We Tried 21 Little Debbie Snacks In One Day And This Is The Definitive Ranking
I embarked on the sugar-filled journey that childhood dreams are made of – sampling 21 Little Debbie treats in a single day.
Armed with milk, coffee, and a serious sweet tooth, I methodically tasted each iconic snack cake to determine which deserves the crown.
My blood sugar may never recover, but I’ve created this definitive ranking to guide your future convenience store decisions.
1. Oatmeal Creme Pie: The Unbeatable Classic
Nothing transports me back to elementary school faster than that first soft, chewy bite of an Oatmeal Creme Pie. The spiced oatmeal cookies have the perfect texture – not too firm, not too crumbly while the marshmallow creme center delivers just the right amount of sweetness.
I found myself closing my eyes after the first bite, momentarily lost in nostalgic bliss. The balance between the hearty oatmeal flavor and the creamy filling remains unmatched in the snack cake universe.
Fun fact: Oatmeal Creme Pies were the very first snack Little Debbie ever produced back in 1960, and their recipe has barely changed since. Sometimes perfection doesn’t need improvement.
2. Nutty Buddy: Peanut Butter Wafer Wonderland
Crispy wafers layered with creamy peanut butter and encased in a chocolate coating – the Nutty Buddy is engineering genius in snack form. The satisfying snap of each bite gives way to that perfect peanut butter-chocolate combination that’s impossible to resist.
My fingers inevitably ended up covered in melted chocolate, but that’s part of the experience. The structural integrity somehow holds despite the multiple layers, making it the perfect on-the-go indulgence.
Originally called the “Nutty Bar” until 2016, this treat has maintained its devoted following through the name change. Pro tip: refrigerate these for an extra-special textural experience that amplifies the contrast between crisp wafer and smooth filling.
3. Swiss Rolls: Chocolate Spiral Sensation
Unraveling a Swiss Roll is half the fun – watching that spiral of chocolate cake and cream slowly unfold creates anticipation that the flavor absolutely delivers on. The thin chocolate coating adds a delightful snap before you reach the moist cake beneath.
The cream filling has that signature sweetness that pairs perfectly with the rich chocolate cake. Something magical happens when you refrigerate these rolls the texture transforms into something almost truffle-like.
I’ve always appreciated how Swiss Rolls manage to avoid the dreaded dryness that plagues many packaged chocolate cakes. Despite being wrapped in plastic, they maintain their moisture and flavor, making them a reliable choice when you need a chocolate fix.
4. Zebra Cakes: Striped Splendor Worth Celebrating
Zebra Cakes stand out in the Little Debbie lineup with their distinctive chocolate stripes drizzled across white icing. The visual appeal matches the flavor experience – light vanilla cake filled with cream and coated in that sweet, crackly icing that melts in your mouth.
Biting through the layers reveals a perfect textural journey. The icing provides initial resistance before giving way to the soft cake and creamy center.
These treats always felt special in my lunchbox growing up – something about those fancy stripes made them seem more sophisticated than other snack cakes. While technically similar to Christmas Tree Cakes and other seasonal varieties, there’s something about the classic zebra pattern that makes these the superior version.
5. Star Crunch: Cosmic Caramel Crispies
Star Crunch delivers a textural experience unlike anything else in the Little Debbie universe. The chewy caramel mixed with crispy rice creates a satisfying resistance when you bite down, while the chocolate coating ties everything together in a stellar package.
I found myself savoring each bite, letting the complex textures fully develop. The slight salt in the caramel balances the sweetness perfectly, preventing sugar overload.
These treats have spawned countless homemade copycat recipes online, but nothing quite captures the specific chew-to-crunch ratio of the original. The compact size makes them dangerous – it’s far too easy to grab another after finishing the first one, especially when they’re served slightly chilled.
6. Honey Bun: Glazed Morning Indulgence
Sticky fingers are guaranteed with the Honey Bun, but that sweet glazed coating makes it worth every napkin. The swirled cinnamon pastry underneath has a surprising lightness that prevents it from feeling too heavy, despite its substantial appearance.
