addicted? lol. I haven’t had a real Bonkers in like 20 years! I thought they re-released them in the mid 90′s but it wasn’t the same. Just wasn’t the same. Oh Well. Lost and gone lol. Thanks for this great page!

  40. 40
    Candice says:

    I can’t believe there are other people out there that after all these years still CRAVE Bonkers. When I was a kid I would beg my mom to buy the Cocoa Puff Cereal just because they came with a pack of Chocolate Bonkers.

    All my favorites from the 80′s are discontinued like Sharkleberry Fin Kool-Aid & Blue Raspberry Slush Puppie’s from High’s.

    I live in Washington,DC so maybe I can plea our case on Capital Hill:)

  41. 41
    erin says:

    So i like the rest of you on here were craving Bonkers and I purchased some from a candy seller just to hold them in my hand. I bought 3 of them so if anyone wants to work with me on purchasing one I think I will part with one. Email me at lindaraeerin@msn.com The only thing is if you are looking to eat them I would not advise this as they are really hard..lol.

  42. 42
    Phoenix says:

    YES!!!! I was just talking to my husband about the strawberry banana bonkers not 2 seconds before I looked up this page. They were yellow on the outside and pink on the inside!!! I completely remember those, those and the chocolate ones were 2 of my favourites!!!! Thank you for having this page up so I could show him what I was talking about!!

  43. 43
    Amy says:

    Everyone thought I was going bonkers (haha) when I was always on the hunt for bonkers in specialty candy stores! Now I know I’m not the only one who wants her bonkers back. Mmmm…watermelon were my favourite. So sad that they are discontinued…you can pretty much buy any type of old candy except Bonkers

  44. 44
    Erika says:

    I MISS THIS CANDY.. I tried the new version and they are disgusting. Nibisco needs to come back out with the original. Thats all I would get from Co-Gos in Pa. I loved Watermellon and Grape.

  45. 45
    Brad says:

    Man, a bunch of us were sitting around having a beer the other night listing our favorite candy from back in the day and as soon as the subject of Bonkers came up, we vowed then and there to find them. Of course, now I have to break the sad news that there is no finding them. Maybe we could start a petition or something? I want a pack of the Watermelon ones. They were green on the outside and red inside and delicious all over!

  46. 46
    LL says:

    Strawberry bonkers were the greatest strawberry candy of all time! And the grape were a close second. I think we SHOULD start a petition! And, you should also write in to Nabisco, BUT if you do you HAVE to be specific that you want them made using the exact original recipe. B/c as we all know, over time companies have ruined classic products by using new and cheaper ingredients. We don’t want new crap Bonkers, we want the exact same stuff we had as a kid!

  47. 47
    LL says:

    Contact Nabisco and beg them to go back to making Bonkers (WITH THE ORIGINAL RECIPE IN THE ORIGINAL FLAVORS):

    http://195.244.101.205/nabisco/contacts.cfm

  48. 48
    LL says:

    Use this contact form as well:

    http://www.nabiscoworld.com/misccontent/contactus/contact.aspx?m=cu_form2&age=2&coppa=False&prod=True&sub=335

  49. 49
    jeffrey says:

    dude there were definitely pink and yellow bonkers. they were strawberry/banana. pink on the outside and yellow on the inside. they were my favorite flavor. the chocolate ones were weird

  50. 50
    jeffrey says:

    the japanese are still making bonkers, sort of. the mango ones are insane, and they even copied the two tone format. check out the store on valencia street in san francisco. ask the girl there if she’s the owner and she just laughs and laughs. then she says yes.

  51. 51
    Eric says:

    i remember the pink and yellow bonker’s they were great. i wish they would bring them back!!! good childhood memories!

  52. 52
    LISA says:

    THIS WAS THE BEST CANDY IN THE 80′S!!!! IT IS SO AMAZING TO SEE US ALL GROWN UP IN OUR 20′S & 30′S NOW, REMEMBERING SUCH A GREAT CANDY OF ALL TIMES…GRAPE WAS MY FAVORITE, I DONT REMEMBER CHOCOLATE. COMPANIES ALWAYS DISCONTINUE THE BEST THINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, REMEMBER THE TALL GLASS SODA BOTTLES? THAT YOU COULD TRADE IN FOR 5 & 10 CENT? LOL!!! TOOK AWAY ALL THE GOOD THINGS & MEMORIES, AND PRODUCED JUNK!! I SWORE I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO MISSED BONKERS. THAT CANDY LITERALLY MADE YOUR MOUTH WATER, HECK MY MOUTH IS WATERING JUST THINKING ABOUT IT!! LOL…WELL YOU 70′s & 80′s BABIES YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO? WRITE NABISCO AND TELL THEM TO BRING BONKERS BACK!!!

