Bruce Horovitz

USA TODAY

Who knows — maybe a Doritos-infused apple cobbler is up next.

But for folks wondering what else they can do with Doritos, the latest ooey, gooey, cheesy answer will be available nationwide starting Wednesday at 7-Eleven stores in the form of "Doritos Loaded" hot snacks.

In social media, they've already been dubbed "inside-out nachos."

Think of them almost as warm, triangular-shaped mozzarella sticks — coated and pan-fried — that have a signature Doritos taste. A pack of four will sell for $1.99. These snacks are squarely aimed at Millennials in search of low-budget, high-flavor eats. And for 7-Eleven, it's a way to attract younger consumers who just might purchase a Slurpee and a pack of gum while they're in the store.

"This is our biggest snack rollout, ever," says Nancy Smith, senior vice president of merchandizing at 7-Eleven. "It hits our Slurpee and Big Gulp target."

Snacks are us. In the U.S. alone, more than 9,000 snack products were launched between 2008 and 2012, reports Mintel, the research specialist. Snacking — in place of eating full meals — has become a way of life for Millennials, in particular.

At the same time, the new line keeps PepsiCo's steadily growing Doritos empire rolling into new products. For the past two years, the wild success of Doritos Locos Tacos has helped to turn around Taco Bell. Can Doritos Loaded possibly do the same for 7-Eleven?

One food guru, who thinks they could be a hit, isn't exactly thrilled about it. The snack comes stuffed with 1,070 milligrams of sodium. There's such a national "anxiety" for eating healthier — which can't always be met — that some folks are simply throwing up their hands and opting to eat unhealthy, says Darra Goldstein, founding editor of Gastronomica, a journal about food and culture. "Anything that promises quick pleasure and doesn't take a lot of fussing over will find a market," she says.

No less concerned is nutritional advocate Michael Jacobson. "Considering PepsiCo's vow to move in a healthier direction, it's disappointing to see the company 'innovate' such a junky food," says Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

But the snack is actually what Millennials want more of, insists Ann Mukherjee, chief marketing officer at PepsiCo. "It's a mini-meal to be eaten on the go," she says. "At the end of the day, it's about balanced eating."

The snack is stuffed with three kinds of cheese: American, cheddar and Romano. But the companies won't divulge the secret seasonings. The snacks arrive at the store frozen and are reheated there.

At the same time, PepsiCo also is rolling out only at 7-Eleven Mountain Dew Solar Flare, which Mukherjee says is specifically paired with its new Doritos Loaded snacks.

Doritos Loaded was co-developed by PepsiCo and 7-Eleven and was tested for several months in the Washington, D.C., market. The snack evolved several times — including the seasonings for the right taste and Doritos-like coloring, says Mukherjee.

The biggest-selling snack at 7-Eleven currently is a slice of pepperoni pizza, says Smith, who insists that the company doesn't expect Doritos Loaded to put a dent in its pizza sales.

More versions, with different flavored Doritos, could be on tap down the line, Mukherjee says.

Apparently, you don't have to be a Millennial to go for Doritos Loaded. At a recent product sampling in the Los Angeles market, a veteran rocker with a special tongue for taste showed up unannounced and sampled away: Gene Simmons of Kiss.