Even though the Brits crush America when it comes to crisp flavors, there are many American snacks that expats simply miss while living in the UK, like grape-flavored anything, CHEEZ-ITS, and Pepperidge Farm Gold Fish. I usually stop whining about American treats not in the UK after a few weeks back from the USA, but when someone is planning to visit, I eagerly get my shopping list out.
My Substitutes For American Snacks You Can’t Get In England
As much as I absolutely love British crisps (truffle flavor is my favorite!), it’s not exactly the best source of nutrition for my kids’ daily snack pack. I’ve substituted their traditional American snacks with British staples like:
- Red Leicester cheddar cheese
- Pink Lady apples
- BBQ Popchips
- Tunnocks caramel wafers
- Tunnocks tea cakes
- and occasionally a Jaffa Cake.
Clearly, I’m still working on the nutrition part.
Finding substitute snacks in the UK has been hard. Not only for me but for my third culture kids who ask for American snacks for birthday and Christmas gifts instead of a toy or the latest Apple gadget. It actually makes for a fairly inexpensive shopping holiday. Well, I suppose only as long as you don’t ship American treats overseas.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read here for the full disclosure policy.
American Snacks You Can’t Get In The UK
If you’re looking for more than just snacks, check out the awesome American package our friends brought to England as a host gift. Otherwise, read on for the full list of snacks and candy you can only get in America.
- CHEEZ-ITS…you can occasionally buy a box on Amazon Prime for big bucks if you can’t wait till the trip to the USA.
- Girl Scout Cookies
- Pepperidge Farm Gold Fish
- Pepperidge Farm Cookies (Milano are the best)
- Cheetos Crunchy (Original)
- Fritos – Corn chips, bean dip, and queso aren’t a thing in the UK. Velveeta does not count as queso!
- Pretzel Bites – There aren’t very many options for pretzels in the UK and they’re tricky to find.
- Nabisco Saltines
- Nabisco Oyster Crackers (or New England Westminster Bakers Oyster Crackers)
- Little Debbie Snacks – I’m fairly certain Brits would love Oatmeal Cream Pies as much as Americans do.
- Hostess Snacks – Ding Dongs, Chocolate Cupcakes…
- Drakes – Devil Dogs, Yodels…
- Entenmann’s little bites – Party cakes, Blueberry, and chocolate chip muffins!
- Graham Crackers
- Teddy Grahams
- Triscuits
- Wheat Thins
- Cliff Bars
- Pirates Booty
- Jiffy Pop – Honestly, this is one snack that surprises me the Brits haven’t imported. Perfect for quintessentially British road trips, glamping, camping, or RV-ing.
[adcode-api type=”asin” asin=”B007EC5MIM”]
- Chex Mix
- Many many cereals that Americans typically like to use for snacks, such as Honey Nut Cheerios, Kix, Frosted Mini-Wheats…
- Sunflower Seeds
- Normal BBQ chips…any brand will do
- Trader Joe’s everything but especially the little almond packs mixed with dried cranberries and dark chocolate chunks. All things pumpkin spice!
- Fig Newtons
- Nutter Butters
- Keebler brand snacks
- Whoopie Pies – Only New Englanders likely relate to this – and Oprah Winfrey. Oprah’s favorite are Wicked ones. This is a top-up every time! But you can make them in the UK while in between visits with one of these whoopie molds and a melon scoop.
[adcode-api type=”asin” asin=”B004VQX8M6″]
And even though I don’t like to admit it, snacks sometimes take the form of candy. So occasionally, these make the American shopping list, too.
American Candy Not Available In UK
Any grape-flavored candy can be added to the American shopping list. Most British candy and even medicine that is purple is typically black currant flavor in the UK.
Certain candy is available in the UK during holidays, such as candy canes and peeps. But if you know you can’t handle the holidays without these items, now is the time to ask a favor from an American friend or be sure to stock up before going to England.
For non-grape related products, other American candy not available in UK includes the following:
- Peppermint Patty
- 100 Grand
- Junior Mints
- Milky Way – The British Milky Way and American Milky Way are not the same.
- Baby Ruth
- Charleston Chew
- Butterfinger
- Twizzlers
- Grape Skittles – The purple skittles in the UK are blackcurrant.
- Peanut Butter M&Ms – Though many M&M flavors are available in the UK, peanut butter ones are hard to find and expensive when you do.
- Fun Dip
- Whoppers
- Milk Duds
- Sugar Daddy
- Hershey Kisses – All flavors of Hershey Kisses are difficult to find in the UK.
- Gobstoppers
- Dum Dums
- Conversation Hearts & Necco in general – Valentine’s Day is typically conversation-less.
- Peeps – This Easter staple is only an American one.
- Candy Corn – Halloween in the UK is without this.
- Candy Canes – These are tricky to find in the UK, especially the specialty flavored ones.
- Swedish Fish – Typically found in American candy stores only in the UK.
[adcode-api type=”asin” asin=”B00032FZKK”]
Shopping List For Treats To Buy In The USA
I used to brainstorm my American snack shopping list at least a month prior for whoever was heading to or coming from the USA. But instead of potentially forgetting something like I did last time, I now keep an American shopping list on my phone.
Click to Save American Snacks Shopping List
Just save as a photo or to the Books app. Make a copy, mark, or circle what needs topping up, then text it to whoever is doing the shopping. No favorite American treat left behind!
Top Snack Only In America
If you’re looking for only 1 American snack to take to Europe or gift to a friend, host, or colleague while traveling out of the USA, the top American snack request is Peanut Butter M&M’s.
