M&M’s Is Releasing an All-New Candy—and We Tried It First

It’s M&M’s world and we’re just living in it. We’re about to enter peak M&M’s season, between Halloween trick-or-treating and holiday baking filled with red and green candies—and, of course, the iconic holiday commercials. 

However, even with giving away free Halloween candy and preparing to roll out the “He’s real. They’re real,” Santa Claus ad, the brand has still had time to make the next few months extra sweet. First, M&M’s introduced a new Honey Roasted Peanut flavor to its permanent lineup. Then, it announced a collaboration with Crocs for two new, brightly colored pairs of shoes. And the brand has already got us excited for 2026 with the promise of one of three new bakery-inspired flavors, which fans are voting on.

Somehow, M&M’s isn’t stopping there. Instead, it’s releasing a first-of-its-kind candy that is sure to turn heads. M&M’s is releasing its first-ever freeze-dried candy, new M&M’s Caramel Pop’d.

Introducing the New Freeze-Dried M&M’s Caramel Pop’d

Freeze-dried candy seems to be everywhere, and the world’s biggest candy brands are getting in on it, too. Skittles, Jolly Rancher, SweeTarts, and Lemonhead have all released freeze-dried versions of their iconic chewy and hard candies. But, M&M’s is the first national brand to turn chocolate candies into crunchy, airy, crispy treats. 

The new M&M’s Pop’d Caramel candy takes the caramel-filled M&M and freeze-dries it to remove the moisture for a whole new textural experience. The result is an extra crunchy exterior, with a rich caramel center.

M&M’s new Pop’d Caramel candy is following its predecessor, Skittles Pop’d, in joining TikTok Shop first, where it will launch as 5.5-ounce pouches for $5.99 on Nov. 3. Then, the candy will be available to purchase at M&M’s retail stores and on its site beginning Nov. 10. Finally, it will hit retailer shelves nationwide beginning in January, with more sizing options to come later next year. 

I tried the new M&M’s Pop’d Caramel early, and here is my honest review.

My Honest Review of M&M’s Caramel Pop’d

I’ll be honest, I was a little confused when I heard that M&M’s was freeze-drying its candy. I’d only ever seen crunchy and chewy candies in freeze-dried options, but a quick web search led me down a rabbit hole of freeze-dried Snickers, Milk Duds, and even Oreos. 

As it turns out, many small candy companies have already been freeze-drying M&M’s Caramel candies, which is likely why the brand chose that first, rather than its original M&M or something like the peanut- or pretzel-filled.

M&M’s Caramel Pop’d are unlike any freeze-dried candy I’ve tasted before. It has the same initial crunch, but once you reach the caramel-filled center, the moisture seems to return, and the caramel regains its thicker, chewy texture. 

I’d love to know what a traditional freeze-dried M&M might taste like—or even a different type of filled M&M that might keep its crunch throughout. It’s certainly a unique way to eat M&M’s, and a more affordable way to get freeze-dried M&M’s if you buy them off TikTok Shop.

While I might stick to the original Caramel M&M to enjoy the full chewy, chocolatey flavor for now, I’m absolutely going to try any other M&M Pop’d that makes its way to shelves.