Warming these up for about 10 seconds in the microwave elevates them to an entirely different level. The glaze softens into a gooey layer while the pastry becomes even more tender.
While marketed as a snack cake, Honey Buns have always struck me as more of a breakfast item – the perfect companion to morning coffee when you’re craving something sweet to start your day. The cinnamon flavor is subtle but adds that perfect warm spice note that makes these irresistible.
7. Strawberry Shortcake Roll: Berry Bliss Cylinder
Strawberry Shortcake Rolls bring a fruity twist to the Little Debbie lineup with their vibrant pink appearance and sweet berry aroma. The moment you unwrap one, that distinct artificial-yet-delicious strawberry scent hits your nose, creating instant craving.
The cake itself has a pleasant softness, wrapped around that signature cream filling. The strawberry flavor definitely leans toward the candy-like interpretation rather than fresh fruit, but that’s exactly what makes it so nostalgic.
These rolls have always been slightly divisive – strawberry fans consider them a top-tier choice, while chocolate devotees often pass them by. I found myself surprisingly drawn to their unique flavor profile amid the chocolate-heavy competition, appreciating the palate-cleansing quality they brought to my tasting marathon.
8. Fudge Rounds: Chocolate Cookie Sandwich Champions
Fudge Rounds deliver that perfect cookie-to-cream ratio that makes you wonder why you’d ever bother with actual Oreos. The soft chocolate cookies have a brownie-like quality – fudgy and rich without being too cake-like or too crisp.
The white creme filling provides the perfect sweet contrast to the chocolate cookies. The distinctive swirl pattern on top isn’t just decorative, it creates texture variations that enhance the eating experience.
As a kid, I developed a specific Fudge Round eating technique: carefully separating the cookies to lick the filling, then reuniting them for the final bites. As an adult, I found myself reverting to this method during my tasting, proving some snack habits never die, no matter how sophisticated we pretend to be.
9. Chocolate Cupcakes: Frosted Party Classics
Little Debbie’s Chocolate Cupcakes nail that birthday party vibe with their swirled white frosting and sprinkles atop chocolate cake. The frosting has that magical property of being firm yet yielding – not quite buttercream, not quite fondant, but entirely satisfying.
Beneath the decorative top lies a surprisingly moist chocolate cake with cream filling at its center. The cake-to-frosting ratio is well-balanced, avoiding the top-heavy problem that plagues many cupcakes.
These have always been the showstoppers of the Little Debbie line – the treats you’d hope to see when someone brought snacks to share. While not as complex as some other offerings, they deliver exactly what you want from a chocolate cupcake: straightforward, nostalgic sweetness that satisfies without trying to be fancy or sophisticated.
10. Fancy Cakes: Golden Delights With Chocolate Hats
Fancy Cakes live up to their name with an elegant appearance – golden yellow cake topped with chocolate icing and that signature white squiggle. The cake itself has a delicate vanilla flavor that provides the perfect neutral canvas for the richer chocolate topping.
Biting into one reveals a cream filling that adds moisture and sweetness to each bite. The contrast between the light cake and the more intense chocolate creates a balanced flavor experience that never overwhelms.
Many don’t realize these are essentially the inverse of the Chocolate Cupcakes – same concept, different flavor profile. While less flashy than their chocolate siblings, Fancy Cakes offer a more sophisticated flavor balance that appeals to those who find all-chocolate options too intense.
11. Birthday Cake: Festive Vanilla Celebration
Sprinkles make everything better, and Birthday Cake snacks prove this universal truth. The vanilla cake base has that distinct birthday cake flavor that somehow differs from regular vanilla slightly more buttery and rich, with notes that evoke memories of childhood parties.
The white frosting creates a sweet canvas for the rainbow sprinkles, which add both visual appeal and tiny pops of texture. Breaking one open reveals cream filling that adds moisture to each bite.
Unlike many birthday-themed treats that go overboard with sweetness, these maintain a reasonable sugar level that doesn’t immediately trigger a headache. The individual packaging makes them perfect for bringing that birthday feeling to regular days when you need a small celebration – no candles or singing required.
