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Twinkie sushi? Try these little cake concoctions

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the snack food, Hostess collected recipes for a cookbook tribute to this pop culture icon. Check out the treats

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TODAY
updated 1:41 p.m. ET April 10, 2006

Over half a billion Twinkies are baked every year — that's one thousand golden cakes a minute! And it all started back in 1930, when an enterprising Hostess baking manager in Chicago created a tasty golden rollup and filled it with creme. Now, three quarters of a century later, we're still enjoying the sweet 150 calorie treat. In honor of the milestone, Hostess has created “The Twinkies Cookbook.” Theresa Cogswell, vice president of research and development for Interstate Bakeries Corporation, and Peter Sheridan, Twinkie enthusiast, visited “Today” to share some of these inventive recipes.

Twinkie Sushi©
Clare Crespo of Baton Rouge, La., from The Twinkies Cookbook: An Inventive and Unexpected Recipe Collection from Hostess

Serves 6

“I often use Hostess products in my crazy food recipes. They’re a great art supply. I love sushi and thought it would be fun to have sushi for dessert. It’s nice to serve Twinkie Sushi at a dinner party on a Japanese tray or bento box with chopsticks. Guests will laugh while they enjoy a refreshing fruity dessert at the same time.”

INGREDIENTS

4 pieces green fruit leather, sliced into 1-inch strips
6 Twinkies, cut into 1-inch pieces
Assorted dried fruits, cut into small pieces
Assorted chewy fruity candies
4 to 6 pieces of dried mango, cut into strips

Recipe continues below ↓
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DIRECTIONS

One at a time, wrap the fruit leather pieces around the Twinkie pieces. Place the wrapped Twinkies upright on a serving tray or in a bento box.
Place the dried fruits and candies into the crème filling. Garnish the tray with strips of dried mango to resemble pickled ginger.

Serve with chopsticks if you wish.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


NBC VIDEO
Sushi Twinkies? New recipes for the cake
April 10: The "Today" show's Al Roker talks with Theresa Cogswell of Interstate Bakeries and Peter Sheridan, a fan of the snack, about a cookbook celebrating Twinkie's 75th anniversary.

Today show

Patriotic Twinkie Pie
Ruth Royal of Cody, Wyo., from The Twinkies Cookbook: An Inventive and Unexpected Recipe Collection from Hostess

Serves 16

“I live fifty miles from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park. While preparing a recipe for a Fourth of July party, I realized I was missing a few key ingredients. It was too late to go to the store, so I began looking for substitutes and used some of the Twinkies I had on hand. Twinkies gave the dessert a distinctive taste, and I’ve never gone back to the old recipe!”

INGREDIENTS

1 (6-ounce) package blueberry Jell-O®
3 cups boiling water
1 (16-ounce) bag frozen blueberries
1 (6-ounce) package strawberry Jell-O®
1 (16-ounce) bag frozen sliced strawberries in syrup
6 to 7 Twinkies, broken or torn into 1-inch pieces (about 4 cups)
2 (5.1-ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
6 cups milk
1 (12-ounce) container frozen nondairy whipped topping, thawed

DIRECTIONS

In a bowl, combine the blueberry Jell-O® and 1 1/2 cups of the boiling water and stir until dissolved. Add the blueberries and stir until blended and slightly thickened. Allow to cool completely.
In another bowl, combine the strawberry Jell-O® and remaining 1 1/2 cups boiling water and stir until dissolved. Add the strawberries and stir until blended and slightly thickened. Allow to cool completely.
Place 2 cups of the Twinkie pieces in a 6-quart glass bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the pudding mix and milk and stir according to the package instructions. Spoon half of the pudding over the Twinkies.
Spoon the blueberry mixture over the pudding, spreading evenly. Top with the remaining Twinkie pieces. Spoon the strawberry mixture over the Twinkies, spreading evenly.
Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight, until completely chilled and set. Top with the whipped topping just before serving.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES


Pigs in a Twinkie
Janine O’Barr of Burbank, Calif., from The Twinkies Cookbook: An Inventive and Unexpected Recipe Collection from Hostess

Serves 6

“My twelve-year-old nephew Shea created this recipe because he thought it would be something other kids would enjoy. It’s important to make sure that the sausage is cooked thoroughly.”

INGREDIENTS

6 pork sausage links
6 Twinkies
Maple syrup, for serving

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Place the sausage in a skillet over medium heat and cook, turning to brown evenly, until the meat is no longer pink inside, following any package directions. Remove from the skillet and drain well on paper towels.
Thinly slice one end off each Twinkie. Stuff a cooked sausage into each Twinkie. Place the Twinkies in a shallow baking dish and bake for 10 minutes, or until the Twinkies are warm.

Serve warm, with syrup.

MANAGE YOUR RECIPES



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