Healthy Twinkies?????
What comes to mind when you think of unhealthy foods?
Right away, I picture two things: Big Macs and Twinkies. While the latter is certainly not the most unhealthy food in existence (Hello double doughnut bacon cheeseburgers!), Twinkies have earned a bad rap thanks to their high sugar content, long list of artificial ingredients, and their creepy ability to stay fresh for 100 years.
(As it turns out, that last point is just an urban legend. Twinkies don’t really last 100 years.)
During the Great Twinkie Shortage of 2012 (It has a name… Who knew!), when Hostess declared bankruptcy and stopped producing Twinkies, I thought it might be fun to create a healthier recipe for homemade Twinkies. Paying homage to the original Twinkies—which were filled with banana cream until the US rationed bananas during WWII—I’ve opted for a banana-flavored filling in these homemade and healthy Twinkies.
You can easily make them banana-free if you prefer.
Homemade Healthy Twinkies
(makes 8)
- 1 cup spelt or all-purpose flour (130g)
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/3 cup xylitol or sugar of choice (60g)
- 1/16 tsp pure stevia, or 2 extra tbsp sugar of choice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp vegetable or coconut oil (30g)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp white or apple cider vinegar
- 2/3 cup milk of choice (160g)
Homemade Healthy Twinkies Recipe: Preheat oven to 300 degrees F, and grease a canoe pan if you have one. (For Twinkies without a canoe pan: Shape tin foil, double folded for sturdiness, into 8 canoe-shaped wells. Lightly grease the insides of each well, and position on a baking tray.) In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients and stir very well. Whisk all liquid ingredients in a separate bowl, then pour wet into dry and stir until just evenly mixed. Immediately portion into the molds. Bake 16 minutes, then take out of the oven and let sit 5 minutes before removing from the molds. Let cool completely before filling.
Filling: (Feel free to fill with something else, such as Suzanne’s Ricemellow Crème, if you can’t have nuts.)
- 1 cup raw cashews or macadamia nuts (120g)
- 1 banana (omit for a banana-free version)
- pinch salt
- 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
- pinch stevia extract, or 2 tbsp sweetener of choice (liquid or granulated both work here)
- milk of choice as needed, to achieve a pastry-cream texture
In a cereal bowl, cover the nuts with water and let sit at least 3 hours (no longer than 8). Drain completely, then combine all ingredients in a Vita-Mix or a good food processor (adding a little milk of choice until the correct consistency is reached – you’ll need more if omitting the banana and/or if using a dry sweetener). Blend until very smooth and creamy, occasionally scraping down the sides if using a food processor. To fill the homemade Twinkies, poke three holes in the bottom of each, using a chopstick or the non-pronged end of a fork, and move the instrument around inside the pastry to make room for the filling. Pipe filling into the healthy Twinkies with a pastry bag, or a plastic bag with a tiny portion of one of the edges cut off, or the filling injector that comes with a canoe pan.
View Healthy Twinkies Calories and Nutrition
Question of the Day:
What are some of the unhealthiest foods you can think of?
There are always Cheesecake Factory desserts… and the Wendy’s Triple Baconator (as scary as the name implies)… There’s also a casserole recipe making the rounds on Pinterest that consists of nothing more than tater tots, ground beef, bacon, cream of something soup, and three different types of cheese. Not a green vegetable in sight. You look at something like that and it’s no wonder modern society is plagued with so many health problems.
Link Of The Day:
Olivia@ OmNom Love says
As always, this sounds and looks delicious! My mom never bought Twinkies, but I got to try one once or twice. I loved them. I had a friend who made homemade Twinkies and they probably weren’t as healthy as this, but they were still delicious!
