Quick Answer
Many Little Debbie snacks contain gluten, however the company does offer some gluten-free options. Little Debbie’s that contain gluten include most of their cake and cookie varieties like Nutty Bars, Oatmeal Creme Pies, and Zebra Cakes. Gluten-free Little Debbie’s include their cosmic brownies, mini donuts, mini muffins, and fudge rounds. Those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should carefully check the ingredients list for wheat, barley, rye, and malt before consuming Little Debbie products.
Do Classic Little Debbie Snacks Contain Gluten?
Most of Little Debbie’s classic snack cakes and cookies are not gluten-free. Their ingredients typically contain wheat flour, which means they contain gluten. Here are some of the popular Little Debbie snacks that contain gluten:
– Oatmeal Creme Pies – contain wheat flour
– Zebra Cakes – contain wheat flour
– Honey Buns – contain wheat flour and barley malt
– Nutty Bars – contain wheat flour
– Star Crunch – contain wheat flour
– Cosmic Brownies – contain wheat flour
– Blueberry Muffin Cakes – contain wheat flour
– Strawberry Shortcake Rolls – contain wheat flour
– Swiss Rolls – contain wheat flour
– Boston Creme Rolls – contain wheat flour
– Banana Twins – contain wheat flour
– Mini Powdered Donuts – contain wheat flour
The wheat flour and barley malt ingredients used in these Little Debbie snack cakes and cookies means they contain the gluten protein. Those with celiac disease, wheat allergy, or gluten sensitivity need to avoid these items.
Gluten-Free Little Debbie Snacks
While many classic Little Debbie products contain gluten, the company has created some gluten-free snacks that are safe for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Here are some of the gluten-free snacks offered by Little Debbie:
– Cosmic Brownies – the mini and regular size cosmic brownies are gluten-free
– Mini Muffins – including mini blueberry muffins and mini banana nut muffins
– Mini Donuts – plain powdered sugar mini donuts and mini chocolate donuts
– Fudge Rounds – chocolate fudge rounds are gluten-free
– Zebra Cakes Minis – the mini zebra cakes are gluten-free, but regular size contain gluten
– Oatmeal Creme Pies Minis – the mini pies are gluten-free, but regular size contain gluten
– Star Crunch Minis – the mini star crunch snacks don’t contain gluten
– Honey Buns Minis – mini honey buns are gluten-free
Always check the ingredients list and packaging when buying Little Debbie products labeled as gluten-free. The ingredients will state “gluten-free” on truly gluten-free items. The minis and cosmic brownies are produced on gluten-free equipment and in facilities separate from other Little Debbie snacks that contain gluten. This avoids cross-contamination.
Are Unfrosted Little Debbie Snacks Gluten-Free?
Some of Little Debbie’s unfrosted snack varieties may be gluten-free, but it depends on the specific product. For example:
– Unfrosted mini blueberry muffins are gluten-free
– Unfrosted cinnamon streusel coffee cakes contain wheat and barley and are not gluten-free
– Unfrosted mini powdered donuts are gluten-free
– Unfrosted oatmeal cream pies contain wheat and barley and are not gluten-free
So you cannot assume an unfrosted Little Debbie treat will automatically be gluten-free. You still need to check the ingredients list for each unfrosted product to see if it contains gluten. Some will be gluten-free while others contain wheat, barley or rye ingredients.
Gluten Info for Discontinued Little Debbie Snacks
Little Debbie frequently changes up their product lineup, discontinuing some snacks while introducing new ones. Here is the gluten information for some discontinued Little Debbie products:
– Swiss Cake Rolls – contained wheat, not gluten-free
– Peanut Butter Crunch – contained wheat, not gluten-free
– Banana Flips – contained wheat, not gluten-free
– Pecan Spinwheels – contained wheat and barley malt, not gluten-free
– Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake – contained wheat flour, not gluten-free
– Fancy Cakes – contained wheat, not gluten-free
– Pineapple Creme Pies – contained wheat and barley, not gluten-free
While these snacks have been discontinued, the gluten information can still be useful for those who may have a package in their pantry or come across one in a secondary market. Any of these discontinued items would contain gluten.
Are Special Edition Little Debbie’s Gluten-Free?
Little Debbie releases special edition and seasonal snack foods around holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day. The specialty holiday cookies and cakes often contain gluten:
– Christmas Tree Cakes – contain wheat, not gluten-free
– Snowballs – contain wheat, barley malt, not gluten-free
– Valentine’s Day Brownie Hearts – contain wheat, barley malt, not gluten-free
– Pumpkin Delights – contain wheat flour, not gluten-free
– Gingerbread Cookies – contain wheat flour, not gluten-free
Always check since ingredients can change year to year. But in general, the specialty seasonal Little Debbie items are made with traditional wheat-based recipes and not gluten-free. Your safest bet is to stick to their certified gluten-free mini or cosmic brownie options around the holidays.
