4 min readI may have been born on April Fools’ Day, but I’m no sucker. Over the years, I’ve developed a discerning eye when it comes to the holiday. I can spot a prank from a mile away. One of the more underrated holidays, in my opinion, April Fools’ Day can often be overlooked, and plenty of people don’t even clock a good joke when they see one. Couldn’t be me! I appreciate a well-thought-out prank, whether the product comes to life or simply lives on in online infamy.
Much to my delight, many of my favorite food and beverage brands are going all out for April Fools’ Day with creative “product launches,” absurd new flavors, and other fake-outs I almost wish were real. Here’s what I’ve got my eyes on this year.
Halls
Everyone’s favorite cough drop is celebrating the holiday with a silly new flavor: Grandma’s Purse! The joke flavor, which pays homage to the grand keeper of all cough drops, is made “with a true vintage taste” and “aged to perfection,” with notes of lavender and lint. Mmmm.
Mash Gang
Nonalcoholic beer brand Mash Gang is reinventing how people gather at the office. Your water cooleris getting a rebrand as the new Office Keg, replacing that boring old water with a rotating selection of award-winning NA beers, dispensed on demand. “HR hasn’t approved it, which is how you know it’s good.”- probably your coworker.
Deep Indian Kitchen
It’s all about the protein these days, and Deep Indian Kitchen is getting in on the trend with a protein shake flavor we never saw coming: Coconut Curry. A high-protein drinkable twist on a Deep Indian Kitchen favorite, the shake is thankfully all bark and no bite, meaning you won’t actually find it in stores.
Stella Rosa
The semi-sweet sparkling wine brand is branching out from its typically fruity flavors, like Blueberry and Pineapple Chilim, with an on-trend addition to its portfolio: Pickle Wine. As the brand puts it, it pairs perfectly with a deli sandwich and a side of skepticism. All I know is Moira Rose would not approve.
Eight O’Clock Coffee
Times a-tickin’! In honor of the holiday, Eight O’Clock Coffee is debuting the Brew O’Clock Alarm, an AI-powered alarm clock that wakes you up by brewing a fresh cup of coffee at 8 a.m. on the dot. Um, can we start a GoFundMe to bring this vision to life?!
Baby Bottle Pop
If you’re a millennial, you likely remember when Baby Bottle Pops first started appearing in candy stores. Now, the sugary-sweet candy is getting an adult makeover for April Fools’, ensuring you get all of the nutrients you need. Boasting “three new flavors engineered for the realities of adult life,” Baby Bottle Pop is tapping into ’90s nostalgia. Perfect for those on their wellness journey, it now comes in Protein, Fiber, and Salmon flavors for those of us who are “exhausted, supplement-obsessed, and panic-Google ‘signs of magnesium deficiency.’”
Keebler
Start your day in a whole new way thanks to Keebler’s new Hollow Tree Toothpaste. The new toiletry must-have is inspired by your favorite Keebler treats and comes in flavors like Fudge Fresh, Elf Enamel, Cookiepaste, Shortbread Shine, and Brownie Brush. Who needs minty-fresh breath anyway?
Sumo Citrus
Why keep growing sphere-shaped fruit when you can create it in fun new shapes? Sumo Citrus is introducing Sumo Citrus Square, grown specifically to allow for easy stacking in your fridge. I can’t believe no one thought of it sooner.
Top Ramen
Nissin Top Ramen andButterfingerare teaming up to produce the ultimate sweet-and-savory mash-up: Top Ramen Butterfinger. Never a brand to shy away from bold, out-of-the-box flavors, Top Ramen is going in a whole new direction with this candy bar-inspired creation.
The Halal Guys
From food cart to fine dining, The Halal Guys is taking its iconic street food off the streets and into a five-star restaurant. The new concept, 53rd & Sixth, will offer elevated options, including Gold-Plated White Sauce Service, 24K Falafel, Halal-Certified Wagyu Platters, and curated beverage pairings. If only.
Crunch
Who needs butter on their popcorn when they can add a sweet touch with Buncha Crunch? Just in time for the holiday, Crunch is making all your movie-theater dreams come true with its Buncha Crunch Dispenser, perfect for delivering that sweet-and-salty combo we all know and love.
Mother’s Cookies
Mother’s Cookies, the beloved animal cracker brand, is doing a full 180 with the launch of Ultimate Dad Mode Cookies. The bold new shapes pay homage to dads with power tools, game controllers, and sports paraphernalia.
Baskin-Robbins
You may have made it yourself as a kid, but now Baskin-Robbins is offering Ice Cream Soup you don’t have to wait to melt. Pre-churned, canned ice cream soup is a spoon-worthy twist on everyone’s favorite dessert.
Cup Noodles
Forget noodles in a cup—it’s all about noodles in your hair now. Cup Noodles is bringing its signature noodles to the beauty aisle with its Cup Noodles Heatless Curls Kit, which promises easy overnight curls. Add in the Broth Boost setting spray, and you’ll have flawless ramen waves in no time.
St Pierre Bakery
Best known for its brioche, St Pierre Bakery is pairing its Belgian waffles with White-Glove Waffle Butler Service this year. The brand is dispatching butlers to “oversee precision syrup pours, 45-degree aesthetic plating, and anti-soggy crumb management” to ensure proper enjoyment.