Everyone knows Little Debbie. And while her face seems sweet and genuine, her products have some mysterious ingredients and are chock-full of sugar and empty calories. To add insult to injury, Little Debbie's website doesn't disclose any of its products' nutritional information, so we had to rely on nutritionix.com for the lowdown on some of the products.
It's important to clarify that the best option doesn't constitute it as healthy; it just means that it's the better option if you are choosing a dessert from Little Debbie as your treat of choice.
The rankings are based primarily on saturated fat and sugar content, but calories and ingredients also played a factor.
We ranked them from worst to best, so the higher the number in each category, the least-damaging the product is. From brownies to snack bars, check out the winners and losers in each category. Where does your favorite land on our list?
Brownies: Worst to Best
Cosmic Brownies
Serving: 1 Brownie
Nutrition: 280 calories, 11 g fat (5 g saturated), 150 mg sodium, 42 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 24 g sugar, 2 g protein
This old school brownie is a favorite to many 90's kids. Unfortunately, it's the worst brownie amongst the bunch because its saturated fat content clocks in at 5 grams and costs you 24 grams of added sugar to boot. Yikes! It may be time to leave that childhood treat, well, in your past.
Fudge Brownies with English Walnuts
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Serving: 1 Brownie
Nutrition: 280 calories, 12 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 150 mg sodium, 40 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 21 g sugar, 3 g protein
Not far behind the cosmic brownie is the original fudge brownie with English walnuts. This one gets its bad reputation in the health realm because of its extensive list of artificial ingredients that wreck havoc in your body if consumed in mass quantities over time. Check out the worst packaged foods in America for more things that don't do your body any good.
Zebra Brownies
Serving: 1 Brownie
Nutrition: 270 calories, 11 g fat (5 g saturated), 150 mg sodium, 41 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 22 g sugar, 2 g protein
This distinctive brownie is equivalent in nutrition in comparison to the other two, so it's definitely not one you'll want to nosh on the daily. But at least it has a cool name, right?
Little Brownies
Serving: 1 Pouch
Nutrition: 210 calories, 10 g fat (2 g saturated), 100 mg sodium, 28 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 16 g sugar, 2 g protein
Out of the four brownie options, the lil guys win the competition because they have the least amount of calories, saturated fat, and sugar. Not to mention, the ingredients list does not have nearly as many harmful additives compared to the other variations. All in all, opt for something else if possible.
Cakes: Worst to Best
Red Velvet Creme Filled Cakes
Serving: 2 Cakes
Nutrition: 330 calories, 16 g fat (9 g saturated), 130 mg sodium, 45 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 35 g sugar, 2 g protein
As fancy as red velvet sounds, this treat is the farthest thing from classy. With both hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated soybean oils and 9 grams of saturated fat, this cake is a one-way ticket to heart disease if eaten frequently over a span of time. Why? For starters, partially hydrogenated oil is a trans fat and fully hydrogenated oil is a saturated fat; so, the fact this product alone has both of those is a major indicator that it is not good for your body. Ditch this red velvet treat and whip up a hearty stack of red velvet pancakes made from beetroot!
P.B. Richies
Serving: 1 Cake
Nutrition: 330 calories, 17 g fat (9 g saturated), 250 mg sodium, 40 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 29 g sugar, 5 g protein
We get it—you see the acronym P.B. and you're instantly hooked. As a fellow peanut butter addict, I can attest to an intense devotion to this irresistible nut butter. However, beware of Little Debbie's P.B. Richie because the addition of peanut butter stacks this little cake with extra calories and saturated fat. If you have a hankering for peanut butter, opt for a bowl of oatmeal with one tablespoon of the good stuff swirled into it.
Cookies and Creme Cakes
Serving: 2 Cakes
Nutrition: 320 calories, 15 g fat (9 g saturated), 190 mg sodium, 43 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 31 g sugar, 2 g protein
What is up with the first three cakes having so much saturated fat? Yuck. Also, 31 grams of sugar is a major turn off for those who are trying to achieve rapid weight loss. Try and resist from diving into this Oreo-inspired cake!
Fancy Cakes
Serving: 2 Cakes
Nutrition: 300 calories, 13 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 130 mg sodium, 44 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 29 g sugar, 1 g protein
There is nothing "fancy" about this cake. One of the ingredients—TBHQ—is one that hides in many of Little Debbie's products, which is a major bummer considering that this ingredient should not be consumed at all. According to food science professor at Virginia Tech, Dr. Sean O'Keefe, TBHQ is an additive that prevents oxidation or spoilage of the product. Translation: This ingredient helps the product stay on the shelves for great lengths of time. What's disturbing about this additive is that it's closely related with butane, which is a toxic gas used in lighter fluid. Dr. O'Keefe ensures that the FDA regulates the amount in which resides in food, but the ingredient is actually banned in some countries because of its origin. Think about it: Would you want the cousin of lighter fluid traveling through your digestive system?
