The Chapter 11 filing on Wednesday comes just two years after a predecessor company emerged from bankruptcy proceedings.
The privately held Irving, Texas bakery company says it will be able to maintain routine operations thanks to a $75 million financing commitment from a group of lenders.
Reports had surfaced earlier in the week that the company was planning to make such a filing.
Hostess said that it will look to restructure into a "strong, competitive" company. It will continue to run bakeries, outlet stores and distribution centers and deliver its goods during the process.
Hostess operates in 49 states.