Sweets and Snacks Facts

Sweets & Snacks make food interesting. Read how chocolate works, how ice cream works and even why Krispy Kreme doughnuts are absolutely irresistible.

Learn More

Cheetos are more than just tasty, dusty cheese puffs. They've even inspired a major motion picture. And why is the snack so addictive, anyway?

By Alia Hoyt

Filled with a variety of ingredients, such as cinnamon, honey, seeds and brown sugar, hotteok is a fried pancake that's an extremely popular street food in Korea.

By Laurie L. Dove

You've seen the ads and surely you've seen the "left" and "right" candy bars. But come on. Are they playing mind games with us or are these two bars really different?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Advertisement

The Swedish tradition called Lördagsgodis is a celebration of all things sugary – and it happens every single weekend.

By Jeremy Glass

A beloved ingredient in British children's literature, treacle has a long, sweet history. Let's dip in.

By Alia Hoyt

This warm, fluffy, Polish treat is stuffed with a cream- or fruit-based filling and is a pre-Lent staple served on both Fat Tuesday and Fat Thursday.

By Tara Yarlagadda

These colorful, chalk-like wafers hit the market in 1847. But they certainly aren't the most flavorful of treats. So why are they the classic candy we love to hate?

By John Donovan

Advertisement

A favorite treat in British children's stories of the past, Turkish delight might be an unfamiliar taste to American readers. So, what is it like, and how do you make it? We get insight from the Culinary Institute of America.

By Alia Hoyt

If you've ever dreamt of living out 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' now's your chance — golden ticket hunt, winning a candy factory and all.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

You may be a huge fan of Dairy Queen's Blizzard treat, but this may be news to you: That frozen stuff isn't ice cream. In fact Dairy Queen doesn't sell ice cream at all.

By Jeremy Glass

These nuts could be some of the healthiest we've ever come across. So why can't the pili nut crack the health food market?

By Jeremy Glass

Advertisement

Pringles aren't like other potato chips. And back in 2007 Procter & Gamble sued to declare the snacks weren't even potato chips at all.

By Jeremy Glass

This native New Zealand 'liquid gold' honey may make you want to abandon the bear. But does it really have medicinal properties, and why is it so expensive?

By Tara Yarlagadda

The mildly flavored, slightly oily, softly crunchy macadamia is prized all over the world, but grown mostly in Hawaii.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Ruby chocolate is a growing worldwide sensation, but the exact recipe and processing techniques are closely guarded secrets.

By Tara Yarlagadda

Advertisement

They all taste good but they don't mean the same thing.

By Kathryn Whitbourne

A study found that, on average, it takes 264 gallons (1,000 liters) of water to make a single chocolate bar. Now that's a hefty footprint.

By Jesslyn Shields

Because that's how much these exclusive Swedish crisps cost. At more than $11 each, they're the world's most expensive. The money's going to charity, but still …

By Laurie L. Dove

Or is the famous flavor simply made up?

By Sarah Gleim

Advertisement

When the sweet stuff is mixed with water, it suddenly wants to bond with everything it encounters. Why so clingy, sugar?

By Alison Cooper

Junk food is a miracle of edible engineering. Food scientists have figured out how to trick our brains into eating all that salt, sugar and fat without thinking about the calories. How do they do it? While you're learning, I'll get some Ding Dongs.

By Dave Roos

The marriage of salty and sweet is one that shouldn't work but magically does. Our tongues recognize flavors for a reason -- and when it comes to sweet and salty, biology is hard at work.

By Debra Ronca

From intense craving to shame over loss of control — this is the life of the chocoholic. Is the term chocoholic just a joke, or does science say there's something to it?

By Debra Ronca

Advertisement

Summer days by the pool call for delicious, nutritious snacks that are quick to prepare. While you're splishing, splashing and having fun in the water, let your taste buds have some fun with these 10 easy poolside snacks.

By Stefani Newman

Americans eat more than 15 pounds of ice cream each year, but there's more to the creamy, cool concoction than classic vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Check out these 10 unexpected ice cream flavors and ingredients. We dare you to try them!

By Heather Kolich