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debm55

(50,247 posts)
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 09:57 AM Aug 4

As a kid, what was your favorite Little Debbie or Hostess snack at the store. I liked the Snowballs-chocolate cake

Last edited Mon Aug 4, 2025, 09:37 PM - Edit history (1)

on the inside and marshmallow whatever on the outside covered with coconut. Mainly it was white, but they would change it pink, or green for the holidays. What was your favorite "bakery" good?

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As a kid, what was your favorite Little Debbie or Hostess snack at the store. I liked the Snowballs-chocolate cake (Original Post) debm55 Aug 4 OP
Cosmic brownies SARose Aug 4 #1
Thank you very much.SARose. for sharing. And enjoy them. debm55 Aug 4 #3
Nutty Buddies and Brownies Emile Aug 4 #2
Thank you , Emile, Do you still buy them? debm55 Aug 4 #4
No, not good for my weight. Emile Aug 4 #6
Thank you Emile. debm55 Aug 4 #9
Star Crunch HelpImSurrounded Aug 4 #5
Thank you very much, HelpImSurrounded. for sharing your treats with us. debm55 Aug 4 #8
Definitely Nutty Buddies! OldBaldy1701E Aug 4 #7
Thank you Old Baldy1701E, Yep, Nutty Buddies were a close second. What!!!! no zebra cakes!!!! debm55 Aug 4 #10
"Never getting back?" I have a box of Zebra Cakes in my room right now. malthaussen Aug 4 #49
From the article... OldBaldy1701E Aug 4 #82
Yes! Snowballs. They're the reason for my long, active (so far) life. surfered Aug 4 #11
HAHAHAHAHHHAHAH. Thank you surfered. debm55 Aug 4 #12
I always went for the oatmeal crme pies EYESORE 9001 Aug 4 #13
HAHAHAHAHA, Thank you EYESORE 9001, Same here with the Snowballs. debm55 Aug 4 #14
Little Debbie Nutty Buddy Chocolate Peanut Butter Wafer Bars catbyte Aug 4 #15
Thank you catbyte for sharing, They sort of reminded me of KitKat candy bars. Enjoy. debm55 Aug 4 #16
twinkies . never heard of little debbie. AllaN01Bear Aug 4 #17
Thank you AllaN01Bear. Little Debbies and Hostess were the two biggest producers of "snack" cakes. debm55 Aug 4 #18
was little debbies an eastern phenomina? AllaN01Bear Aug 4 #19
Come to think of it, it might be a regional thing--Eastern US. I will check your links. debm55 Aug 4 #20
I grew up in Texas with Lil' Debbies SomewhereInTheMiddle Aug 5 #91
Thank you very much for sharing with us, SomewhereInTheMiddle, I remember the Zingers, too. debm55 Aug 5 #93
We have Little Debbie in Colorado. CrispyQ Aug 4 #53
Sorry, Drakes was better.. justaprogressive Aug 4 #21
Thank you justaprogressive. I don't remember Drake's yodels, but I remember, Hostess having a version of Yodels, but I debm55 Aug 4 #22
Ho-Hos justaprogressive Aug 4 #23
Thank you, justaprogressive. Yes, they were called Ho-Hos. I don't think we had Drake;s in western PA. debm55 Aug 4 #29
No I think they were local.. justaprogressive Aug 4 #39
Hahahahhahah. Thank you very much, justaprogressive. debm55 Aug 4 #41
I agree, I always though Drake's was superior to Hostess. malthaussen Aug 4 #51
probably Hostess cupcakes surrealAmerican Aug 4 #24
HAHAHAHAHHAh. that is funny surrealAmerican. And it's true. debm55 Aug 4 #30
My favorite too!! some_of_us_are_sane Aug 4 #85
I especially loved the orange variety. La Coliniere Aug 5 #104
Twinkies & chocolate cupcakes & Suzie Q's SheltieLover Aug 4 #25
Thank you very much, SheltieLover. You had a selection there, debm55 Aug 4 #31
Believe it or not Jilly_in_VA Aug 4 #26
Thank you very much, Jilly_in_VA debm55 Aug 4 #33
NOTA no_hypocrisy Aug 4 #27
Thank you very much, no_hypocrisy. I don't recall Drakes Cakes around here. It could be a regional thing or a store debm55 Aug 4 #35
That's weird, Debbie. We both come from the same area... malthaussen Aug 4 #50
Yes , that is odd. I don't ever remember Drake's. These were little corner groceries. Maybe it is what they wanted to debm55 Aug 4 #70
I forgot about Snowballs! OC375 Aug 4 #28
Thank you OC375, you have a large selection. I just liked the snowballs. debm55 Aug 4 #37
In junior high, my best friend and I would buy Hostess Suzy-Qs and hide them from each other MIButterfly Aug 4 #32
HAHAHAHAHAH. That is funny, MIButterfly. debm55 Aug 4 #42
Little Debbies then Hostess JPK Aug 4 #34
Thank you JPK for sharing your favorites with us. debm55 Aug 4 #44
Ho-Hos ProfessorGAC Aug 4 #36
