Depression-era Little Debbie snack that built a family-run bakery still has Americans hooked

What began as a 5-cent snack sold during the Great Depression has grown into one of Little Debbie’s best-selling treats more than 90 years later.

The Oatmeal Creme Pie was Little Debbie’s first , tracing its roots to 1935, when O.D. McKee developed the treat after selling baked goods from the back of his 1928 Whippet, according to Little Debbie’s website.

In 1934, the McKees had purchased a bakery near Chattanooga, Tennessee, using the family car as collateral, according to the website.

“Money was so tight, they had to put up a sheet near the back of the bakery for the family’s living quarters,” the company history says.

Fast-forward to the 1960s, and Little Debbie, named after McKee’s granddaughter, was an established brand.

Oatmeal Creme Pies are “the snack that started it all!” Little Debbie’s website proclaims.

“Oatmeal Creme Pies have been since 1960 as the very first snack baked under the Little Debbie brand name,” the website’s product description says. “Whole grain oats, molasses and irresistible crème filling combine to create this classic treat.”

The original family packs of contained the Oatmeal Creme Pie and were sold for 49 cents a carton.

“After its initial introduction, more than 14 million cakes were sold within 10 months,” Little Debbie’s website says. “While the Oatmeal Creme Pie was the original Little Debbie snack cake, there were 14 different varieties by 1964, including the ever-popular Nutty Buddy wafer bars and Swiss Cake Roll.”

Little Debbie has rolled out various iterations of the Oatmeal Creme Pie, including Oatmeal Creme Pie Ice Cream Sandwiches and Oatmeal Creme Pie Ice Cream Bars. Home bakers have also created many copycat versions of the iconic snack.

Today, McKee Foods, still based in Tennessee, describes itself as “America’s largest family bakery.”

The company produces more than 75 Little Debbie products. Oatmeal Creme Pies, along with Swiss Rolls and Nutty Buddy wafer bars, remain the company’s most popular items. More than 200 million cartons of these three products are sold each year.

Little Debbie continues as a family-run company, and Little Debbie herself is still involved. The fourth generation of the McKee family is learning the business, and Debbie McKee-Fowler serves as chair of the McKee Foods Board of Directors.

The company is “honored” by the success of the Oatmeal Creme Pie and the brand’s other products, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

“Our success ultimately means we are delivering a product that people genuinely love,” the company said. “The Oatmeal Creme Pie, for instance, has been a part of family gatherings and shared moments with friends for over 60 years. Being family-run keeps us grounded in our core values.”

Oatmeal Creme Pies have stood the test of time, according to McKee Foods, because the flavor appeals to many different demographics and generations.

“The spiced cookies are nostalgic of a home-baked oatmeal cookie, and the sweet crème middle adds extra whimsy to the product for younger consumers. It’s a little treat that isn’t polarizing.”

A customer recently relayed a story to McKee Foods that the company said captures the essence of how the Oatmeal Creme Pie is often associated with fond memories. The customer would eat an Oatmeal Creme Pie every time he went fishing with his grandfather. 

“Today, every time he eats an Oatmeal Creme Pie, it instantly brings back the good memories of those fishing trips,” the company said. “That powerful sense of nostalgia and comfort is what makes our products so much more than just a snack for so many people.”