Sept 11 (Reuters) - J.M. Smucker said on Monday it will buy Twinkies-maker Hostess Brands in a $5.6 billion deal, as major U.S. packaged food companies look to expand their brand portfolios with pandemic-era fortunes dwindling.

On Sunday, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the Jif peanut butter maker was nearing a deal to buy Hostess for close to $5 billion.

(Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)