Thank you very much ProfessorGAC for sharing with us , your favorites. debm55 Aug 4 #38
I loved all BigMin28 Aug 4 #40
Bummer. Thank you BigMin28 for sharing with us. debm55 Aug 4 #43
Suzy Qs! That chemically created white stuff in the middle sure is tasty! rsdsharp Aug 4 #45
HAHAHAHHAHAHAH. Now we know but as kids it was great. debm55 Aug 4 #71
Kid, hell! I'd stuff one (or two -- waste [or waist] not want not) in my face right now rsdsharp Aug 4 #81
That is funny. Thank you rsdsharp debm55 Aug 4 #83
Cupcakes LogDog75 Aug 4 #46
Thank you very much, LogDog75 for sharing your favorite Hostess snack. debm55 Aug 4 #73
Hostess Ding Dongs back when they were wrapped in foil. LudwigPastorius Aug 4 #47
OH , the memories are flashing through my mind. Thank you LudwigPastorius for sharing with us. debm55 Aug 4 #74
I never even heard of Little Debbie until I was like 50... malthaussen Aug 4 #48
Thank you Mal , I remember the banana kreme filled one. It was like a turnover. Thank you for sharing. debm55 Aug 4 #75
We never had them. piddyprints Aug 4 #52
And more healthy. Thank you for sharing piddyprints. debm55 Aug 4 #76
Hostess orange cupcakes. Laffy Kat Aug 4 #54
Thank you very much Laffy Kat for sharing with us. debm55 Aug 4 #77
I'm with you...snowballs... MiHale Aug 4 #55
That's great and funny. I never thought of doing that.MiHale , you are very creative. Thank you for sharing with us. debm55 Aug 4 #65
Tastycake pies YorkRd Aug 4 #56
Thank you YorkRd.for sharing with us. It just hit me.---Tastycake cherry pie. I remember them and enjoyed them as a kid. debm55 Aug 4 #62
Hostess Cupcakes! Snowballs, on the other hand, is how we found out I'm allergic to coconut. I was unable to finish Dorothy V Aug 4 #57
Oh Dorothy, I am so sorry. The last time I had a Snowball was when I graduated from high school in 1973. debm55 Aug 4 #60
In high school HappyH Aug 4 #58
Wow, That's great, Thank you for sharing with us and welcome to DU. I was beginning to think that I imagineed Little debm55 Aug 4 #59
That was decades ago in North Carolina HappyH Aug 4 #61
Here too in western PA. Thank you HappyH. debm55 Aug 4 #63
The wonderful Snowballs💙 love those delicious treats TommieMommy Aug 4 #64
Thank you very much , TommieMommy. And don't forget that on Christmas and St Patrick's Day, you could get them in green debm55 Aug 4 #67
I still remember customerserviceguy Aug 4 #66
Thank you so much customerserviceguy for sharing your memory with us. debm55 Aug 4 #68
It was mostly customerserviceguy Aug 4 #69
customerserviceguy. May all the memories of your mom and dad be a blessing to you. debm55 Aug 4 #72
Thank you customerserviceguy Aug 4 #78
I hate to say this, but I thought they were all gross. Native Aug 4 #79
Thank you very much Native, for sharing with us. I liked honey buns, too debm55 Aug 4 #80
Ho Ho's JMCKUSICK Aug 4 #84
Thank you very much for sharing with us, John. debm55 Aug 4 #86
Raspberry Zingers by Hostess Figarosmom Aug 5 #87
Great and thank you for sharing with us , Figarosmom. debm55 Aug 5 #94
It would have Hostess chocolate cupcake w the white squiggle on top. I prefered Drakes. electric_blue68 Aug 5 #88
Thank you very much electric_blue68 for your selection. debm55 Aug 5 #98
Hostess chocolate cupcakes. PufPuf23 Aug 5 #89
Thank you very much, PufPuf23, that Hershey's Black Magic cake sounds very good. debm55 Aug 5 #97
i preferred hostess. little debbie sucked. CRUMB CAKES! I FORGOT CRUMB CAKES!!!! pansypoo53219 Aug 5 #90
Thank you, pansypoo53219, for sharing. Agree when you are a kid it doesn;t seem to matter. I like bakery too debm55 Aug 5 #96
Orange Cupcakes both then and now Eugene Aug 5 #92
Thank you very much for your various selections, Eugene, Enjoy. debm55 Aug 5 #95
Little doubt. Prairie_Seagull Aug 5 #99
HAHAHHAHA. Thank you very much. Prairie_Seagull debm55 Aug 5 #100
Hostess cupcakes. OLDMDDEM Aug 5 #101
Thank you very much for sharing with us, OLDMDDEM debm55 Aug 5 #102
Have to go with the cherry and chocolate pies flying rabbit Aug 5 #103
Thank you very much, flying rabbit. I liked the cherry pie. debm55 Aug 5 #106
Swiss Cake Rolls! Iris Aug 5 #105
Thank you very much, Iris, for your selection, debm55 Aug 5 #107
Generally anything with chocolate - Wuddles440 Aug 5 #108
Wow, what a selection. Thank you very much for sharing with us Wuddles440 Yes, I liked the cherry pie, also debm55 Aug 5 #109

