Have Your Little Ones Experience A Sweet Taste Of Your Childhood With These Timeless Snacks In Malaysia

If there’s one thing that Malaysians are known for, it’s definitely our love for food. And nothing brings a family together quite like good food–especially when it involves delicious classics that transport you straight back to the nostalgic days of your childhood.

I’m sure most of us think we’ve outgrown our childhood favourites. But can you really say that you’ve never experienced the odd day where chomping down on a bar of chocolate Twiggies, licking cheese powder off your Super Ring-coated fingers, or squeezing out tubes of Choki-Choki sounds like food for the soul?

We’re truly spoiled for choice these days with countless brands introducing nutrition-packed snacks, organic treats, and healthier options. Granted that the snacks of the 90s (and earlier) aren’t the healthiest, we can’t deny the wholesome joy that comes with rediscovering these flavours and introducing them to our little ones.

So, whether you’re craving a taste of the past or looking to surprise your kids with some yummy old-school fun in their Little Explorer Snack Bag, here are the classic local snacks that continue to bring Malaysians together—one crunchy bite at a time.

We’ve compiled a list of  timeless favourites, from crispy, savory bites to sweet, cake-like delights that continue to charm Malaysians from all walks of life till this date.

Top 13 Classic Local Snacks In Malaysia That Both Kids & Adults Simply Cannot Get Enough Of

1. Twiggies

Twiggies are perhaps one of Malaysia’s most popular snacks and it has long been a staple in local convenience stores and supermarkets. Ask almost any Malaysian and they will most certainly remember popping this snack into their snack pack before leaving for school or grabbing a pack of vanilla or chocolate Twiggies for a quick and cheap pick-me-up during recess.

What makes Twiggies such a beloved snack in Malaysia is its soft and fluffy texture with its sweet chocolate or vanilla cream filling. Malaysians simply adore the airy, cake-like texture that practically melts in your mouth and the fact that it’s individually wrapped.

Fun Fact: Did you know that Twiggies now come in flavours such as Peanut Butter and Tiramisu? My personal favourite is Peanut Butter right after the Vanilla one!

2. Choki Choki

Honestly there are times where I feel that Choki Choki is trying to win the hide and seek trophy in Malaysia in this day and age. In any case, most of you will be familiar with this tube-style chocolate snack that you’ve likely grown up squeezing (or chomping on the package) straight into your mouth.

The very act of tearing off the top bit of plastic and squeezing out the chocolate is simply half the enjoyment. Sometimes it’s a real wonder how its simple main composition (literally cocoa powder, sugar, and milk solids) can bring on the level of satisfaction it did. But I suppose its lingering popularity does speak for itself since this fun and indulgent snack has been around for decades with no sign of leaving!

3. Super Ring

No Malaysian snack list is complete without the iconic bright-orange, ring-shaped crispy cheese snack beloved by kids (and adults) across Malaysia. Super Ring is found almost everywhere you can think of - canteens, convenience stores, supermarkets, petrol station stores, and even vending machines, where one can easily spot it from afar thanks to its distinct neon purplish-blue pack.

Kids simply can’t get enough of its light yet satisfying crunchy texture and intense cheese powder coating that offers a punch of umami (and orange-coated fingers), so much so that one pack is almost never enough. So if you’re planning to introduce this snack to your kids, be sure to have two or three packs of this cheese-coated corn grits-based snack ready as well! ;)

4. Iced Gem Biscuits

Iced gem biscuits are truly gems when it comes to snacking. There’s just something about these small bite-sized biscuit snacks topped with hard icing that typically comes in either green, yellow, white, or pink.

Most Malaysians will remember happily picking off the “icing gem” first before crunching down on the plain biscuit base as a fun way to enjoy it. You’ll find this simple yet satisfying retro snack sold in large tins or plastic packets in both traditional biscuit shops, local sundry stores, or supermarkets. Pop a few in your little one’s OiYO Snacky Pack along with a variety of their favourite fruits and other snacks and watch them enjoy it all with glee!

5. White Rabbit Candy

While White Rabbit Candy originated from China, this well-loved chewy milk candy found its way into the hearts of many Malaysians over the years. So much so that it’s become one of the most fondly remembered Malaysian snacks that both kids and adults still enjoy to this day.

It’s made from a mixture of sugar, milk, and other flavourings which gives it a distinct milky and creamy taste. The edible rice paper wrapping is also another novelty for most kids as it adds a fun, slightly “magical” and “mysterious” element to the candy-eating experience, which is something you’d have definitely experienced during your younger years!

6. Mamee Monster

Mamee Monster is one of those snacks which have confounded and delighted Malaysians for decades. While people are typically familiar with the notion of boiling dry instant noodle squares, these instant noodle-looking snacks are made to be enjoyed straight out of the packet along with its seasoning powder with no cooking required.