12. Devil Squares: Devilishly Dark Chocolate Cakes
Devil Squares deliver a more intense chocolate experience than many other Little Debbie offerings. The dark, rich cake has a depth of flavor that suggests actual cocoa rather than just sweetness and food coloring.
Each square comes topped with a thick layer of fudgy frosting that adds sweetness and an extra hit of chocolate intensity. The cake itself maintains an impressive moistness despite its shelf-stable nature.
What these squares lack in visual excitement (they’re literally brown squares), they make up for in flavor complexity. They’ve always struck me as the slightly more sophisticated option in the Little Debbie lineup – the treat you graduate to when you start appreciating darker chocolate. Perfect with coffee, these squares offer a more adult-friendly flavor profile while still delivering nostalgic snack cake vibes.
13. Unicorn Cakes: Magical Pastel Fantasy Treats
Unicorn Cakes burst onto the scene as Little Debbie’s answer to the mythical creature trend, and they deliver visual delight with their pastel pink and blue swirled icing. Beyond their Instagram-worthy appearance, these cakes offer a surprisingly complex flavor – the vanilla cake base has subtle berry notes that complement the colorful frosting.
Breaking one open reveals a cream filling that adds moisture to each bite. The sprinkles aren’t just decorative – they add tiny pops of texture and sweetness throughout the eating experience.
While clearly marketed toward younger consumers (or the young at heart), these cakes avoid being overly sweet or artificial tasting. The flavors are balanced enough for adult palates while the whimsical appearance appeals to kids, making them a surprisingly versatile addition to the Little Debbie lineup.
14. Jelly Creme Pie: Sandwich Cookie With Fruity Heart
Jelly Creme Pies offer a unique twist in the Little Debbie universe – a vanilla cookie sandwich filled with both creamy vanilla filling and a sweet grape jelly center. The combination creates a PB&J vibe minus the peanut butter, with the cookie standing in as the bread element.
The cookies themselves have a pleasant vanilla flavor and just the right amount of softness, not too crisp, not too cake-like. The dual filling creates an interesting textural experience as you encounter both creamy and slightly gelatinous elements in each bite.
These pies tend to be overlooked among flashier options, but they deserve recognition for their distinctive flavor profile. The grape jelly center provides a fruity brightness that cuts through the sweetness of the cream, creating a more complex taste experience than many of their snack cake siblings.
15. Raisin Creme Pie: Fruit-Studded Sandwich Cookies
Raisin Creme Pies might be the most divisive item in the Little Debbie lineup – raisin haters avoid them completely while devotees consider them underrated treasures. The oatmeal cookies studded with raisins provide a hearty, almost breakfast-like quality that sets them apart from sweeter options.
The vanilla creme filling adds necessary moisture and sweetness to balance the more robust cookie flavor. There’s something wonderfully old-fashioned about these pies; they feel like something your grandmother might have packed in your parents’ lunch decades ago.
I approached these with skepticism (team chocolate here), but found myself impressed by the balanced flavor profile. The raisins add natural sweetness and chewy texture while the oatmeal cookie provides satisfying substance. These aren’t trying to be dessert so much as a substantial snack with just enough sweetness to qualify as a treat.
16. Chocolate Chip Creme Pie: Cookie Sandwich Comfort
Chocolate Chip Creme Pies combine the familiar comfort of chocolate chip cookies with Little Debbie’s signature cream filling. The cookies maintain a pleasant softness while still providing more substance than cake-based offerings in the lineup.
The vanilla cream center creates a perfect sweet counterpoint to the chocolate-studded cookies. Each bite delivers that classic chocolate chip cookie flavor profile but with added creaminess from the filling.
While not breaking any new ground in the flavor department, these pies execute their concept well. They tap into the universal appeal of chocolate chip cookies while adding the Little Debbie twist of cream filling. For cookie lovers seeking something slightly more substantial than some of the cake-based options, these pies hit the sweet spot between cookie jar familiarity and packaged snack convenience.