Chocolate Chip Creme Pies
Serving: 1 Cookie
Nutrition: 390 calories, 16 g fat (7 g saturated), 220 mg sodium, 59 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 33 g sugar, 2 g protein
The ol' TBHQ strikes again in the chocolate chip creme pies, and just one kills nearly 400 calories and adds 33 grams of added sugar to your waist. If you're looking for ways on how to lose 10 pounds, then this little pie will not work in your favor.
Swiss Rolls
Serving: 2 Rolls
Nutrition: 270 calories, 12 g fat (6 g saturated), 150 mg sodium, 38 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 27 g sugar, 2 g protein
Little Debbie takes on the Hostess classic Ho Ho cake, but adds her own twist to the product by wrapping the ingredients into a little roll. Although they may look different, this roll gets just as much criticism as the original Ho Ho. On the bright side, it's a step up from the other cakes listed above!
Zebra Cakes
Serving: 1 Cake
Nutrition: 270 calories, 12 g fat (6 g saturated), 120 mg sodium, 39 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 28 g sugar, 1 g protein
Little Debbie must have a fascination with zebras because this is the second product of its kind to appear on this list! It's interesting to note how many unidentifiable additives are on this product's list, such as Polysorbate 60 and Titanium Dioxide.
Banana Rolls
Serving: 1 Roll
Nutrition: 260 calories, 11 g fat (6 g saturated), 130 mg sodium, 38 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 26 g sugars, 1 g protein
If you have a serious craving for bananas, do your body a favor and just eat a banana. It's really as simple as that.
Devil Squares
Serving: 2 Cakes
Nutrition: 260 calories, 11 g fat (6 g saturated), 160 mg sodium, 38 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 26 g sugar, 2 g protein
The name of this product surely does it justice; its nutrition is definitely devilish, namely from the inclusion of the Red 40 dye. It has been found that Red 40 may contain contaminants that cause cancer in humans and hyperactivity in children. Eeek!
Zebra Cake Rolls
Serving: 2 Cakes
Nutrition: 280 calories, 12 g fat (7 g saturated), 140 mg sodium, 41 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 27 g sugar, 1 g protein.
Sorry, but eating these stripes isn't going to make you look thinner.
Peanut Butter Creme Pies
Serving: 1 Cake (87g)
Nutrition: 400 calories, 18 g fat (4.5 g saturated), 320 mg sodium, 53 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 33 g sugar, 7 g protein
Ah, finally we see a decrease in that saturated fat category! Unfortunately, the ingredient sorbitol which—fun fact—is found in most conventional chewing gums and causes your belly to bloat! This artificial sweetener cannot be digested by the body, therefore, hangs around gas-invoking bacteria in your gut, causing your belly to expand with gas. Ugh, no thank you!
Boston Creme Rolls
Serving: 1 Roll
Nutrition: 270 calories, 12 g fat (4.5 g saturated fat), 140 mg sodium, 40 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 26 g sugar, 1 g protein
This product is caked in sugar and poor ingredients. Stay away from Little Debbie's take on the Boston Creme Roll—an authentic one does not rely on Yellow 5 to make the pastry look yellow or vegetable shortening to make it last for years on a shelf!
Chocolate Cupcakes
Serving: 1 Cupcake
Nutrition: 210 calories, 8 g fat (2 g saturated), 170 mg sodium, 33 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 22 g sugar, 2 g protein
Okay, so the saturated fat content has decreased significantly from that top offender—but the sketchy ingredients list is exponentially long. One of the best weight loss tips out there is to choose products that contain 10 ingredients or less, preferably ones that you can pronounce and identify as actual food substances.
Cosmic Cupcakes
Serving: 1 Cupcake
Nutrition: 210 calories, 8 g fat (2 g saturated), 160 mg sodium, 32 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 22 g sugar, 2 g protein
Would you like an extensive list of dyes to go with your cupcake? That's what you get with this treat. These cosmic cupcakes are truly out of this world in the sense that nearly all of its ingredients are artificial and synthetically produced.
