The Classic American Candy That's Better Straight From The Freezer

It's not a secret that sweet tooths love shoving chocolate bars and candies into the freezer to create a cold, sweet version of their favorite treat. You can use this trick on pretty much any candy you want, from the best chocolate bars like Snickers and Reese's cups to fruity bites like Skittles and gummy bears. But for a frozen blast from the past, it's time to grab some Charleston Chews and stuff them into your freezer.

The classic nougat-based candy Americans ate in the '60s is now over 100 years old after releasing in 1922. The original Charleston Chew is chewy, vanilla-flavored nougat coated in chocolate, while variations include chocolate- and strawberry-flavored nougats as well. The candy is instantly recognizable thanks to the bright yellow packaging and bold blue text. And if you pay close enough attention to the package, you'll notice it actually reads, "Try frozen!"

To freeze your Charleston Chew bar, keep them sealed and stick them in the freezer for at least an hour or until the nougat is hard. Upon taking your first bite, you'll discover the soft, flexible nougat has turned into a cold, crunchy candy bar with a serious snap, giving the bar a more unique texture than its room-temperature counterpart. Plus, freezing the bar makes it a less dense treat that, paired with the coldness, becomes a refreshing bite. You can crunch on the frozen nougats or suck on them like a jolly rancher. Really, frozen Charleston Chews are just the next best hard candy.

The classic way to eat a frozen Charleston Chew is not to simply chomp down on the bar. Instead, you're supposed to smash it on the wall or floor before opening so the bar shatters in the wrapper and you can pop the pieces into your mouth for a fun frozen snack. (Plus, you can't say it's not a hoot to destroy a candy bar before eating it.) You can also buy boxes of mini–Charleston Chews and freeze them to create bite-sized candy bars with maximum crunch.

Either way, fans adore frozen Charleston Chew. One fan on Reddit said, "One of the goat candies when frozen," while another exclaimed, "My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!!!!" One wrote, "Frozen is the only way to eat these," and many agree. Some admitted preferring them out of the fridge for the sake of their teeth, as one described them, "Delicious tooth breakers." But apparently, the sensation of crunching into the frozen nougat or letting it melt in your mouth is worth a trip to the dentist.

While the frozen Charleston Chews are plenty delicious on their own, fans on Reddit reported they're great with other foods, too: slathering with peanut butter, on the side of a mug of fresh root beer (almost making it a deconstructed root beer float), or as a topping to a bowl of yogurt or ice cream.