Name: Chick-o-Stick
Brand: Atkinson’s
Place Purchased: gift (but I’ve seen them at 99 Cent Only stores)
Price: unknown
Size: .7 ounces
Calories per ounce: 130
Type: Peanutbutter Crisp
These have always scared me. I think because they’re called Chick-o-Sticks and look like they could be chicken legs. Not something I’d consider to be a sweet treat. And let’s face it, the orange color is pretty freaky. The Atkinson site doesn’t really say why they’re called that except that that’s what they’ve always been called.
What they really are is a peanut butter toffee crisp covered in coconut. Pretty simple. A lot like the inside of a Butterfinger bar, but a bit more solid (as you can see in the close up if you click on the photo).
The taste is good, sweet with a nice hit of salt and a really good roasted peanut butter flavor. Even though the coconut looks pretty minimal, the taste is pretty significant. Unlike some of the other crisped peanut butter candies, this one contains no trans fats, in fact the only fat in it comes from the peanut butter itself. They’re much easier to carry around than some chocolate candies because it doesn’t melt, so I can see this being a good treat for hiking or shipping long distances (the Atkinson website mentions shipping them to Iraq).
I know, I need to get a hold of a Clark bar and Zagnut to round out my tour of peanut crisp.
Rating - 7 out of 10
Related: Butterfinger & 5th Avenue head-to-head
How bout a Chick o stick Mc flurry?
my understanding is that when it first came out in or around the depression, it was shaped like a chicken leg. The coconut made it look kind of like southern fried chicken. The shape wasn’t viable, but the name stuck.
These come in several different sizes, including minis for snacking. Atkinson also has a variation called just “peanut butter stick” or something like that which doesn’t have the coconut. That misses most of the point of the candy, however, and those are usually only found in mini-size in bags.
Jim - I saw the minis at the 99 cent store and was kinda tempted. I actually prefer minis of most things. But I like a lot of variety in my life.
Flavia - Oooh! Kinder Eggs ... I’m going shopping!
Edna - I think they would be great in a shake ... hee!
I’m not familiar with the chicken leg shape, but I’m pretty sure that log-like Chick-o-Sticks used to have a picture of a big ol’ chicken on the package (say, back in the early 70s, when I first developed my addiction). Now that I seem to be developing an allergy to coconut, they irritate my throat, alas. Chick-o-Sticks are fairly easy to find in convenience stores across the southwest, probably because Atkinson is based in Lufkin, TX.
Jim, I’ve never thought of the Atkinson peanut butter bars as being a variation on chick-o-stick, they were just something different. In fact, I probably didn’t realize (when younger and living in Atkinson-plentiful New Mexico) they were from the same company! Anyway, looks like you can order the entire line online at atkinsoncandy.com - including “Pic-O-Sito”, a spicy peanut butter candy!
Tricia - I think I first encountered chick-o-sticks in the days of the chicken on the package and that’s probably why I never tried them.
I think I was afraid they’d be like those “chicken in a biskit” crackers, which would be unfortunate for a candy.
Pic-o-sito sounds pretty good though.
OMG…you mean there isn’t any chicken in this?! I never tried them either because they looked like old fashioned candy that would be gross, like ribbon candy or something. But this did used to have a chicken picture on it, so I thought it must be some crackery fake chicken flavour thing. It actually sounds kind of good, now!
I love Chick-O-Stick, but they have to be fresh. I’ve eaten hard and chewy ones. Yuck. I recently watched a segment on the Food channel that showed how the sticks are made. Pretty cool. I’ve enjoyed them for years and have now turned my kids on to them.
These are probably my favorite go-to summer candy (now and laters are close second). Butterfinger-like goodness, and no mess to worry about. I remember our old ice cream man would sell the long chico sticks.
what i would like to have is a recipe for the cocanut bars candies better known as chick o stick
I’ve heard of Chick-o-Stick just yesterday from a friend but I haven’t tasted or seen an actual one.
CHICKOSTICKS IS SUPERBEAST!! You can’t ever get enough!
My favorite candy in the world is Chick O Sticks!! I found the lo0ng ones at my local gas station, and I just now googled Chick o sticks. At atkinsons webite, they sell them there, cheap. I am ordering a box!! 9 dollars free shipping, for a box of 36 logs. Cant beat that!! Thats one a day for a month, with six to share!