Oatmeal Creme Pies
Serving: 1 Cookie
Nutrition: 310 calories, 11 g fat (3 g saturated), 300 mg sodium, 50 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 27 g sugar, 2 g protein
The saturated fat content in this classic favorite is definitely lower than many of the other items, which is great for your lower abdomen. Unfortunately, this product is plagued with an ingredient that is not-so-friendly to your abdomen: carrageenan. Several studies have found that carrageenan is linked to gastrointestinal inflammation and elevated risk of colon cancer. It's honestly not worth the splurge.
Banana Twins
Serving: 2 Cakes
Nutrition: 260 calories, 10 g fat (2.5 g saturated), 140 mg sodium, 41 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 25 g sugar, 2 g protein
Ditto to number eight in this category; just eat real bananas instead of opting for something that is artificially flavored to taste like one! For some perspective, one medium size banana only has 150 calories, 0 g saturated fat, 27 g carbs, 14 g of sugar, and 3 g of fiber. Additionally, you'll dodge all of those nasty, synthetic additives bolded above.
Strawberry Shortcake Rolls
Serving: 1 Roll
Nutrition: 240 calories, 9 g fat (3 g saturated), 150 mg sodium, 40 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 27 g sugar, 1 g protein
This one is quite synonymous to the banana twins with regard to its numbers, so realistically, they should be tied. Regardless, both contain ingredients that our adipose (i.e. fat) tissue stores and deposits into our bloodstream over time. Keep your body clean by not consuming foods with partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup!
Devil Cremes
Serving: 1 Cake
Nutrition: 200 calories, 9 g fat (2 g saturated), 170 mg sodium, 29 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 17 g sugar, 1 g protein
These have 10 grams less sugar and carbs than the strawberry shortcake roll, so even though it has a bit more calories, the excess sugar weighs more heavily on the ranking scale than 50 measly calories.
Cocoa Cremes
Serving: 1 Cake
Nutrition: 170 calories, 8 g fat (4 g saturated), 100 mg sodium, 24 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 16 g sugar, 1 g protein
Again, we see a small decrease in sugar—but the horrible ingredients still don't make this the best option. Keep reading for more; we are getting closer to finding out which cake is the best (or lesser of 27 evils).
PB Rounds
Serving: 1 Cookie
Nutrition: 230 calories, 10 g fat (4.5 g saturated), 140 mg sodium, 31 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 20 g sugar, 3 g protein
We love peanut butter, but the kind utilized in these products is laden with partially hydrogenated oils—which causes mayhem in your arteries if a lot is consumed over time. Refer to our list ofpeanut butters ranked for some healthier, more natural options that you can spread on a piece of whole wheat toast!
Banana Marshmallow Pies
Serving: 1 Cake
Nutrition: 180 calories, 6 g fat (4 g saturated), 110 mg sodium, 30 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 17 g sugar, 2 g protein
Little Debbie sure likes banana flavored products. At least this one is lesser in calories, carbs, and sugar in comparison to the other two. We're making progress, folks!
Chocolate Marshmallow Pies
Serving: 1 Cake
Nutrition: 180 calories, 6 g fat (4 g saturated), 110 mg sodium, 30 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 17 g sugar, 2 g protein
This actually shares the exact same nutrition profile as the banana marshmallow pies, so it's more like a tie!
Jelly Creme Pies
Serving: 1 Cookie
Nutrition: 160 calories, 7 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 90 mg sodium, 23 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 14 g sugar, 0 g protein
We see the calories and sugar content decrease in this creme pie variation, so that's a major plus.
Fudge Rounds
Serving: 1 Cookie
Nutrition: 310 calories, 12 g fat (2 g saturated), 180 mg sodium, 48 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 30 g sugar, 2 g protein
The only reason this one got placed closer to the healthier end on the scale is because of its low saturated fat content. Saturated fat causes visceral fat (which is belly fat) to develop if consumed in great quantities on a regular basis.
Raisin Creme Pies
Serving: 1 Cookie
Nutrition: 280 calories, 11 g fat, (2 g saturated), 210 mg sodium, 43 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 27 g sugar, 1 g protein
Again, the low saturated fat content moves this creme pie toward the front!
Star Crunch
Serving: 1 Cookie
Nutrition: 150 calories, 6 g fat (1 g saturated), 70 mg sodium, 22 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 12 g sugar, 1 g protein
This one has the least amount of sugar, calories, and fat thus far. However, it's the ingredients that keep this cookie cake from being deemed as the healthiest of its kind. Carrageenan is responsible for provoking inflammation in the bowels. Um, ow! Also, what's up with all of the dyes? Not cool, nor necessary for that matter.