In your post, it sounds like you’re making meat the “enemy”. Or maybe saturated fat? I can assure you, saturated fat is definitely not the enemy. There are worse things you can eat than cheese, ground beef, and bacon (hello refined sugars and flours and other artificial ingredients). In fact, saturated fat is very important to your body. And, good news, it doesn’t actually make you fat! For more information on the importance of saturated fat, read this: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/healthy-eating/nutrition/good-and-bad-fats/
Sarah says
Seriously, you think that casserole sounds like a good and healthy idea? 😕 Maybe a *little* saturated fat is fine, but in that amount? And with all the cholesterol to clog your arteries? Sorry, but I’ll stick with my steel-cut oatmeal, strawberries, and chia seeds. I’m pretty sure my heart will be healthier in the long run!
Olivia@ OmNom Love says
No, not healthy, but not the worst thing you can eat either. There have also been studies done that prove cholesterol *doesn’t* really clog your arteries. It also doesn’t cause heart disease. I’m not saying it’s a good idea to eat tons and tons of saturated fat, but in moderation is a good idea.
Jessabelle says
I really hate having to read this arguments from both sides. We all just want to be the healthiest that we can be; it’s just that everyone has different opinions on how to get there. It’s been proven that cholesterol in food does not greatly impact your body’s cholesterol levels, just like it’s been proven that saturated fat can actually be good (and in some cases better!) for your body than unsaturated fat– it’s the whole omega 6 vs. 3 balance.
Olivia@ OmNom Love says
I completely agree!
Michelle says
I sincerely doubt that Katie would argue that refined sugars and flours are also unhealthy, but to argue that saturated fat is good for you? This from Harvard: “Saturated fats. There are about 24 different saturated fats. Not all of them are equally bad for your health. The saturated fat found in butter, whole milk, cheese, and other dairy products increases LDL levels the most, followed by the saturated fat in beef. Curiously, the saturated fat called stearic acid, found in pure chocolate, is more like unsaturated fat in that it lowers LDL levels. Even some vegetable oils, such as palm oil and coconut oil, contain saturated fat.”
Source: http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/Truth-about-fats.shtml
So its true that not all saturated fats are as bad as others but the ones in the foods you mentioned are actually the worst. Also, as a dedicated vegan, I think Katie’s take on animal products and her own personal health is clear, but I’ve never read a post from her that was anything but respectful of the fact that other peoples nutritional choices are their own, and also that indulging once in a while in something “unhealthy” is perfectly fine!
Olivia@ OmNom Love says
Yes, I know Katie doesn’t think refined sugars and flours are healthy either, and I think she is an awesome blogger and I respect her opinions! Saturated fat in moderation is good for you. The human body cannot survive on any one food group alone. Too much protein is a bad idea, too many carbs is bad, and so is too much fat. However, today’s society makes it seem like saturated fat is the bad guy and lots of people try to cut it out of their diets completely! I urge you to read this about saturated fat- it really changed my view on fat!
I completely respect vegans and vegetarians (my close friend is a vegetarian) and Katie is one of my favorite bloggers in the blogging world! I also think it’s important to let people know the truth (if there is such a thing as truth in today’s culture) about animal products and if others don’t agree with me I’m perfectly fine with that!
Olivia@ OmNom Love says
Oops! Forgot the link: http://www.fathead-movie.com/index.php/no-bologna-facts/
Caroline says
Olivia, I don’t feel like starting an argument, but just to give people more than one source of information on which to base their opinions of the truth 🙂 http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/
(People might also be interested in checking out Plant Positive/FOK/etc., but I just wanted to provide a source which seems less biased.)
shalom says
Saturated fat DOES NOT increase LDL. Since I got diabetes (due to the low fat diet laden with chemicals, hidden sugars, and starches) my cholesterol has lowered. I no longer eat the dangerous and toxic canola oil and avoid other polyunsaturated fats as much as possible. I now eat more fat, almost exclusively saturated fats from animals and coconut oil. I have also lost weight while eating more fat than I did before. I control my diabetes with diet and have done a lot of study to help me find the right foods to control my blood sugar. My last A1C said I am now in the pre-diabetic range (it was 215). Though my goal wasn’t to lower my cholesterol, my low carb high fat diet did have the effect of lowering it. New studies show that inflammation, not cholesterol, is the cause of heart disease. Several months ago a heart surgeon publicly confirmed it. There are people who have low cholesterol yet they had heart attacks due to inflammation. Polyunsaturated fat and the low fat diet are among the causes of inflammation. BTW, the man who created the low fat diet stated that it is a bad diet and that they have always known it was bad.