  53. 53
    djspontaneus says:

    i really miss these candies…its funny because i had a dream last night and for some reason i woke up thinking im going to the specialty candy store to look for them but after reading these responses i feel discouraged to go and ask if they still have them….but Bonkers are classics and im gonna go look anyways

  54. 54
    Katrina says:

    Oh my gosh! I thought I was the only freak in the world still trying to find BONKERS!!! Grape was my fav too!! I miss them so very much, it’s somewhat ridiculous! OK so the pink and yellow combo you are talking about was not a Bonker……it is another one of my long lost favorite candies. I think it was by Bubbalicious but it was a strawberry and banana flavored gum that looked just like a Bonker, so you did not hallucinate this. It was incredibly good as well and something I also cannot find in the outer regions of cyberspace. Anyhoot isn’t there someone we can write to about bringing BONKERS BACK?!!! I mean if there are this many people who still love and adore them, there is obviously still a market for them! However I will never give up my search for my favorite childhood candy BONKERS!! Thanx for making me feel normal, haha!

  55. 55
    Joseph says:

    Loved these candies back in the 80′s. Used to walk to a nieghborhood store down here in Texas City, TX every saturday morning to purchase a pack.

  56. 56
    Jessica says:

    I’m so glad I finally found some people who love this candy as much as me. I miss this candy and wish i could have some all the time lol…. maybe some day…

  57. 57
    Meghan says:

    I’m sad to hear about the Bonkers. We used to get them at the corner store ALL the time. For a few years my mother was in charge of buying concessions for a bingo hall, we would convince her to get CASES of Bonkers. I think I can still smell the strawberry.

    Mambas are a poor second if you are really dying to try something else though.

  58. 58
    Monique says:

    I remember Bonkers from when I was a kid. My mom would take us to the gas station for an ICEE and candy. I ALWAYS had Bonkers while my sister was a Whatchamacalit fan. If I ask someone now about Bonkers candy they look at me like I’ve lost my mind, lol. Of course, my sister remembers me getting them so she backs me up and lets everyone know that I’m not nuts…they did exist! I honestly loved all flavors, but I have to say that I don’t recall the chocolate ones. All of the good things I remember as a kid are gone. They’ve even discontinued Planters Cheez Ballz….very depressing!!! I would love it if they brought back both of these things for my daughter to experience their yummy goodness…

  59. 59
    Crystal says:

    I would do anything for bonkers!!!!! I so miss them and found so many website that have them (discontinued) that is. Man, If there is anyone out there that has them please email me parisaz127@yahoo.com I LOVE BONKERS!!!!

  60. 60
    Vicky says:

    OMG!! I miss Bonkers. I use to freeze them. Not sure why, but they tasted so good to me. I loved them!!!! Wish I could find them. The grape and the red ones I loved. Never tasted chocolate tho. Didn’t even know they had them. Love Love Love!!!

  61. 61
    MikeHD883 says:

    I loved the grape ones, i to thought i was the only one who still craved these little candies! Glad to know im not the only one. BRING THEM BACK NABISCO.

  62. 62
    Mr. Bonkers says:

    I want to know why people give up on the best things in life. Come on why did they give up on the candies they were popular the business was doing well. Why not pass it down to someone else and have a nice retirement nest egg.

    Mr. Bonkers

  63. 63
    Alissa says:

    OMG, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Bonkers!!!! WIsh they would come back!!!!!! BRING THEM BACK, BRING THEM BACK!!!!!!!!

  64. 64
    Kimberly says:

    I MISS BONKERS! Mmmmmmmmm.

  65. 65
    Eric says:

    Dear god I miss bonkers. They were my favorite candy when I was a kid. I’m almost 28 and it makes me sad that I can’t share them with my kids. We should all write nabisco to bring them back and not some shitty new version either.

  66. 66
    Tishana says:

    OMG!!!! My mouth is waterying just thinking about bonkers. I wish I knew how to make them, please bring them back.

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