Cloud Cakes
Serving: 1 Cake
Nutrition: 150 calories, 4 g fat (1 g saturated), 150 mg sodium, 28 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 17 g sugar, 1 g protein
Congrats to all lovers and major fans of cloud cakes, because according to our ranking system, they are the best cake you could sink your teeth into. Do we recommend it? Of course not. But if you must get your hands on a Little Debbie cake product, this would not make a huge dent in your quest to lose belly fat. Just make sure you limit yourself to just one!
Donuts: Worst to Best
Donut Sticks
Serving: 2 Donuts
Nutrition: 360 calories, 20 g fat (11 g saturated), 300 mg sodium, 43 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 25 g sugar, 2 g protein
This treat may as well be on the list of 40 Habits That Make You Sick and Fat because the amount of saturated fat in just two sticks is absurd. According to the American Heart Association, 11 grams would fulfill an average person's daily allowance of saturated fat. In order to prevent heart disease and stroke, it's vital to keep bad cholesterol levels down (LDL) and good cholesterol levels up (HDL). The association recommends cutting your saturated fat intake to five or six percent of total calories, which yields 11 to 13 grams.
Mini Strawberry Donuts
Serving: 4 Donuts
Nutrition: 290 calories, 17 g fat (10 g saturated fat), 200 mg sodium, 32 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 18 g sugar, 2 g protein
This donut is still high in saturated fat and calories. Keep scrolling to see better options!
Mini Frosted Donuts
Serving: 4 Donuts
Nutrition: 240 calories, 14 g fat (8 g saturated fat), 170 mg sodium, 26 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 15 g sugar, 2 g protein
Okay, we're seeing some progress in the saturated fat and sugar departments, but what the heck is Blue 2 Lake we're seeing on the ingredient list? It's actually code for "Indigotine," which is a petroleum product used in a variety of goodies to give it a blue pigment. Surprised? So are we. The FDA actually approves small doses of petroleum, a fossil fuel utilized in gasoline, in our foods. It's hard to believe, we know, so just stay away from foods that have it.
Mini Glazed Donuts
Serving: 4 Donuts
Nutrition: 230 calories, 9 g fat (5 g saturated), 230 mg sodium, 34 g sugar, 1 g fiber, 20 g sugar
Yikes, that is a lot of sugar. One of the best weight loss tips is to stay away from excess sugar and this one has 34 grams of it. No thanks!
Mini Crunch Donuts
Serving: 3 Donuts
Nutrition: 210 calories, 10 g fat (6 g saturated), 220 mg sodium, 28 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 15 g sugar, 3 g protein
Ingredients: Enriched Bleached Flour, Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup.
Hooray for more improvements in saturated fat and sugar! Have you ever considered making a homemade donut, fried in coconut oil? You can still get that coconutty flavor you desire from this product, minus the high fructose corn syrup! Read up on the benefits of coconut oil to see what this wonderful oil can do for your body.
Mini Powdered Donuts
Serving: 4 Donuts
Nutrition: 220 calories, 11 g fat (5 g saturated), 190 g sodium, 27 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 14 g sugar, 2 g protein
This is nearly equivalent to the nutrition in the mini cinnamon sugar donuts listed below, but it's the longer list of ingredients that keeps this one on the worst side of things.
Mini Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Serving: 4 Donuts
Nutrition: 220 calories, 11 g fat (6 g saturated), 220 mg sodium, 29 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 14 g sugars, 2 g protein
Honestly, calling this the best is kind of disheartening, seeing as it is still chock-full of saturated fat and sugar. But at least it has cinnamon in it, which is an anti-inflammatory spice!
Muffins: Worst to Best
Mini Muffins: Chocolate Brownie
Serving: 1 Pouch
Nutrition: 210 calories, 10 g fat (2 g saturated), 100 mg sodium, 28 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 16 g sugar, 2 g protein
It's hard to fathom, but the muffins are one of the best categories since they are lower in calories and significantly lower in saturated fat than many other Little Debbie products. The sugar content is still high, though; 16 grams is a lot for something that is 210 calories, which makes this muffin the worst of the three.
Mini Muffins: Chocolate Chip
Serving: 1 Pouch
Nutrition: 190 calories, 9 g fat (2 g saturated), 150 mg sodium, 26 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 17 g sugar, 2 g protein
Not much has changed in this variation, except for the fact that it is a bit lower in calories!
Mini Muffins: Blueberry
Serving: 1 Pouch
Nutrition: 180 calories, 8 g fat (1.5 g saturated), 130 mg sodium, 27 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 16 g sugar, 1 g protein
This one has the least amount of saturated fat and calories, and that's why it wins the title as the best option among the muffins. Notice, though, that it is lower in protein. For a food that has nearly 30 grams of carbs, that is a low ratio of carbs to protein. Consider a snack with more protein so that you can boost satiety, which means you'll crave less in one sitting!
