15 Discontinued Little Debbie Snacks We're Probably Never Getting Back

Sometimes the best things in life are fleeting — unfortunately for us, that includes snack foods. From discontinued candy bars to cancelled Doritos flavors, some things are simply too beautiful (or in this case, delicious!) for this world. When it comes to sweet treats, iconic brand Little Debbie is also no exception to submitting snack cakes, cookies, and bars to the chopping block.

While we understand certain items are banished to the netherworld because they sold poorly, were a limited release, or even made customers sick, it doesn't alleviate a general bummer feeling when we're unable to score one of these treats as a snack or a sugary on-the-go pick-me-up. Whatever the reasons behind hauling these Little Debbie snacks back to the vault, we can be sure of the likelihood that, no matter how rumbly our tummies and large our appetite, we probably won't ever see them return to store shelves. (For Canadians, Little Debbie has abandoned grocery stores altogether as of this year.) Let's take look at 15 Little Debbie snacks you probably won't ever see again. 

Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies are a classic treat, the OGs since 1960 when the brand first introduced them to the pantries and stomachs of customers. With their chewy texture and molasses flavor, they were a hit from the get-go. So, why did the peanut butter and jelly version fare so poorly? Peanut Butter Oatmeal Creme Pies have managed to stave off defeat, despite lacking the oh-so-necessary jelly component, so what's the deal? 

The PB & J Oatmeal Pies featured the iconic oatmeal cookies, but instead of a creme filling, there was a layer of peanut butter and grape jelly. An American classic, but not a winner in the snack cake market, unfortunately. According to the company, "There just wasn't enough fan support to keep them in stores." Despite the lack of enthusiasm at initial launch, a change.org petition from 2018 has reached more than 8,000 signatures begging Little Debbie to bring these pies back. In the meantime, we'll have to satisfy ourselves with the jelly-free version and maybe add a smear of Welch's on top.

Zebra Cakes are those hexagonal pastries made with layers of yellow sponge cake and vanilla creme covered in vanilla icing and drizzled with the trademark chocolate zigzags — they're an icon of the snack cake world. Even those who aren't Little Debbie superfans will recognize these legendary treats, because they are so prevalent in our collective memories. 

So, with their popularity and ubiquity, it made sense for the masterminds behind the brand to create a chocolate version, right? Alas, some ideas fare better in fantasy than in execution. The Chocolate Zebra Cakes were like a mashup of the beloved Chocolate Cupcakes and Devil Squares: A square-shaped chocolate cake with a vanilla creme filling covered in chocolate icing and drizzled with those iconic zigzags — but this time in vanilla. 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.

The Cosmic Brownie has a special place in every millennial's heart (mine included). It was a lunchbox staple, the quintessential treat. That cellophane wrapper that beheld not one but two gloriously fudgy creations. The layer of frosting, the multi-colored candy-coated chocolate chips. Copycat recipes abound from bakers who have tried to recreate these desserts with a gourmet twist (and no doubt higher quality ingredients.) 

Like the afore-mentioned Zebra Cakes, Little Debbie tried to spruce up a classic and introduced the Cosmic Cupcake, which was a cream-filled chocolate cupcake with that recognizable chocolate-and-candy topping. Understandably, you might think this creation would be the best of both worlds. (In fact, the treat actually went out of this world, when it was launched via weather balloon in 2014 under guidance of the University of Chattanooga Tennessee STEM Learning Center.) Unfortunately, the combo wasn't the magic that was envisioned, and the treat was evicted from the Little Debbie household in 2017. However, for those who can't get the image (or taste) out of their head, there's the Cosmic Mini Muffin, which was launched in October 2024, ready to satisfy your palate.

If you like Twix candy bars, you probably would've loved these Little Debbie snack bars, but, unfortunately for you — and the rest of the world — they're no longer an option. A cookie base was layered with a healthy spread of caramel (or salted caramel, depending on the cookie bar) before being covered in a layer of chocolate. Sold in twin packs, these cookies first entered the scene in 1988. We don't know when exactly they evaporated from stores (the Little Debbie website states them as still being available, but the latest entry in their "Our History" timeline is from 2022 — and multiple Reddit posts have bemoaned their absence from their local supermarket shelves). One Redditor said, "Dude I miss these so much. Need to start a petition to get them back."

While it's unlikely we'll be able to enjoy these cookie bars again, at least we can hit up the nearest corner store and find something similar with Twix. Or if caramel really wasn't what drew you to these snack bars in the first place, there's always Little Debbie's Peanut Butter Crunch Bars, which replaces the sugary filling with a peanut butter creme.