There’s something about the peanut butter that makes this American snack still on the no-no list to sell in British supermarkets. There are loads of M&M options in the UK, just not the peanut butter one….yet.
Final Thoughts On American Snacks Not In UK
So, there you have it. American snacks and candy not available in the UK. Save this snack list to your phone and never forget an American snack or candy bar again on a trip to the USA!
Looking for more American stuff not in the UK? Try these.
- American Things You Can’t Buy In The UK
- More American Things You Can’t Get In The UK
- Top 10 American Splurge List
—————————————————————-
31 comments
Oh! And if yu are looking for Goldfish crackers, buy “Finz” they are identical. Hope this helps.
Not sure why you say Fig Newtons, we just don’t call them that. I am a Brit that has lived in the US for 20yrs now – I was raised on Fig rolls, which are exactly the same as Fig Newtons. We also have Cheez-its, they are just called a different name of Cheeselets. There are many items you have listed that have a version in the UK. Same companies operate in both countries – for example Walkers Crisps are actually Lays … look at the logo 😉 You just have to do your research when you move from the US to the UK and vice versa 🙂
Thanks Mel. It’s really about the brands. When you love something and familiar with the same ol, sometimes the alternative just doesn’t hit the spot (especially when you are homesick). But this is definitely helpful for anyone looking for something similar to the brand they are looking for “back home”. I’m sure you understand. Thanks again x
A lot of these things we do have in UK usually at ASDA ( Walmart) or online on Amazon prime or in special old fashioned candy shops and if not we do have equivalent but different brands of course some are harder to find than others.
Thank you, Beverly!
I can’t read anything in the article due to all the ads covering the content.
Hi Stacy. My sincere apologies- definitely annoying and going to fix. Thank you for letting me know. I’ve emailed you a PDF of American snacks you can’t get in the UK. x
Just a comment on Hershey Kisses. They maybe ok for Americans living in U.K. But as a Brit, I do not know one English person that likes Hershey chocolate. It just doesn’t compare to the chocolate over there. They are used to European style.
Hi Les! Completely agree with you. Chocolate is so much better in the UK. The only time Hershey Kisses are really missed is at Christmas time to make the cookies, but I found Maltesers work just as well. x
This is amazing! Thank you for this post!!! I have a friend in the UK that we are going to do a snack exchange and this will be my holy grail for my shopping list!
Hi Lora! You are welcome x
I’ve managed to find a lot of the candy mentioned in shops near me. Most supermarkets have sections with US products too. There a specialist websites selling all the things mentioned too. Yes they’re a bit more expensive but a lot easier than waiting for a delivery from the US.
Thank you, Emsy! Let me know if there is anything, in particular, you always find in all shops that is on the “can’t find” list. I’m heading back in June and excited to see what’s made its way to the British supermarket shelves. x
I’ve met an online friend from the UK, and we were considering sending each other packages, so this was definitely helpful when referring to things they don’t have there. If we do confirm we’re doing this, I’ve saved that picture just in case!
Awesome Z! Just a tip to be sure you factor in shipping. It’s totally reasonable and reliable to ship from the UK to the US, but US to UK is incredibly expensive with shipping delays, too. I’m sure it will be worth it, but don’t want you to be surprised.
I’ve done the done. Be careful of the marmite and Twiglets lol
Hi! I saw your article and wanted to know because you put a “🙅🏻♀️“ to shipping American treats to the UK, is there an issue doing that with customs? Or is it just that it’s expensive?
Hi Kenya! It’s super expensive to ship boxes to the UK and with delays ensuing due to the pandemic, it’s taking 6 months for packages to arrive. Hope that helps!
Hey! I was wondering if they have Swedish Fish, Mike and Ike’s, Lifesavers, and Jolly ranchers in the Uk as well. My English friend told me they don’t have those or if they do they are rare and another website also said it’s an American Exclusive. Is this true? Thanks
Hi Dev! Yes, they are hard to find items. You can order from a specialty candy shop that highlights American candy but otherwise these aren’t easy to find/every day grocery store items. UK Amazon occasionally too! x
Ok thanks a lot! I plan on sending candy and these are some of the ones I planned on sending so it really helps a lot!
Hey I plan on sending candy to my English friend and was wondering if they sell Swedish fish Jolly ranchers, Reese’s and lifesavers because I read on another website they don’t. The rest of this list looks pretty similar to what I dug up Thanks!
We do have some of those and some like jolly ranchers are called tuti fruity
thanks for this. Trying to send stuff to my partner in England, but it looks like you can get hershey kisses- at least on amazon uk
You’re welcome! Yes, Amazon would be the only place for kisses. If you’re thinking about sending chocolate, you can’t find Ghiradelli in the UK either. Just a thought! I’m sure they will love whatever package you send. x
Don’t forget Sour Patch Kids
Hi Donna! You can actually buy sour patch kids in the UK. I believe I last bought some at Tesco Extra or from Rock Candy. Rock Candy sells all sorts of American candy in the UK. They have an online store and used to have a shop in St Albans, if you are looking for some. 🙂
Thank you so much for this list! I was looking for things I could send to my Scottish friends since we can’t visit during the pandemic. Your list went above and beyond! I can’t wait to go shopping for some of these fun items to send. Thanks so much! Great blog!
Hi Karin! Thank you so much. I’m glad I could help you find some snacks to send. Happy shopping! x
We have sunflower seeds in health food shops like Holland & Barrett, and most major supermarkets here
Thanks Katie for sharing! I’ll add this to the list. x