Copycat Little Debbie Jelly Creme Pies Recipe
Oh my goodness, you guys — Little Debbie Jelly Creme Pies are literally one of my all-time childhood obsessions, and this copycat version is so easy to make that you will never go back to the store-bought ones again! We’re talking soft cookies sandwiched around a dreamy cream cheese filling with a dollop of strawberry-flavored jelly right in the center, all covered in a crackly milk chocolate shell. Be still my heart. If you love dessert as much as I do, this recipe is absolutely worth sharing with everyone you know! 🍪❤️
The jelly filling oozes out just like it would in an actual jelly creme pie. Those who are wary of the jelly/jam filling being too “tangy” should have no fear — jelly was used because it’s not as tart as jam.
If you loved Little Debbie Jelly Crème Pies as a kid, you are going to love this delicious dupe made with cream cheese filling, strawberry jam, white cake cookies, and milk chocolate on top. It’s all the same flavors you loved when you were a child, but in a more grown-up homemade form.
This post has been sponsored by Dixie Crystals, but all opinions are 100% my own. This post may contain affiliate links.
Why These Are the Best Little Debbie Jelly Creme Pies Copycat
Can we talk about how these are genuinely the best Little Debbie treat to recreate at home? I literally can’t even explain how good these are until you bite into one. The sweet creme filling is tangy from the cream cheese, the soft cookies have this tender crumb that melts in your mouth, and the chocolate shell on top? Ah-mazing. These rank right up there with my Copycat Cosmic Brownies as one of the most requested treats in my house. Honestly, if you’re on a junk food kick — whether you’re deep into international junk food hauls or just obsessing over unique junk food flavors from your childhood — this recipe is calling your name. 🙌
Fun fact: little debbie jelly creme pies have become one of the best limited edition snacks of the year every time they return to shelves, and the snack community goes absolutely wild. I’ve seen posts on Reddit — you know, the heart of the internet, that whole world of communities thing — where people in the answers section are swapping tips about unexpected junk food pairings with these pies (coffee! vanilla ice cream! don’t knock it). The reddit home feed for snack lovers is genuinely chaotic and I am so here for it. Download the reddit app if you want a rabbit hole of fellow junk food obsessives. 😂
Copycat Little Debbie Desserts
So many of my favorite copycat recipes have been Back-to-School themed! If you haven’t already, these Copycat Oatmeal Cream Pies are a MUST try. I loved them so much, I made them in bar form too!
But if chocolate is more your thing, I’ve got you. These Copycat Hostess Cupcakes were so epic that I also made them in layer cake form (see my Hostess Cupcake Cake Recipe). Honestly, hostess cupcakes in cake form after a long day? I literally can’t think of anything better. 🎂
Another one for the chocolate lovers: Copycat Cosmic Brownies. These were my personal favorites as a kid. Those rainbow chips on top always won me over! And while we’re at it, my Oatmeal Cream Pie Bars are one of my favorite flavors to bake when I need a nostalgic hit fast.
Ingredients Needed for This Recipe
Here’s everything you’ll need to pull these together — simple stuff, I promise! Check your pantry first because you probably have most of this already. 🛒
How Do I Make the Jelly Creme Filling?
The jelly creme filling is really much simpler than you might think! There are two components:
➊ First, the “creme” portion of the filling. If you are a stickler for authenticity, then I highly recommend using the cream filling recipe in my Hostess Cupcakes post. For these jelly creme pies, I decided to stray just a bit and make a cream cheese filling that would be slightly less sweet to offset the cookies, chocolate, and jam. It’s like a grown-up version of creme pie filling — that sweet creme tang is absolutely perfect here.
➋ I used a little bit of Smuckers strawberry jam for the jelly filling. Feel free to use whatever strawberry spread you like best! The combination of that creamy filling with a dollop of strawberry-flavored jelly tucked inside is just *chef’s kiss.*
Easy Instructions
➀ Mix and bake a batch of simple cake mix cookies.
➁ Make the cream cheese frosting.
➂ Pipe a dam of frosting around the edges of half of the cookies. Fill the centers with jam.
➃ Finish off the cookie sandwiches with another cookie, and spoon melted chocolate on top.
