There was much teeth gnashing and hair-pulling in the press and in homes around the country when Hostess announced last year that Twinkies’ days were numbered. Hoarders ran to the stores in the mistaken belief that if they stocked up, their Twinkies would last forever (they don’t). We also saw a huge proliferation of Twinkie listings appear on eBay, some at exorbitant and frankly ridiculous prices. We even documented the frenzy here on eBay stories with a post entitled Twinkies: dead before the Zombie apocalypse. But to paraphrase Mark Twain: “The reports of the death of Twinkies have been greatly exaggerated.”
First came the news earlier this year that Hostess Brands was in the process of auctioning off its famed Twinkie, Wonder Bread, and other brands to the highest bidder. While no actual Twinkies have been made, and indeed production has been halted since November 2012, there is hope of a Twinkie reanimation in stores near you in the not-too-distant future. But if you just can’t wait that long, there is hope here on eBay with today’s remarkable find, this Hostess DIY Twinkie Bake Set: Includes Recipe, Pastry Bag & Decoration Tips:
Yes, that’s right. Everything you need to create your very own Twinkie, right in the comfort of your own home. The listing explains what is included:
“The Hostess Twinkies™ Baking Set can use cake recipes from your favorite website or cookbook to create delicious treats the whole family can enjoy or create new recipes and let your taste buds be your guide. Be creative and have fun! The pan and baking tools included in your Twinkies™Bake Set have been tested in kitchens like yours to make sure they perform properly and produce delicious results! Your Twinkies™ Bake pan allows you to use any store bought cake mix for your recipes. Follow the package directions to prepare the batter and use with your favorite fillings.”
The listing is intriguing in many ways. It doesn’t guarantee outright that what you create will taste exactly like a Twinkie, but it encourages you to use recipes from your own cookbook or to find one on a website. We found that approach a bit of a cop-out, so we took it upon ourselves to find the “original” Twinkies recipe online so you don’t have to hunt around should you decide to purchase this item.
We found several intriguing recipes (our search results here), but our favorite had to be this one from Top Secret Recipes called (plainly enough) the Hostess Twinkie Recipe. We won’t replicate the whole thing here, but it does contain some nuggets we had to share with you. It says to use “one 16 ounce box golden pound cake mix” but then to promptly “ignore the directions on the box.” We like that attitude… “Directions? We don’t need no stinking directions!” (with apologies to the movie The Treasure of the Sierra Madre). But what about the filling? The creamy goodness inside a Twinkie? The recipe reveals a secret ingredient: marshmallow creme! Suddenly the whole thing makes more sense.
If you are wondering how Twinkies, those spongy cakes filled with that delicious creamy filling. first came to be, let us explain. Innovators used a last-minute substitution when they found themselves facing a shortage of a key ingredient. The first Twinkies were actually a type of strawberry shortcake roll, with a filling made of fresh strawberries. When strawberries were not in season, the company created a banana cream filling, as bananas were widely available. Although banana-cream Twinkies were somewhat popular, it was war that became the mother of invention. With the advent of World War II, there were massive banana shortages, so the company decided to go with a plain, vanilla-flavored filling. This new “wonder-creme” filling proved so popular that even after the war ended, the company stuck with the new, improved flavor.
Should you decide to make your homemade Twinkies with strawberry filling, banana filling, or even, dare we say it, chocolate filling, they will surely satisfy your sweet tooth even if they aren’t completely authentic to the true Hostess recipe. But who knows, maybe you’ll create your own unique and delicious item, and become the Twinkies of the 21st century. Only, what will you call it?
So what are you waiting for? As the listing says: “Let’s get baking!”