debm55

(50,247 posts)
10. Thank you Old Baldy1701E, Yep, Nutty Buddies were a close second. What!!!! no zebra cakes!!!!
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 10:19 AM
Aug 4

malthaussen

(18,281 posts)
49. "Never getting back?" I have a box of Zebra Cakes in my room right now.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 03:18 PM
Aug 4

Maybe they changed their minds about discontinuing them.

-- Mal

OldBaldy1701E

(8,779 posts)
82. From the article...
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 06:30 PM
Aug 4
In a post on X in 2016, Little Debbie stated that the Chocolate Zebra Cakes were no more due to a lack of fan support. We can't imagine why these sweets sold poorly, but you can still find the OGs holding prime real estate in supermarkets nation-wide.


So, they are still around, but that is only because of the last batch they made. Those are going to run out soon enough.

(And, before anyone says something about the last batch being 'old'... well... welcome to 2025. The preservatives we have these days could make a mummy out of Andre the Giant in a year.)

EYESORE 9001

(28,855 posts)
13. I always went for the oatmeal crme pies
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 10:54 AM
Aug 4

Nowadays, I’d have to be nearing starvation before eating one.

debm55

(50,247 posts)
18. Thank you AllaN01Bear. Little Debbies and Hostess were the two biggest producers of "snack" cakes.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 11:12 AM
Aug 4
91. I grew up in Texas with Lil' Debbies
Tue Aug 5, 2025, 06:51 AM
Aug 5

Swiss Rolls were my favorite. Unpeeling them while eating.



Later it was Hostess Raspberry Zingers.

CrispyQ

(40,135 posts)
53. We have Little Debbie in Colorado.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 03:32 PM
Aug 4

I think they're way better than Hostess although they don't make a Twinkie. Or a snowball.

debm55

(50,247 posts)
22. Thank you justaprogressive. I don't remember Drake's yodels, but I remember, Hostess having a version of Yodels, but I
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 11:37 AM
Aug 4

forget what they were called.

debm55

(50,247 posts)
29. Thank you, justaprogressive. Yes, they were called Ho-Hos. I don't think we had Drake;s in western PA.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 12:26 PM
Aug 4

malthaussen

(18,281 posts)
51. I agree, I always though Drake's was superior to Hostess.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 03:25 PM
Aug 4

They're pretty much the same, now, albeit still different companies.

In my probably-faulty memory, except for Twinkies, Drake would introduce something and then Hostess would copy it.

-- Mal

surrealAmerican

(11,680 posts)
24. probably Hostess cupcakes
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 11:57 AM
Aug 4

They tasted funny, but there was always the challenge of peeling off that curly stripe.