Olivia@ OmNom Love says
Okay, I reread my original comment and realized how mean and harsh it sounded. Trust me, that was not my intention at all! My only motive was to clear saturated fats’ bad name. I apologize to anyone who might’ve been offended by this or thought I was only commenting to start an argument. As a part of the Paleo/Primal community, I get a little… *upset* whenever saturated fat is degraded. I’m very sorry if I came across as disrespectful.
Debbie says
This blogger is vegan…seriously, come on! What did you expect? Respect her views please. You came to HER site, remember?
Samantha says
🙂
Olivia@ OmNom Love says
I do respect her views! I know she is vegan and think her recipes are super creative and amazing.
michelle says
i didnt think she was making meat out to be bad. more like the whole idea of that casserole is unhealthy. because it is….
Mary says
You really need to look up Dr. John McDouggal and Dr. Neal Barnard’s research on how saturated fats and oils cause havoc in your body. Eating a whole foods plant-based diet is the answer. Fat, dairy, meat and oil most definitely are the enemies.
Jaime says
Ew that casserole sounds terrible.
Unhealthy foods? Deep-fried twinkies/Oreos/bacon (seriously, eww)/what have you.
Wendy’s Baconator as you said.
Any of the “Fat Sandwiches” from Grease Trucks (in New Jersey, by the Rutger’s New Brunswick campus)
Trajayjay says
Usually I think of commercial frosting=refined sugar + trans fat = automatically, the worst food one could consume for unhealthy. Also, Bisquick baking mix=refined carbs+transfat+high in sodium=also awful for you.
I’ve always been scared to try twinkies, I’d feel like I were inhaling a new drug developed in a lab. I will have to try these fresh baked ones though. I have all the ingredients.
But I also know that some foods do unfairly get a bad rap, and some people call potatoes the worst thing for your health, some say that it’s even worse than pure sugar, if you are trying to watch your weight. This is simply untrue, and Katie, I would appreciate it if you could make a post straightening this mess out, like you did with bananas, thanks.
A. Cook says
These look awesome! I can’t wait to make them for my husband, a lifelong fan of the Hostess version.
Sometimes I am truly appalled by the things that people consider acceptable to eat. I’m all for occasional indulgence but a “meal” like the one you described (ground beef, bacon, tater tots, etc.) seems like it’s going for shock value just for the sake of doing so.
Maggie says
Agreed! So many foods seem to exist solely to top other disgusting foods and shock people. Gross from a health standpoint, and when you think about the fact that some people are starving while others treat food like a joke or a dare.
Ronn says
Katie, I used to work at the cheesecake factory and its disgusting how unhealthy their desserts are! How can someone create a piece of cheesecake with over 1400 calories and close to 200% the daily recommended fat intake? The nutritional information of their desserts is insane.
Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine) says
I love this! Now to find canoe wells so I can make them… Also, for a more traditional twinkie flavor you can use 1 box yellow cake mix plus one box french vanilla pudding, mix together and bake according to box directions, then fill with a mixture of fluff, butter, and powdered sugar. It’s less natural, but it starves off a craving if you are missing the real thing. Glad to have the healthy alternative though!
Melissa says
Hi Katie! Can you try to make a healthy version of the Speculoos/Cookie Butter spread? Have you tried that stuff? It’s amazing! And I want to be able to eat it guilt free! Thanks!
