Little Debbie's Oatmeal Creme Pie, now one of the brand's best-selling treats, has its origins in the Great Depression, when founder O.D. McKee began developing the recipe in 1935 after selling baked goods from his car. The story highlights how a modest 5-cent snack helped establish what has become a long-running, family-run American bakery business, illustrating the enduring appeal of a product created during a period of severe economic hardship.

The McKee family bought a bakery near Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1934, reportedly using their car as collateral to secure the purchase. O.D. McKee went on to create the Oatmeal Creme Pie the following year, and it became the company's first snack cake. More than 90 years later, the treat remains popular with American consumers, and the business continues to operate from Tennessee.