Chick-O-Sticks were invented in the early 1940’s. There were originally called chicken bones, because the candy was shaped like a chicken leg!!
K Golden
candy retailer
You can get the Chick O Sticks minis at Wal-Mart. I get them all the time!
Chick-O-Sticks can be found at Wal-Mart and Dollar Stores. I buy mine at the Dollar Store for only a dollar a 4.5 OZ bag. Needless to say I buy them two and three bags at a time. I love the stuff! I can’t believe this thread was started on 12/31/69! Wow
Here in Pittsburgh we call them - cheek-o-sticks
I dont’ know why
Check out the sugar free chick o sticks too. they are great Taste just like the originals
i was frightened of one of these, but it turned to be pretty good
Hey there,
I’m a huge Chick-O-Stick fan & I just wanted to point out that they come in varying sizes (3 per last count) and they are VEGAN.
Also, I’ve used them as ingredients in recipes and they are spectacular. Check out my Chick-O-Stick cookies!:
http://a-soy-bean.blogspot.com/2010/02/super-peanut-buttery-chick-o-stick.html
The candy is truly great when fresh. I always snap mine in half before I buy it. (if it bends it’s stale and VERY chewy) Funny thing about all the concerns with the name….the factory is right next door to a Pilgram’s Pride chicken processing plant! LOL! But that is total coincidence!
I LOVE CHICK-O-STICKS I ORDERED THE SUGAR FREE ONES BUT I HAVE NOT RECIEVED THEM.
I HOPE THEY ARE AS GOOD AS THE REGULAR ONES.
WE HAVE BEEN EATING THEM SINCE I WAS VERY YOUNG.
I absolutely love the Chick O Stick. It’s probably one of my all time favorites. I was recently in the U.S. and looked all over for them. Finally, found them at the grocery store - I bought about 30 sticks I’m in love with the flavor - I can’t get enough of it. They are the best.
In the middle of the last century (lol) we ate a candy called Chicken Bones. Same concept peanut-butter-inside-coconut-outside concept, different look. A sandy color, more like fried chicken; more texture in the toasted coconut coating; clipped ends, like ribbon candy.
I can see how the day-glo orange color and industrial log of the Chick-o-Stick might scare off some people. We always keep the small, individually wrapped ones(available in a tub at Costco)in our office candy dish. People either love them or hate the sight of them - nobody’s neutral!
I’ve got these from one lovely lady a couple of months ago. I probably never would get to chance to taste them otherwise, because living in Slovenia is hard to buy even a large amount of the European sweets.
I loved the taste, a bit too sweet for me maybe, but it was something I’ve never eaten before, not even similar to anything I have had, so it was a nice experience.
Oh and by the way, I love your blog. Keep writing, I can’t wait to see updates every time I log on web.
Chick~O~Sticks are the best I have loved them since I was a child and I even got my girls hooked on them they love them . Btw All Family Dollar Stores sells them ... I’m a Ast. Manager at one and that’s where I get mine .
As I recall, Chick-O-Stick once had the slogan, “Fills you up like a chicken dinner!”. Of course, it didn’t, and we found the slogan hilarious as kids. But I’m still happy when I occasionally find it.
K D, I actually bought very small size sugar free at the penny candy store..very good (also bought (Brachs? didn’t say) Candy corn, and Necco’s peanut butter taffys, Mary Janes and Squirrell Nut Zippers.)
Yes, chickens used to be logos on Chick-o’Stick…and those and the Chicken in a Biskitt crackers from Nabisco.
these were my favies as a kid in the 70’s 80’s they were just long sticks like a log
Chic-o Sticks were my favorite candy in the late 60’s when I played little league baseball. I’d get a Chic-o Stick and small coke after every baseball game. Cost only about 15 cents total. However, for some reason I recall them being more yellow/tan colored and not that color of orange. My wife swears they always had that orange color, but I don’t remember it that way. Does anyone else remember the less orangy colored Chic-o Sticks?
you are right they were tan/orange tint they were not this dark
Hello, I work at a retail store and we sell your product chick-o-stick. We have a few in jars and they are all different shades in color. We have 1 unopened box, and we were trying to figure out the expiration date on it. Can you help us? The only code that we can see is 1604261. Does this mean anything? Item # from box is 00628. Thank you so much!
Erin
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