Tips for the Perfect Copycat Cookies
Okay so let’s talk product details for a sec because a few little tricks make a huge difference here! First — these soft cookies need to cool completely before you assemble, otherwise the cream cheese filling will just melt everywhere. And trust me, as tempting as it is to rush this step (I have absolutely done it), don’t. Second, the main image on the packaging of the original little debbie jelly creme pies shows how thick that chocolate layer is, so don’t be shy with the chocolate. More is more, obviously! 🍫
When you’re shopping for ingredients, check the item images and product information on the packaging of your white cake mix — you want a standard 15 oz box. Some people ask about the nutritional information for these homemade pies, and I’ll be honest with you: I don’t make these on a Weight Watchers week, ha! They’re a treat, and they’re worth every single point. The large image in the recipe card above gives you a really good idea of the finished product — if you’re on mobile and want a closer look, use the zoom button on your browser to get all that glorious detail. The main content of this recipe is straightforward, I promise! 😄
Also — if you’re building a fun summer adventure snack spread (Fourth of July, pool party, back-to-school night — you name it!), these are SO the move. Pair them alongside my Watermelon Rice Krispie Treats for a total crowd-pleaser situation. And if you want to keep a track of thumbnails of all your favorite copycat recipes to make, bookmark this page and the rest of the snack section! 📌
Where to Find Little Debbie Jelly Creme Pies
So here’s the thing — little debbie jelly creme pies are a seasonal item, which means they are NOT always on shelves and the hunt is real. I’ve found them at Walmart and Target, but availability varies by location. If you can’t find them locally, I’d suggest calling your nearest store directly (a phone number for your local Walmart grocery department works great for checking stock before you drive over — just use the store’s phone number from their website). You can also check the Little Debbie website for a compatible form of their store locator to find retailers near you.
Honestly though? That’s exactly why I made this copycat! Because waiting for a limited-edition snack when you love dessert THIS much is just not compatible with my real life food obsessions. Whether you’re doing a full-on summer adventure snack haul or just need something dreamy for the lunchbox, this homemade version will absolutely save the day. And unlike the original box, you can keep a close eye on every single ingredient that goes in. A screen reader user accessing this recipe for the first time through a compatible form of assistive technology can navigate the full recipe card below — all the product details are clearly labeled! ♿
Navigating This Recipe and Site
Hey real quick — if you’re new here, welcome to the world of communities that is Something Swanky! 🎉 To find more recipes, just use the open menu button in the navigation bar at the top of the page. If you prefer to customize your experience, hit the open settings menu option to adjust text size and display. Want to jump straight to another recipe? Use the user menu to access your saved favorites. And if you ever land on a page and want to skip directly to the recipe, just click “Jump to Recipe” to get to the main content fast. It’s all super intuitive, I promise!
If you love these Little Debbie-inspired treats, make sure you check out my Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies — they are truly one of the best things I’ve ever baked. And for more indulgent no-fuss desserts, my No Bake Deep Dish Cookies & Milk Pie is absolutely foolproof and SO worth making on any lazy afternoon. You have to make both. That’s just the rule. 😂❤️
Copycat Little Debbie Jelly Creme Pies Recipe
Yield:
8 cookies
Prep Time:
1 hour
Cook Time:
10 minutes
Total Time:
1 hour 10 minutes
If you loved Little Debbie Jelly Creme Pies as a kid, you are going to love this delicious dupe made with cream cheese filling, strawberry jam, white cake cookies, and milk chocolate on top.
It’s all the same flavors you loved when you were a child, but in a more grown-up homemade form.
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix, white
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 c vegetable oil
- 1/2 c unsalted butter, room temperature
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 3 1/2 c powdered sugar
- 1 t vanilla
- 4 T strawberry jam
- 10 ounces milk chocolate melting candy wafers
Instructions
- For cookies, preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Mix cake mix, eggs, and oil. Scoop out heaping tablespoons and roll them into balls. Slightly flatten dough with your palms and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until slightly golden on bottoms. Let cool completely.
- For cream cheese filling, mix butter and cream cheese using an electric mixer.
- Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing between each addition. Scrape down sides as needed.
- Mix in vanilla.
- Transfer filling to a piping bag and set aside.
- To assemble, using cream cheese filling, pipe a dam around top of a cookie. Spoon about 1/2 tablespoon of jam into center. Place another cookie, upside down (flat side up) onto top of filling.
- Repeat with remaining cookies. Freeze all of assembled cookies for 10 minutes.
- Melt chocolate melting candy according to directions on package.
- Place cookies on a cooling rack, and place rack over a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of melted chocolate over each cookie and let chocolate run over sides. It should cool and harden quickly.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 386Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 526mgCarbohydrates: 75gFiber: 1gSugar: 47gProtein: 4g