Pastries: Worst to Best
Honey Buns
Serving: 1 Pastry
Nutrition: 490 calories, 25 g fat (11 g saturated), 360 mg sodium, 60 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 36 g sugar, 5 g protein
Spare yourself the heartache and intense two-hour workout that you'll have to squeeze in to burn this puppy off by just not eating the honey bun. Case closed.
Maple Buns
Serving: 1 Pastry
Nutrition: 210 calories, 11 g fat (5 g saturated), 150 mg sodium, 26 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 13 g sugar, 2 g protein
Okay, the maple bun is not nearly as laden with saturated fat, calories, and sugar as the honey bun, so that's something of a step up!
Pecan Spinwheels
Serving: 2 Rolls
Nutrition: 210 calories, 7 g fat (2 g saturated), 150 mg sodium, 32 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 16 g sugar, 3 g protein
The only aspect that makes this one better than the last is its lower saturated fat content.
Cream Cheese Streusel Cakes
Serving: 1 Cake
Nutrition: 180 calories, 7 g fat (2 g saturated), 200 mg sodium, 26 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 15 g sugar, 2 g protein
Fewer calories and less sugar seals the deal on this variation!
Cinnamon Streusel Cakes
Serving: 1 Cake
Nutrition: 180 calories, 7 g fat (1.5 g saturated), 230 mg sodium, 26 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 15 g sugar, 2 g protein
If it's a Little Debbie pastry you crave, your best option is the cinnamon streusel cake. Clocking in at 1.5 g saturated fat, 15 grams of sugar, and less than 200 calories, it's not too shabby compared to the rest.
Pies: Worst to Best
Chocolate Pie
Serving: 1 Pie
Nutrition: 430 calories, 21 g fat (10 g saturated), 510 mg sodium, 58 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 29 g sugar, 3 g protein
Hint: Stay very far away from this pie.
Apple Pie
Serving: 1 Pie
Nutrition: 260 calories, 13 g fat (7 g saturated), 150 mg sodium, 33 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 15 g sugar, 2 g protein
This is much better than the chocolate version, but the extra ingredients in this pie are what holds it back from first place.
Cherry Pie
Serving: 1 Cake
Nutrition: 260 calories, 13 g fat (7 g saturated), 150 mg sodium, 33 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 16 g sugar, 2 g protein
Last but not least, we have Little Debbie's take on the famous cherry pie. If you're trying to lose weight, then you may want to direct your attention to these low carb snacks, instead!
Snack Bars: Worst to Best
Nutty Buddy
Serving: 2 Cookies
Nutrition: 310 calories, 18 g fat (7 g saturated), 115 mg sodium, 33 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 21 g sugar, 4 g protein
Who doesn't love the classic Nutty Buddy? News flash: It's the worst amongst the bunch so you may want to get a new favorite. We know it's fun to pull them apart and savor every bite, but it's better you faced the harsh truth now!
Peanut Butter Crunch Bars
Serving: 2 cookies
Nutrition: 290 calories, 15 g fat (5 g saturated), 190 mg sodium, 33 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 19 g sugar, 5 g protein
There's a slight drop in calories, saturated fat, and sugar, so we're on the right track to finding a healthier option.
Fig Bars
Serving: 1 Bar
Nutrition: 160 calories, 3 g fat (1 g saturated), 100 mg sodium, 32 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 18 g sugar, 1 g protein
The package reads that it "contributes a trivial amount of trans fat." Um, okay, bye! At least it is a bit lower is saturated fat and has a significant drop in calories…
Salted Caramel Cookie Bars
Serving: 1 Cookie Bar
Nutrition: 160 calories, 8 g fat (1 g saturated), 85 mg sodium, 22 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 16 g sugar, 1 g protein
Less sugar is what gives this cookie bar a better spot than the fig bar, but try opting for a snack from the high fiber foods category because zero grams is going to make you feel backed up and bloated.
Zebra Nutty Bars
Serving: 1 Cookie
Nutrition: 120 calories, 7 g fat (3 g saturated), 40 mg sodium, 13 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 8 g sugar, 1 g protein
The final zebra item! At least this variation only has 120 calories, 8 grams of sugar, and three grams of saturated fat. It's still not a good choice, but it's not as bad as most of the others. And now that you've gotten a bit more familiar with crazy additives and icky foods, find outwhat causes cellulite!