Olivia@ OmNom Love says
I support this 100%! I’ve never been able to try the cookie butter because it contains gluten. 🙁 If you could make a gluten free and healthier version that would be fabulous! 😀
Tina says
Hi Katie! I would LOVE to make these for my hubby tonight (I am slowly winning him over to CCK desserts! He isn’t a big fan of healthy, but so far there has been not one thing I have made for him from your site that he has not loved, and asked me to make again!) anyway, I have almonds or walnuts, but no cashews. 🙁 would it taste totally wrong if I were to sub almonds or walnuts for the cashews? I know almonds have a pretty powerful taste and don’t want to ruin my track record with great CCK desserts!
Shannon says
There is also some type of “casserole” on Pinterest that has DORITOS as an ingredient! Just ’cause you can eat something doesn’t mean it’s food LOL
Maya says
There’s also recipes for crockpot dishes that call for Coke/Sprite/etc.! Pretty crazy.
Eating 4 Balance says
It’s like you read my mind sometimes Katie 😉 I was seriously just thinking about Twinkies the other day. I’ve never eaten one personally, but I was curious to see what homemade recipes involved. Most of them included ingredients that most people wouldn’t have on hand on a regular basis– like marshmallow creme, condensed milk, etc. I love how I can always count on having all of the ingredients in my cupboard for yours!
Kaira says
We usually eat very healthfully and don’t like the really sugary things. One time my Daddy said we should try a Twinkie sometime, for the cultural experience! Maybe I could make these.
Rebeka says
When I look at pinterest it makes me realize why America is so overweight, almost all of the recipes are really unhealthy. Crazy. How do people think it’s ok to eat things like that??
Also, the most unhealthy thing I can think of is that “sandwich” from KFC, where the “buns” are made out of fried chicken and the filling is just bacon and cheese.
Holly says
That sandwich though… mm protein!
Lisa says
I feel like I missed out on a lot of childhood unhealthy classics considering I haven’t tried so many things. I guess that’s what being a picky eater does to you. I’ve never tried a twinkie, or a ho-ho or any of those things!
Nicole Ross says
Ahh I’m so glad you posted this recipe!!! I remember last year when we were talking on Twitter about you trying this out! Haha 🙂
Jenni says
That casserole sounds like a death sentence. Don’t even try to veganize that one. It’ll be an empty baking dish. Haha!
Olivia@ OmNom Love says
That casserole is definitely not a death sentence. I agree that vegetables are really important, but meat has it’s place too. I eat lots of saturated fat and haven’t died yet! In fact, I’m really healthy!
Caroline says
Sadly, the animals that suffered and died for your meal can’t say the same. But that was their purpose, right?
Anon says
Ah, nothing like hatred from a group of people who claim to love God’s creation with all their hearts … hypocrites <3
another anon says
Um how exactly is it “hatred” when she’s simply stating a fact?
gloria estefan says
people, people… enhance your calm.
monica says
gloria estefan????
Anonymous vegan says
I think it is only your guilty conscience that is making her simple factual statement sound like ‘hatred’ to you. Unless you are one of those people who thinks someone who just says “hello” is ‘creepy’, that someone who merely eats a healthy meal in front of you is ‘preachy’, etc.
Meat industry … killing the planet <3 horribly cruel <3
Katherine says
Caroline, it’s sad that you and most vegans can only think of the suffering of animals and not the immigrant farmers who suffer while picking your vegetables under unethical practices and for almost no money. The double standards of vegans…
Camille says
I agree that meat has its place. some people need that type of protein…some more than others. there are many expressions of life out there, and yes, that includes cooking animals for food (it doesn’t mean they should be treated wrongly though…). even fruits and veggies have life in them. I think you have to choose what’s right for you really. even junk food has its place…I think really it’s more about the intention of what you’re eating and how much is right for you, etc…
Carrie says
I have only read the twinkie recipe. But I feel the need to put my 2 cents in.
To those of you who stay away from meat – unless you are taking daily B12 & zinc supplements – red meat is the only natural way to get enough of both micronutrients. Just because someone buys meat doesn’t mean that it is derived from CAFOs. There are organic meats and truly natural meats that are certified humanly raised & not given antibiotics or grain. You can also purchase beef locally. Whether or not you consume the animal, it is going to die. Banning hunting/raising equals overpopulation.
