General Mills has announced the return of Nature Valley Peanut Butter Boppers, a snack last seen in 1989. The relaunch is timed with the debut of Stranger Things season 5, tapping into both 1980s nostalgia and modern pop culture. The limited‑time comeback brings back a product that many fans remember as a childhood favorite.
What Are Peanut Butter Boppers?
Originally launched in the mid‑1980s, Peanut Butter Boppers were bite‑sized peanut butter centers coated in crunchy toppings like chocolate or nuts. They were marketed as a fun, portable snack and quickly became a cult favorite before being discontinued in 1989.
The 2025 version stays true to the original concept: a creamy peanut butter filling surrounded by a crunchy coating. According to Parade and AllRecipes, the relaunch will feature flavors inspired by the original lineup, including chocolate and peanut butter combinations.
The Stranger Things Connection
The revival is part of a collaboration between General Mills and Netflix’s Stranger Things. The snack will appear in promotional tie‑ins with the show’s fifth season, which is set in the late 1980s. As Netflix Tudum notes, the product’s retro appeal makes it a natural fit for the series’ nostalgic setting.
Availability
- Launch Date: December 3rd, 2025
- Where: Select retailers nationwide, for a limited time
- Packaging: Retro‑inspired designs that mirror the original 1980s look, updated with Stranger Things branding
Public Reaction
Food outlets like The Takeout and Tasting Table have highlighted the relaunch as part of a broader trend of brands reviving discontinued products to appeal to millennial and Gen X nostalgia. Early reactions on social media show excitement from fans who remember the snack from childhood, alongside curiosity from younger audiences discovering it for the first time.
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