Kids love it because the process to enjoy it serves as a fun eating ritual. First you crush it before opening the packet, add in the seasoning powder, and give it a good shake (yes, just like your favourite shaker fries) before you start munching away on the addictive crunch.

7. Haw Flakes

Haw Flakes aren’t the most appealing snacks at first glance, but don’t let its appearance fool you. These thin, circular discs made from the pulp of hawthorn berries and sugar are well-loved by Malaysian children thanks to its sweet, tangy taste and varied texture which either melts-in-your-mouth or breaks apart when bitten immediately.

In fact, Haw Flakes are also well-loved because they are incredibly easy to get - you can find them in almost any convenience store and supermarket these days, albeit on the lower shelves in most cases. Its light and convenient packaging also makes it easily accessible for your little ones to enjoy it whenever and wherever they are.

8. Old School Jelly Cups

Who here remembers trying to peel the soft plastic lid off these jelly cups with a 50/50 chance of tearing only the edge off? These old school jelly cups are both a source of joy and fun menace for kids thanks to its refreshing flavour, fun jell-o texture, and at the same time, its frustrating packaging.

The very act of squeezing the jelly out once the plastic lid is successfully removed serves as part of a fun hands-on snacking experience that kids adore. Also the fact that it comes in fun flavours like lychee, grape, mango, and apple makes it a fan favourite amongst sweet tooths! 

So parents, pop a few of these into your kid’s bag or lunch box and enjoy their fun narration of how they had the fight of their lives trying to tear open the packaging before enjoying the jellies. I’m quite sure this scenario is something you can both relate to no matter the age gap! ;)

9. Peanut Butter Sandwich Biscuits

This one is for the slightly older toddlers and kids who have a great love for peanut butter. The sweet and savoury nature of the peanut butter filling, along with the crunchy, golden-brown crackers that sandwich it makes it a truly beloved treat.

It’s been a household staple for many years because of how it is often conveniently packed, and it is also one of the most popular grab-and-go snacks for both the young and old. One of the best ways to enjoy it is to pack juicy fruits like blueberries, oranges, and grapes along with a handful of these peanut butter sandwich biscuits in your kid’s snack pack to fully enjoy it without ever feeling jelak!

10. Apollo Layer Cake

If there’s one snack that takes the crown when it comes to old school, it’s definitely the Apollo Layer Cake. This soft, layered sponge cake is commonly found in either chocolate, pandan, or plain flavours, with chocolate being the most popular flavour out of the three.

While the texture is commonly soft, I’d say it’s more of a crisp softness because the airy sponge cake comes a little dry once you unwrap it. But it doesn’t end there, because once you take a bite of it, that seemingly “dry” texture easily and quickly softens to a melt-in-your-mouth consistency that feels absolutely comforting with the layer of cream or spread in between its layers.

So if Twiggies aren’t your cup of tea and you’re looking for a cake snack for your little ones, I’d recommend giving the Apollo Layer Cake a try!

11. Dried Fish Fillet Sticks

Remember those thin, chewy strips that smelled a little fishy…and yet it was quite impossible to stop at just one packet? You’ll be (not quite) surprised to know that these dried fish fillet sticks are still a hot after-school snack amongst Malaysian kids because of its thin yet dry, chewy texture and slight savoury-sweetness.

These fish fillet sticks deliver a real satisfying “bite” which makes it one of the top favourites for kids to nibble on especially when they are studying or watching their favourite cartoons. Not to mention how they come conveniently in individual packs for easy accessibility no matter where your little ones are, be it at school, at a picnic together with you, or simply while out and about!

12. Cream Bun

Rare are the days where we see the “roti man” beeping away the horn as he balances countless packs of confectionery on his motorbike or cart. But on the off chance you do spot him, you definitely cannot miss out on letting your little ones try the classic cream bun. 

These pillowy-soft buns are filled with sweet, creamy fillings that remain well-loved to this date. They are also packaged in their iconic white plastic with their respective colour grids that indicate their flavours, such as the green indicating that it contains pandan flavoured cream, brown being chocolate, and so on. 

While local brands like Mighty White and Gardenia have started selling their own cream buns, it truly doesn’t rise up to the level of nostalgia these classic roti man cream buns deliver.

13. Want Want Rice Crackers

Addictive, crunchy, sweet, savoury, addictive…wait have I already said addictive? Wang Wang Rice Crackers are truly a league of their own thanks to its light, crunchy texture that leaves a satisfying savoury hit on your tongue.

They are made primarily from rice flour with sugar, salt, and flavourings which gives it its signature sweet-salty balance. Because its airy crunch is so addictive, I highly recommend packing at least two packs of it in your little one’s snack pack and no more, lest they get way too excited for it and finish up the stash you’ve saved for yourself!