Suzy Q
Suzy Q's are a brand of oblong snack cakes produced by Hostess Brands, consisting of two layers of soft, moist devil's food chocolate cake sandwiching a sweet, creamy vanilla filling.[1] Introduced in 1961 by the Continental Baking Company, which owned the Hostess brand at the time, the cakes were originally offered in devil's food chocolate and banana cake varieties with a vanilla crème filling, though the devil's food variety quickly became the standard.[2][3] The name "Suzy Q's" derives from the daughter of William J. Sellhorn, president of Continental Baking Company.[4] Similar in style to Drake's Devil Dogs but distinguished by their larger size and airy texture, Suzy Q's gained popularity as a convenient, individually wrapped treat, each providing approximately 290 calories per 74-gram serving.[1][5] The product has faced multiple discontinuations and relaunches, including after the 2012 bankruptcy, a 2016 revival with a new recipe, a 2018 revival restoring the original 1961 recipe, discontinuation in late 2020, and a return to nationwide distribution in September 2025 amid strong fan demand.[6][2] Key ingredients include sugar, enriched flour, water, cocoa, palm oil, and high fructose corn syrup, with common allergens such as wheat, milk, eggs, and soy.[1]Product Overview
Description
Suzy Q is an oblong sandwich-style snack cake consisting of two layers of soft, moist devil's food chocolate cake enclosing a creamy white filling.[1][7] The structure creates a handheld treat that is mega-sized compared to many similar products, offering a substantial bite, with each individual cake weighing around 2.6 ounces.[1][8] The texture of Suzy Q features an airy and spongy chocolate cake that is fluffy yet not overly dense, providing a light contrast to the rich, smooth crème center.[1][7] The filling is generously proportioned, delivering a velvety mouthfeel that complements the cake's subtle moisture. Structurally, it serves as an analog to products like Drake's Devil Dogs, sharing the classic two-cake sandwich format with an internal filling.[1] In terms of sensory profile, Suzy Q offers a balanced rich chocolate flavor from the devil's food cake, paired with the sweet, vanilla-tinged taste of the crème filling, resulting in a harmonious indulgence that emphasizes both cocoa depth and creamy sweetness.[7][8]Ingredients and Nutrition
Suzy Q's are composed primarily of enriched wheat flour, sugars, fats, and cocoa, with additional emulsifiers, leavening agents, and preservatives to maintain texture and shelf life.[1] The full ingredient list includes sugar, high fructose corn syrup, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron or ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), palm oil, water, dextrose, soybean oil, corn syrup, cocoa, whey (from milk), and less than 2% of food starch-modified, glycerin, mono- and diglycerides, cocoa processed with alkali, baking soda, salt, egg whites, corn starch, egg, corn syrup solids, sorbic acid and potassium sorbate (to retain freshness), sodium acid pyrophosphate, cellulose gum, xanthan gum, sodium stearoyl lactylate, polysorbate 60, natural and artificial flavors, soy lecithin, enzymes, and monocalcium phosphate.[1] The nutritional profile per serving (one cake, 74 g) is as follows:| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 290 | - |
| Total Fat | 13 g | 16% |
| Saturated Fat | 5 g | 26% |
| Trans Fat | 0 g | - |
| Cholesterol | 5 mg | 1% |
| Sodium | 350 mg | 15% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 44 g | 16% |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 g | 4% |
| Total Sugars | 31 g | - |
| Added Sugars | 29 g | 59% |
| Protein | 2 g | - |
| Vitamin D | 0 mcg | 0% |
| Calcium | 20 mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1.4 mg | 8% |
| Potassium | 110 mg | 2% |