La Coliniere

(1,527 posts)
104. I especially loved the orange variety.
Tue Aug 5, 2025, 12:21 PM
Aug 5

We lived close to a hostess factory and often visited their reduced price factory store when I was a kid. My dad would buy a whole box of orange cupcakes.

debm55

(50,247 posts)
35. Thank you very much, no_hypocrisy. I don't recall Drakes Cakes around here. It could be a regional thing or a store
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 12:42 PM
Aug 4

supply thing. This was when they were packed in twos or in singles like the banana creme turnovers.

malthaussen

(18,281 posts)
50. That's weird, Debbie. We both come from the same area...
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 03:21 PM
Aug 4

... I grew up in Brentwood, and the local store stocked Drakes. It was not a chain store, though.

-- Mal

debm55

(50,247 posts)
70. Yes , that is odd. I don't ever remember Drake's. These were little corner groceries. Maybe it is what they wanted to
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 05:17 PM
Aug 4

stock. I do remember the Tastycake pies. I spent my youth in Duquesne. Thank you malthaussen.

OC375

(171 posts)
28. I forgot about Snowballs!
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 12:23 PM
Aug 4

Those were awesome! I always went back and forth between Cupcakes and Ding-Dongs and HoHos. It had to be chocolate, though. There was a lot of Hostess goodness back in the 80's. I'm going to have to Google and see what else I forgot.

MIButterfly

(1,114 posts)
32. In junior high, my best friend and I would buy Hostess Suzy-Qs and hide them from each other
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 12:33 PM
Aug 4

and at the right opportune moment, would sneak up on the other and smash it in her face!

I don’t know if that makes Suzy-Q my favorite or not, but it does bring back the memories!

As they say, simple pleasures for simple minds.

And guess what?! She's my best friend to this day.

BigMin28

(1,750 posts)
40. I loved all
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 01:14 PM
Aug 4

Little Debbie's. But my favorite was Apple Delights. Sadly, they no longer make them.

LogDog75

(800 posts)
46. Cupcakes
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 02:30 PM
Aug 4

Hostess chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing, white frosting swirls, and cream inside.

LudwigPastorius

(13,250 posts)
47. Hostess Ding Dongs back when they were wrapped in foil.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 02:32 PM
Aug 4


Before that, I always wanted some Dolly Madison Zingers after watching the Charlie Brown Christmas or Halloween special.

debm55

(50,247 posts)
74. OH , the memories are flashing through my mind. Thank you LudwigPastorius for sharing with us.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 05:43 PM
Aug 4

malthaussen

(18,281 posts)
48. I never even heard of Little Debbie until I was like 50...
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 03:17 PM
Aug 4

... the only confectioners I remember from my childhood are Drakes, Hostess, and Tastykake. Maybe because Little Debbie wasn't founded until 1960.

My favorite probably was (and still is) Tastykake's Coffee Cake cupcakes. But before I moved to Philly and learned about Tastykake, it would have been those folded-over devil's food sandwiches filled with "kreme" that Drake made. Don't remember what they were called, and as far as I know, they don't make them anymore. There was also one of angel food filled with banana-flavored "kreme," but I didn't like those as much.

-- Mal

debm55

(50,247 posts)
75. Thank you Mal , I remember the banana kreme filled one. It was like a turnover. Thank you for sharing.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 05:46 PM
Aug 4

piddyprints

(15,008 posts)
52. We never had them.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 03:32 PM
Aug 4

Or any of the other snack cakes/cookies. If we wanted cookies or cakes, we had to bake them ourselves… which we quickly learned we could do better than Mom. 🤣

My kids grew up on home baked goodies, but I’m sure they’ve tried all the rest by now. They seem particularly fond of moon pies, which I definitely don’t see the appeal of.

I’m sure it’s all tasty, but I still prefer to bake my own. I’ll admit that mine are less fancy.

Laffy Kat

(16,758 posts)
54. Hostess orange cupcakes.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 03:39 PM
Aug 4

I will still buy one from time to time. They're not as good as they used to be, but still hit.