Where to Find Gluten-Free Little Debbie’s
You can find gluten-free Little Debbie snacks at most major grocery store chains and mass merchandise stores that carry Little Debbie products. Some locations to find gluten-free Little Debbie snacks include:
– Walmart – carries cosmic brownies, mini muffins and mini donuts
– Target – stocks mini blueberry muffins and mini chocolate donuts
– Dollar General – often has fudge rounds and cosmic brownies
– Family Dollar – stocks certain minis and cosmic brownies depending on location
– Gas stations/convenience stores – may carry cosmic brownies or fudge rounds
– Vending machines – sometimes have mini brownies and mini muffins
– Online – can order gluten-free Little Debbie’s from Walmart.com, Amazon, etc.
Your local availability will depend on your area. Check at major retailers near you or order online to get your hands on gluten-free Little Debbies.
Tips for Finding Gluten-Free Little Debbie’s
– Look for the “gluten-free” label on packaging.
– Check for wheat, barley, rye or malt in the ingredients.
– Focus on the cosmic brownies, mini muffins, mini donuts and fudge rounds.
– Call ahead to stores to check if they carry specific gluten-free options.
– Order online for wider selection and home delivery.
– Avoid seasonal and specialty Little Debbie’s which often contain gluten.
– Don’t assume unfrosted means gluten-free, always check ingredients.
Are Little Debbie’s Made in a Gluten-Free Facility?
Most Little Debbie facilities are not gluten-free. Many of their classic snacks that contain wheat and gluten are produced on shared equipment and in facilities that also handle their gluten-free items.
However, Little Debbie does produce their certified gluten-free products like the cosmic brownies and minis on dedicated gluten-free lines and in separate facilities. This is important to avoid cross-contamination with gluten.
So you can feel confident that any Little Debbie’s labeled “gluten-free” are produced in facilities free from gluten. But their other products with wheat and barley are made in shared spaces, which is a risk for those with celiac disease.
What About Oats in Little Debbie’s?
Some Little Debbie snacks contain oats, like their oatmeal creme pies. Oats are inherently gluten-free, but can get contaminated with gluten grains during growing and processing.
For their gluten-free snacks, Little Debbie uses certified pure, uncontaminated oats. These oats are grown and handled in dedicated gluten-free facilities and are rigorously tested to ensure no gluten cross-contact.
So the oats used in Little Debbie’s gluten-free items, like their mini oatmeal creme pies, are considered safe for those with celiac disease. But their regular oatmeal creme pies and other oat-based snacks are at risk for gluten cross-contamination.
Can Celiacs Eat Little Debbie Snacks?
Those with celiac disease need to strictly avoid all gluten. This means most classic Little Debbie cakes and cookies are off limits for celiacs, since they contain wheat and barley ingredients.
However, people with celiac disease can safely enjoy Little Debbie’s certified gluten-free products, like their mini muffins, cosmic brownies, and mini donuts. As long as the product is labeled gluten-free with no wheat, barley or rye in the ingredients, celiacs can eat these Little Debbie snacks.
Of course, it’s always smart for those with celiac to check with their doctor about any new products introduced into their diet. But in general, Little Debbie’s gluten-free line can be an option for those with celiac provided cross-contamination is avoided.
Can You Eat Little Debbie’s on a Gluten-Free Diet?
You can eat certain Little Debbie snacks on a gluten-free diet, but many products are off limits. Here are some tips for following a gluten-free diet while still enjoying Little Debbie treats:
– Stick to Little Debbie gluten-free products – cosmic brownies, mini muffins, mini donuts, fudge rounds.
– Avoid all Little Debbie products with wheat, rye, barley in ingredients.
– Check labels carefully before eating any Little Debbie snacks.
– Look for “gluten-free” label on packaging.
– Inquire about dedicated production lines and facilities.
– Skip seasonal and specialty Little Debbie snacks.
– Don’t eat oat-based Little Debbie’s unless certified gluten-free oats.
– Contact company with any questions about gluten-free status.
– Notify company immediately if get sick from gluten cross-contamination.
By following these tips and sticking with certified gluten-free Little Debbie’s, you can enjoy their snacks as part of a gluten-free diet. Just be vigilant about verifying gluten-free status before consuming.
Little Debbie Gluten-Free Snack Options
Here is a summary of the various gluten-free friendly Little Debbie snacks currently available:
| Gluten-Free Snack | Details |
|---|---|
| Cosmic Brownies | Original and mini cosmic brownies are gluten-free |
| Mini Muffins | Blueberry, banana nut, and chocolate mini muffins are gluten-free |
| Mini Donuts | Powdered sugar and chocolate mini donuts are gluten-free |
| Fudge Rounds | Chocolate fudge rounds certified gluten-free |
| Zebra Cakes Minis | Mini zebra cakes are gluten-free |
| Oatmeal Creme Pies Minis | Mini oatmeal pies made with certified gluten-free oats |
| Star Crunch Minis | Mini version of Star Crunch without gluten |
| Honey Buns Minis | Mini honey buns are gluten-free |
Conclusion
Many classic Little Debbie’s contain gluten and wheat, which means people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance have to avoid them. However, Little Debbie has created a line of gluten-free snacks produced in dedicated facilities, including cosmic brownies, mini muffins, mini donuts, and fudge rounds. Those with gluten issues can enjoy these special Little Debbie snacks as part of a gluten-free diet, provided they carefully check the labels and ingredients. By sticking with these certified gluten-free options, you can still satisfy your sweet tooth cravings even while avoiding gluten.