If you're not the type of person who appreciates artificial banana flavor, you can skip over this, since it's of no great loss to you. If, however, you love banana Laffy Taffy and the fruit-shaped Runts, keep reading (and reminiscing). Banana Twins debuted in 1965, making them an early entrant to Little Debbie's sweet squad. The year prior, classics like Oatmeal Creme Pies, Swiss Rolls, Nutty Buddies, and Zebra Cakes had joined the ranks, putting Banana Twins in good company.

Two layers of banana cake encased the classic creme filling and came in a cute little pair per pack. They kind of looked like an open-ended Twinkie, only banana-flavored. However, it seemed customers weren't all that fond of that sunny sweets, and, after decades, they were pulled around 2022. In a Mashed poll, over 29% of respondents claimed that this "a-peeling" treat was their least favorite, signaling that a return to shelves is unlikely. However, that hasn't stopped banana fiends from demanding Little Debbie bring back this delicious duo, if this change.org petition has anything to say about it. (If you still need to scratch your Little Debbie banana-flavored itch, there's always the Banana Marshmallow Pies.)

The Girl Scouts scored another victory in the race to snack superiority when, in 2012, Little Debbie discontinued its German Chocolate Cookies Rings – a flavor dupe for the ever-popular Samoa cookies. Like the German cake for which they were named, these individually wrapped cookies were covered in a layer of caramel and coconut and coated in chocolate. Perfectly portable and relatively mess-free, they satisfied a certain craving when those Girl Scouts cookies couldn't be obtained. (They were larger, too.)

While Little Debbie hasn't yet bowed to the pressure to bring these cookie rings back, copycat recipes have sprung up for consumers to try and satisfy their cravings themselves. Although they probably won't quite resemble the original they're trying to duplicate, novice and expert bakers alike can at least have a delicious time trying.

You know Fancy Cakes: Those square, white iced cakes from Little Debbie that make you feel as though you should be enjoying them with your pinkies up? Perhaps your family reserved them for special occasions when you wanted to feel fancy. Or maybe they were trotted out when you were hosting your best pretend tea party. 

Well, once upon a time (in the '80s and '90s, to be specific), there was a version of a Fancy Cake that was humbly named Spice Cake. Perfect for the fall season and well before everyone was clamoring for pumpkin spice in the wake of the iconic Starbucks beverage, these delicate cakes took the snack world by storm. Or did they? They've since disappeared from shelves, never to be seen (or tasted) again. In its stead, Little Debbie has released Fall Party Cakes — which has autumnal decor but with only chocolate or vanilla flavors — Pumpkin Spice Rolls, and Pumpkin Delights, among other seasonal offerings. But no word yet on if the Spice Cakes will make their long-awaited comeback, so we won't hold our breath.

Coconut is a polarizing flavor, which may be one of the reasons why Coconut Crunch (sometimes referred to as Coconut Sticks) barely made it out of the 1980s (they were discontinued in the 1990s). The sticks had vanilla icing with toasted coconut. One former fan described Coconut Crunch as being similar to Nutty Buddies, with coconut cream between vanilla wafers, a coating of vanilla icing, and healthy layer of shredded coconut on top — an island dream, if you will. 

If you're a die-hard coconut fan, maybe you're longing for these sweet treats to make a return. If you're like most other consumers, you're fine with them being ditched, along with the Coconut Rounds. (Still craving coconut? You can pick up single servings of Little Debbie's Crunch Mini Donuts, bite-sized cake donuts coated in crunchy toasted coconut flakes.)

Boston cream pie, Boston cream donuts, and Boston Creme Rolls. Which one of these is not like the others? Aside from the difference in spelling, Little Debbie axed Boston Creme Rolls from their lineup in 2023, spurring hungry consumers to call, protest, and petition for their return. I don't know about you, but I certainly don't want to receive the ire of angry Boston (creme) fans. 

Vanilla sponge cake was rolled with the custardy cream so famous in Boston cream desserts, with a drizzle of chocolate on top and a layer of chocolate on the bottom, to prevent the roll from unfurling. It was architecturally sound, and tasty to boot. With such a recent departure from shelves, customers have been hopeful that one day, the people at Little Debbie will take pity on them and return it to pantries and stores across the country. Until then, we'll have to make do with Dunkin's donut version.

