How much sugar is in Hostess?

Across the 191+ Hostess snack cakes in our database, average added sugar is 20.5g per serving. None of the variants meet our Tier D threshold (≤5g added sugar per serving) for kids snacks.

Is Hostess healthy for kids?

Not by added-sugar standards. The American Heart Association recommends that 4-8 year olds get no more than 25g of added sugar per day total — a single serving of most Hostess snack cakes accounts for a substantial share of that daily limit. We don't publish Hostess in our low-sugar catalog for kids.

What's a low-sugar alternative to Hostess?

Browse our sortable lists of low-sugar snack cakes for kids — every option ranked by added sugar with full ingredient data. The top picks are zero-added-sugar.

Hostess

Sugar content & low-sugar alternatives for kids

Hostess makes Twinkies, CupCakes, Ding Dongs, and Donettes. The 191 Hostess variants in our review average 21g of added sugar per package — about a Snickers bar's worth. None qualify as low-sugar, so we don't carry Hostess in our published catalog.

Why Hostess isn't in our published catalog

We reviewed 191+ Hostess snack cakes from USDA and OpenFoodFacts data. Average added sugar is 20.5g per serving. None met our Tier D threshold (≤5g added sugar per serving), so the full lineup was archived from the published catalog. The page below routes to actually-low-sugar alternatives in the same format.

Browse low-sugar snack cakes for kids

Sortable lists of every low-sugar option in the same category, ranked by added sugar.

Best Low-Sugar Cookies→Best No-Sugar Lunchbox Snacks→Best Low-Sugar Bars→

Frequently asked questions

How much sugar is in Hostess?: Across the 191+ Hostess snack cakes in our database, average added sugar is 20.5g per serving. None of the variants meet our Tier D threshold (≤5g added sugar per serving) for kids snacks.
Is Hostess healthy for kids?: Not by added-sugar standards. The American Heart Association recommends that 4-8 year olds get no more than 25g of added sugar per day total — a single serving of most Hostess snack cakes accounts for a substantial share of that daily limit. We don't publish Hostess in our low-sugar catalog for kids.
What's a low-sugar alternative to Hostess?: Browse our sortable lists of low-sugar snack cakes for kids — every option ranked by added sugar with full ingredient data. The top picks are zero-added-sugar.