You can kindly disagree w/ a recipe w/o attacking someone’s dietary choices.
Anyone who is vegan cannot tell me our ancestors ate only plants & was able to obtain adequate amounts of B12 & zinc. Supplements are not ancient.
Lisa says
AMEN! You can choose your own diet but don’t preach to anyone else what they “should” be eating. We all have choices to make in our lives that we don’t need other’s to speak on. I’m sure that there are things that a vegan chooses to do that would turn my stomach but good manners prevent me from lecturing to them. Why do they think that other’s care of their opinions? Keep it to yourself.
Nikki @ The Road to Less Cake says
They look so fluffy. We don’t have twinkies here in the UK, not that I’ve seen. Always wondered what they were.
kellie@foodtoglow says
What the heck is a canoe pan? Never heard of it! Maybe I can try this with my trusty old madeline pan instead and call them ‘les twinkies’. PS I am a cancer dietitian and health educator with a major cancer support charity, and we certainly emphasise a plant-centred diet, as research supports it. We don’t push vegetarian or vegan diets but do try and encourage people to eat more colourful and seasonal plant foods. But portion-minded treats such as those that Katie blogs, are a joy
RDP says
ah-HA — reading through all the replies looking to see if anyone has spotted the Canoe Pan…. Thank you Kelly!
Yes… what in the heck is a canoe pan?.
Well, I guess I’ve figured it out by now, that a) they exist and b) they’re for making twinkie-shaped rolls-to-fill (even come with the contraption to do that part!)
Off to Amazon.com I go…!!
Cheers Katie. I think I’ll make them chocolate with chocolate cashew-
cream…
kellie@foodtoglow says
Now you’re talking! I love using cashew cream and have recently experimented with dessert gyozas stuffed with it and blueberries, among other things. Always great easy ideas here. Thanks Katie.
Heidi says
Could you make these in a muffin pan and pipe the cream inside? If so, do I need to change the baking time? I so want to make these but not the idea of making 8 tin foil canoe boats.
Trajayjay says
Actually, I did do this recipe in a muffin tin, because I didn’t feel like forming aluminum canoes. It turned out quite nicely. Place about 2-3 Tbsp of batter in each well.
Samantha says
Ha! I TOTALLY did a vegan tater tot casserole. Probably still not crazy healthy, but not bad.
http://thequiltingdoberman.blogspot.com/2013/01/tater-tot-casserole.html
At least there were veggies. It is kind of funny but I have a limited memory of ho-hos and twinkies and I didn’t like them. But of course I want to try these.
julie says
I find cake, frosting, and baked goods to be the worst things for me. At least in a baconadar their is protein something that the body can use. In most baked goods it is sugar and carbs..not something that my body likes.
lize says
Oh wow, I remember my sister and I used to get these awful little individual cakes at the store. They looked like frogs. They were basically a teeny, tiny little chocolate cake rounds piled super high with loads and loads of BRIGHT GREEN frosting formed into the shape of a frog’s head- picture Kermit, not an actual frog. The eyes were made with yet more frosting– bright red lines around white and black circles. Those things were a mother’s nightmare, and even though my sister and I didn’t care for the taste so much, we couldn’t resist those darn sugar bombs.
Susan says
Wow! I tend to feel like I’m going into a diabetic coma (even though I’m not diabetic or even close) when I think about twinkles. But these I would consider making – without the bananas. Who would want to make these with anything other than your pastry creme recipe? To me it sounds absolutely wonderful. It’s really nice to know that one can have something like Twinkies in an edible form!
Nessa says
These look great!
Shannon says
Oh Katie, oh this awesome, you are awesome, I loved twinkies, what is a canoe pan, i suppose i could look it up. Unhealthiest food, “Bastard – Flavored Bastards w/ Bastard Filling”? Hahaha I kid, I kid. Probably deep fried snickers, have had one but they sound sooo good.