Some people like their brownies without nuts, but you might enjoy the crunchy, earthy flavor that cuts through all the chocolatey sweetness. The textural contrast between soft, fudgy brownie and hard nut can be pretty tough to beat. To the latter, the departure of Little Debbie's Fudge Brownies with English Walnuts was a significant blow. These treats had been around since 1969 before they were discontinued in 2022, earning them decades-worth of die-hard fans. Sure, maybe they weren't the most photogenic of treats — they were no Cosmic Brownie, that's for sure — but they had their place. You could almost convince yourself they were healthy — because, you know, nuts are good for you, right?

In their absence, brownie lovers can still satisfy their sweet tooth by digging in to Turtle Brownies — which has peanuts for that all-important crunch — as well as Cosmic Brownies and Cookies and Creme Brownies, the last of which is available in single-serving sizes only.

Does Little Debbie have something against the spice flavor profile? First Spice Cakes, and now the Christmas Spice Cookie Wreaths. There's more to the culinary world than just chocolate and vanilla, guys! 

The wreath-shaped cookies were coated in white chocolate and decorated with festive sprinkles for a treat that was as joyful to look at as it was to eat. The unique shape of these treats made them a standout on store shelves as well. Apparently, some Grinches took hold of Little Debbie in 2016 when they decided to discontinue this seasonal offering. Fortunately, in an era of internet sleuths and savvy home bakers, one Reddit user developed a recipe that bakers have said, "I just made these and they taste the exact same!" Tie on those aprons and preheat those ovens — it's baking time!

Little Debbie rarely ventures out of their realm of expertise when it comes to snack foods, and that means they tend to stay away from savory products. In fact, their entire existing roster (according to their website) is devoted to desserts only. The short-lived exception to that rule was the arrival of two sets of sandwich crackers: the Peanut Butter Toasty and the Peanut Butter Cheese. Alas, sometimes it's a case of sticking with what you know. In 2009, a recall was issued due to a possible salmonella contamination in the peanut butter used in the crackers. The savory snacks were pulled from shelves and we don't see any indication that they're likely to return. To be honest, most people likely aren't too upset about their absence when cracker giants like Ritz have our peanut butter backs covered — just sayin'.

I love lemon flavor. Cakes, sorbets, pies — you name it, I'm here for it. The sour brightness is delicious any time of year, whether you want to perk up dreary winter or indulge in sunny summer. It seems that my enthusiasm for the tart citrus fruit was not shared by the vast majority of consumers, whose overall "meh" reaction to the Lemon Meringue Rolls saw this Little Debbie snack cake disappear from stores in 2013. 

The rolls were originally sold during the summer months as part of a lineup that included Fig Bars, Devil Creme, Marshmallow Treats, and the now-discontinued Boston Creme Rolls — but weren't offered a chance to join the ranks full-time. Low sales saw these treats vanish, despite their appealing look of a yellow cake rolled with a lemon meringue filling and lemon icing drizzle. The time in the sun for this summery treat saw it go the way of every other sweet on this list a little over a year after its initial release. 

The height of grade-school elegance, a Little Debbie Marshmallow Supreme was always a score as an after-school snack or lunchbox treat. A chocolate cookie was topped with a frothy cloud of marshmallow that was then covered in a thin chocolate coating. The textural differences — thin, shattering chocolate, soft, sticky marshmallow, and fudgy cookie — raised this Little Debbie snack to new heights. Supreme, indeed. 

While it doesn't seem like this cookie will be back in stores any time soon after being discontinued around 2012 a new marshmallow-filled goodie is on the shelves after the eight-year hiatus of the supreme: the Marshmallow Treat. The classic ooey-gooey snack that featured rice crisp cereal and marshmallows are available in grocery and convenience stores in an individual-serving capacity — much to the delight of those who were devastated when they first disappeared.  

The last Little Debbie snack on our list to be discontinued is also the most recent. The Chocolate Christmas Tree Cake has been delighting consumers with its place on holiday shelves since 2012, but, as of 2024, it's gotten the boot – at least for now. Much to the chagrin of chocoholics everywhere, the striped treat unceremoniously vanished this past festive season, leaving customers out in the cold when it came time to satisfy their seasonal snack-cake cravings. (Of course, the vanilla version is still around to scratch your cellophane-wrapped snacking needs.)

In its absence, consumers can now purchase the new Buttery Christmas Vanilla Mini Muffins and Christmas Tree Cakes Mini Donuts alongside other beloved red-and-green treats. As for the chocolate tree-shaped-and-sprinkled delight? Only time will tell if it rises from the snack graveyard to bring joy to our taste buds when the holidays return.