- The Twinkies Cookbook: An Inventive and Unexpected Recipe Collection from Hostess
- Hardcover: 112 pages
- Publisher: Ten Speed Press; illustrated edition edition (May 1, 2006)
- ISBN-13: 978-1580087568
Back of the Book Blurb: In 2005, as part of Twinkies’ 75th anniversary celebration, Hostess put out a call for recipes, asking people to share their ideas for cooking—yes, cooking—with Twinkies. Hundreds of people from across the country responded with an amazing collection of homegrown, creative, and sometimes wacky recipes. Nostalgic, colorful, and a delight for the whole family, this is the perfect book for the Twinkie lover in all of us.
She is Too Fond of Books‘ review: I received this cookbook from Team Ding-Dong during our Game On Diet challenge. The gift message read: “Enjoy! The Ding Dongs will be expecting a full report on how these recipes taste!”
Before I move on to that “full report”, allow me to interject a bit of personal history/trivia. Growing up, the town next to mine was home to an Interstate Bakeries Corporation (IBC) bakery. The large brick building sported the familiar red, yellow, and blue dots of the Wonder Bread logo. Sometimes we’d be out running errands, Mom driving up Speen Street in the Ford LTD Wagon with the faux wood panelling, my sister and I in the back seat (or sometimes, the “way back”, this was before seatbelt laws). We’d inhale so fast and furious that we practically passed out – Mmmm the smell of freshly-baked Hostess products filled the air for blocks around!
Sorry, I got lost there in that sweet (asphixiatingly sweet!) childhood memory. Back to The Twinkie Cookbook.
The book begins with a short history of the Twinkie. James A. Dewar (no relation to Dewar’s scotch!) created them in the 1930s when he was managing an IBC bakery and looking for a way to use the shortcake pans that sat idle for the many months of the year that strawberries were not in season. The original Twinkies had a banana cream filling and cost a nickel for a package of two! In contrast, the 2-packs I bought to test a few of these recipes cost $1.39.
After this brief history, the book continues with nine sections of recipes, including:
- Twinkies for Chocolate Lovers
- Twinkies a la Mode
- Twinkie Drinks
- Twinkies and Meat
I kid you not, this last category has a recipe for “Twinkling Turkey” – a turkey stuffed with golden Twinkie cakes and basted with a marinade that combines the creamy filling with honey!
During my testing of the cookbook, I didn’t do any active baking; there was no deep frying, nor blending of Twinkie-inspired cocktails. My kids and I had fun making two of the recipes – Twinkie Sushi and Twinkie Burritos – just to show the international flavor and appeal of Twinkies. The results were a hit with the kids, who remain shocked at my willingness to buy not only Twinkies, but also fruit roll-ups, jelly beans, and chocolate sauce!
The Twinkies Cookbook hit the spot! Although I’m unlikely to cook from it again on a regular basis, it will remain on my kitchen shelf as a reminder of our success with the Game On lifestyle challenge. Thanks to Jill and the rest of Team Ding-Dong!
Uhhhhh! The bile is rising in my throat! Sorry, not very open-minded of me, but I didn’t even like Twinkies when I was little! (I would eat a Ho-Ho now and again though.) God love ya for trying this! (We have a local bakery near downtown Orlando called Merita. Boy does it smell goooood.)
LOL!!!! Hysterical. We had a Wonder Bread factory in our area too. It. didn’t bake the sweet stuff, just the bread. I remember that smell wafting in through windows of my mom’s turquoise Chevy station wagon when drove over the bridge to east side of the city or to get on the turnpike.
I really laughed when you got that cookbook and I love your review of this. I have never had a Twinkie, and I’m pretty sure Vance hasn’t it either, so I don’t think I’ll be cooking with them anytime soon.
I think the fact that you were even willing to try some of the recipes in a cookbook that contains a ‘Twinkling Turkey’ recipe should earn you Coolest Mom for this year.
An entire section on Twinkies and Meat? Who let that go to print???
When I first saw the title of the book I was thinking there is no way I would ever try anything out of it. Then I read your review and I changed my mind. I’m going to have to go out and get this book and try a few with my son (who is 6). Even if we don’t like any of the results, it will be fun for us to do. So thank you for reviewing this book.
Adorable pictures – of your kids, that is, not the recipes. Have you thought about doing one those Julie and Julia projects, in which you try a new recipe from the book every day of the year?!!! (If you run out, you could move on to other Snack Cakes!)
Twinkies and meat?!? Gross!
I saw Twinkies and HoHos and DingDongs all together on a shelf the other day and all I could think of was our teams!
Too funny! I’ve seen this book and wondered what on earth you could make with Twinkies (which I love, by the way!).
Twinkies sound like fun! The kids look like they are having a blast. Perhaps you could make some Twinkie treats for E’s class when she goes back to school. I imagine the teachers would love you!
I’m such a sucker for a good gimicky cookbook, and this one sounds great. Twinkie-stuffed turkey indeed! I’m going to have to see if I can get my hands on a copy.
Sandy – I have to say, if I’m going to eat junk food, I prefer the chocolate, too!
Beth – that’s too funny; shared childhood olfactory memories
Kathy – the term “cooking” is used very loosely here.
Brittany – thanks for the Coolest Mom designation … I’ll be sure to let my kids know!
Ryan – I’m happy to share it; send me your address and I’ll pop the TWINKIES COOKBOOK in the mail for you and your son.
rhapsody – the scary thing is … there are all kinds of bizarre cookbooks out there, I’m sure it could be done.
softdrink – I never used to noticed those Hostess snack racks, but I see them in all the stores now! The Game On Diet opened my eyes to a whole new aisle (one to avoid!)
LuAnn – I’ll confess to liking the name more than the snack cake. Dipped in chocolate would be good!
Nicole – Ha! The kids were amazed that I bought all those special ingredients for this book review. They’re asking for more cookbooks to experiment with.
Memory – can you imagine?!? I’ll stick to my traditional Thanksgiving fare! Again, I’m thinking you can’t go wrong with chocolate-covered anything
LOL!!! I love the pictures! Thank you for sharing! I love it when people embrace their gag gifts.
Well, Twinkies never really did it for me but a Ding Dong, the kind in the foil wrapper…oh man. If they are anywhere near me they are toast. Me? The one that does not like chocolate or sweets which means that Ding Dongs are fully manufactured and genetically engineered badness. Probably the same can be said for Twinkies and Ho Hos.
Ooh, I love Twinkies. Haven’t had one for years, though. I have a tendency to eat the who box in like two days.
Luscious, luscious twinkies…how you mock me! I love twinkies ( and a lot of other sugary sweets) but I recently found out I have diabetes, so twinkies have to stay off the meal plan. I do sometimes still buy them for my kids, and I think they would really have a lot of fun with some of these recipes. I might try to check this book out at the library for a lark and make some of these neat little recipes. I especially think the twinkie sushi sounds fun.
Dawn, I got the book today and it looks like a lot of fun. My next night off is Monday so me and my son are going to try a few of them. Thank you so much for sending this along. It was very generous of you!
Literate Housewife – we had fun with it, and instead of letting it gather dust I’ve spread the Twinkie love
Ti – I forgot about the foil wrappers …. did you used to flatten them out, trying to get out every crease?
Carol – I’m that way with chocolate – once the package is open it won’t last long with me!
zibilee – I know there are a lot of dessert cookbooks for people with diabetes – I hope you can find some treats that you can enjoy; I’m sure this will take some getting used to …
Ryan – enjoy! I hope you and your son have fun with it
This was so cute!!! And don’t kids realize their parents are just big kids inside???
Twinkies-now there is for me a pleasure of by gone days