17. Turtle Brownies: Caramel-Pecan Chocolate Squares
Turtle Brownies attempt to capture the beloved chocolate-caramel-pecan combination in shelf-stable form. The brownie base provides a fudgy chocolate foundation, while the caramel layer and pecan pieces on top add complexity in both flavor and texture.
The chocolate drizzle finishing touch adds visual appeal and another layer of chocolate intensity. When fresh, these brownies do a respectable job of mimicking their bakery counterparts, though the pecans can sometimes lack the roasted flavor of freshly baked versions.
Among Little Debbie’s brownie offerings, these rank as the most ambitious flavor-wise. The multiple components create a more sophisticated taste experience than simpler options. While they don’t quite reach the heights of fresh-baked turtle brownies, they offer a convenient approximation that satisfies the craving when a bakery isn’t within reach.
18. Apple Pie: Portable Pastry Pouch
Apple Pie from Little Debbie delivers exactly what the name promises – a handheld version of the classic American dessert. The flaky pastry exterior houses a sweet apple filling spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, creating a portable version of the beloved pie experience.
The powdered sugar dusting on top adds sweetness and visual appeal. Unlike many fruit pies that can be overwhelmingly sweet, these maintain a nice balance between the natural apple flavor and added sweetness.
While they can’t compete with fresh-baked pies in terms of filling texture and pastry flakiness, they offer a surprisingly satisfying approximation. They excel as a grab-and-go option when you’re craving fall flavors but don’t have time for a proper dessert. Warming them slightly enhances both the flavor and texture, bringing them closer to the fresh-baked experience.
19. Cherry Pie: Ruby-Filled Pastry Pockets
Cherry Pie pockets bring the classic diner dessert into convenient handheld form. The pastry crust encases a sweet cherry filling that captures the familiar flavor of cherry pie filling – more candy-like than fresh fruit, but delicious in its own right.
The powdered sugar coating adds sweetness and prevents the pastry from feeling too dry. The bright red filling provides a pop of color when you break one open, making these visually distinctive in the Little Debbie lineup.
These pies have always occupied a unique space between snack cake and actual pastry. While not quite reaching the heights of fresh-baked cherry pie, they satisfy the craving in a convenient format. The filling maintains a pleasant moisture that prevents the pastry from becoming too dry – a common pitfall of packaged fruit pies.
20. Pecan Spinwheels: Cinnamon Swirl Pastry Rounds
Pecan Spinwheels bring a breakfast pastry vibe to the Little Debbie snack lineup. The spiral of cinnamon-infused dough comes topped with a sweet glaze and pecan pieces, creating a miniature version of a cinnamon roll experience.
The pastry maintains a pleasant softness without becoming soggy, while the cinnamon flavor permeates throughout each bite. The pecans add both textural contrast and nutty flavor that elevates these beyond simple cinnamon treats.
These spinwheels occupy an interesting middle ground between dessert and breakfast pastry. They’re sweet enough to satisfy dessert cravings but have that distinctive cinnamon-pecan profile that makes them appropriate morning companions to coffee. While not as indulgent as some Little Debbie offerings, they provide a more complex flavor experience that appeals to those who appreciate nutty, spiced treats.
21. Fig Bars: Fruit-Filled Cookie Rectangles
Fig Bars round out our ranking as Little Debbie’s answer to the classic Fig Newton. The soft cookie exterior houses a sweet fig filling that provides both fruity flavor and distinctive seedy texture that fig lovers appreciate.
The cookie portion has a pleasant wheaty flavor that complements the natural sweetness of the fig filling. Unlike many Little Debbie offerings that lean heavily on chocolate or vanilla, these bars embrace the unique flavor profile of figs.
While less flashy than cream-filled or frosted options, fig bars offer a more natural fruit flavor experience. They’ve always felt like the slightly healthier option in the Little Debbie universe – not actually nutritious, but at least containing recognizable fruit. For those who appreciate the distinctive taste and texture of figs, these bars provide a convenient way to enjoy that flavor in portable, portion-controlled form.