MiHale

(12,083 posts)
55. I'm with you...snowballs...
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 03:43 PM
Aug 4

Used to take one bite, pull off the marshmallow coating and call it an igloo. Used that idea one time for a grade school project.

debm55

(50,247 posts)
65. That's great and funny. I never thought of doing that.MiHale , you are very creative. Thank you for sharing with us.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 04:38 PM
Aug 4

debm55

(50,247 posts)
62. Thank you YorkRd.for sharing with us. It just hit me.---Tastycake cherry pie. I remember them and enjoyed them as a kid.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 04:22 PM
Aug 4

Dorothy V

(385 posts)
57. Hostess Cupcakes! Snowballs, on the other hand, is how we found out I'm allergic to coconut. I was unable to finish
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 03:55 PM
Aug 4

my first and only one. The weird taste was the first giveaway, like my taste buds were warning me. Then came the shortness of breath ... look at it this way, it leaves more coconut for you!

debm55

(50,247 posts)
60. Oh Dorothy, I am so sorry. The last time I had a Snowball was when I graduated from high school in 1973.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 04:18 PM
Aug 4

HappyH

(86 posts)
58. In high school
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 04:00 PM
Aug 4

my girlfriend’s dad was the local distributor for Little Debbie. So she was my favorite Little Debbie treat.

debm55

(50,247 posts)
59. Wow, That's great, Thank you for sharing with us and welcome to DU. I was beginning to think that I imagineed Little
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 04:14 PM
Aug 4

Debbie's. Are they regional or all over the US?

debm55

(50,247 posts)
67. Thank you very much , TommieMommy. And don't forget that on Christmas and St Patrick's Day, you could get them in green
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 04:48 PM
Aug 4

and on Valentines Day they came in pink.

customerserviceguy

(25,372 posts)
66. I still remember
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 04:41 PM
Aug 4

when the Hostess fruit pies were introduced in the early 1960's. Dad liked the cherry ones that Mom put in his lunch box. I remember they were only fifteen cents apiece when they came out!

customerserviceguy

(25,372 posts)
69. It was mostly
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 04:57 PM
Aug 4

about Mom and Dad, it was a year ago this week that we buried their ashes together. I never could be the kind of man Dad was.

Native

(7,223 posts)
79. I hate to say this, but I thought they were all gross.
Mon Aug 4, 2025, 06:12 PM
Aug 4

I was a devotee of honey buns and pinwheels

Figarosmom

(7,939 posts)
87. Raspberry Zingers by Hostess
Tue Aug 5, 2025, 12:09 AM
Aug 5

Pretty much the same thing as the snowballs but with the cake from the Twinky and raspberry and coconut with the marshmallow covering.

HOSTESS Raspberry ZINGERS, 10 count - Pick ‘n Save https://share.google/qt6bmmQz4rHjNuTHp

Every year for my daughter's birthday o make her a Susy Q cake

PufPuf23

(9,538 posts)
89. Hostess chocolate cupcakes.
Tue Aug 5, 2025, 01:45 AM
Aug 5

Liked the Hostess applesauce cupcakes too but don't recall ever seeing them in stores after mid 60s.

Hershey's Black Magic cake is a recipe for the super chocolate cake like the Hostess cupcakes only better.

Has black coffee as an ingredient. Once (maybe still is) on Hershey's Cocoa containers plus JUST FOUND the Recipe for Black Magic cake on the internet!!!

https://www.hersheyland.com/recipes/black-magic-cake.html

I recall the Black Magic cake as a layer cake or cupcakes (not bundt) with white or chocolate cream cheese frosting.

Don't think my floundering and aged body could handle that much sugar at present.

pansypoo53219

(22,520 posts)
90. i preferred hostess. little debbie sucked. CRUMB CAKES! I FORGOT CRUMB CAKES!!!!
Tue Aug 5, 2025, 05:33 AM
Aug 5

but my grandparent's bakery better. strussel 'squares', rectangles.

debm55

(50,247 posts)
96. Thank you, pansypoo53219, for sharing. Agree when you are a kid it doesn;t seem to matter. I like bakery too
Tue Aug 5, 2025, 09:51 AM
Aug 5

Eugene

(66,218 posts)
92. Orange Cupcakes both then and now
Tue Aug 5, 2025, 08:40 AM
Aug 5

also liked Drake's Funny Bones and Hostess Big Wheels (now King Dons)

Wuddles440

(1,817 posts)
108. Generally anything with chocolate -
Tue Aug 5, 2025, 02:39 PM
Aug 5

Hostess or Tastykake cupcakes, Ring Dings, Ding Dongs, HoHos, Suzy Qs, Snowballs, and Zingers. The only exception to the chocolate only policy was for Hostess cherry or lemon fruit pies.

debm55

(50,247 posts)
109. Wow, what a selection. Thank you very much for sharing with us Wuddles440 Yes, I liked the cherry pie, also
Tue Aug 5, 2025, 02:53 PM
Aug 5
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