Anna @ Your Healthy Place says
I hadn’t even heard of Twinkies until recently but I have now learned they seem to be a staple US sweet! These look adorable and remind me of jam rolls that they make in England – rolled up cakes stuffed with jam, or cream, or both. So I guess you could easily use this recipe and use jam as the filling instead! They look adorable. You’re so good at making small finicky things look pretty, I would just make a mess!
Furwa says
What if oat flour was used in place of spelt? Would it work just the same?
Jen says
Hi, Katie. I was wondering, why do you choose to use spelt flour in so many of your recipes? I know whole wheat and white flour can be easily substituted, but I am curious as to your reasoning behind using this somewhat strange flour.
Kacey says
Hi Jen, I’m not Katie, but I know spelt flour is supposed to be a lot healthier than white flour, but also much “lighter” than whole wheat, which can make baked goods too dense. Also, while spelt still contains gluten, some people with gluten sensitivities find it easier to digest than other flours (not sure if that’s necessarily one of the reasons Katie uses it, though.)
Jen says
Yes, thank you, that makes sense. I was considering trying it myself.
Amy W says
If you ever read Wheat Belly it would make a lot more sense. Wheat in the States is said to be mutated (there are actually studies on nutrients in all produce now compared to 50 years ago) from the wheat grown many moons ago. As the demand for wheat went up, farmers were forced to harvest earlier and earlier thus changing how wheat grows now. Spelt is closer to those ancient forms of wheat… Hence why it is easier to digest.
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Oh my gosh, what a great idea! I just love it!
Ilane @cultiv8health says
To tell you the truth, I have never had a twinkie. But I could try your recipe and see how it tastes. I know people even make fried twinkies.
Have a great week!
Danica @ It's Progression says
this is just fun 🙂
Suzanne says
I never liked twinkies before, but this recipe may change my mind!
As for unhealthy foods… there was a cake they sold at Costco one year. It was a pound cake base covered with creme puffs and slathered in chocolate. If I remember correctly it had over 100% of the recommended daily allowance for trans fats- yuck!
Melissa says
Deep fried pickles. Deep fried anything really. I adore chocolate but I have a big soft spot for anything deep fried. So I stay as far away from it as I can! LOL
Kelly says
Hopefully I’m not repeating a comment, but google “Norpro cream canoe pan” and you will find what Katie is referring to on sites like Amazon. I’ve also seem these pans at Sur la Table.
Lisa says
I am SO happy to live in America and have all the freedoms that we have, and the virtues that we were built on. But it’s at times like that, when I see casseroles made of grease, oil, butter, and bad fats, and cheese, and possessed meats that I feel embarrassed for us as a nation. . .Thanks for the recipe!!!! 😀 I was hoping to see this pop up!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Yummy! The filing is pure decadence!
Carrie says
OMG I think I love you! My sweet son just does not get many treats due to his food allergies and intolerances and this looks tweak able for him! Thank you for giving me a great treat to make for my son! Hugs!
Lee says
Being Australian and having never been to America, I’ve never tried a Twinkie. I read that Woody Harrelson ate vegan Twinkies when filming “Zombieland” – his character was a Twinkie fiend, but Woody is vegan. Makes sense.
Kat says
Wow, I hate real twinkies but this healthy twinkie looks and sounds delicious that I will try for sure. One of the unhealthiest foods is probably Nutella, yet it is so delicious. Sadly off-brands don’t taste the same. And while I LOVE your vegan Nutella recipe, love the recipe of others’, have my own ‘Nutella’ recipe, enjoy Justin’s and other spreads – sadly, NONE of them is like Nutella, amazing chocolate hazelnut butters, yes, healthier, yes, vegan, yes, but not like Nutella…this is probably saddest things in my life that Nutella is non-vegan and terribly unhealthy. Vent over. And yes, cheesecake factory…and all sodas
Holly says
Why is Nutella unhealthy?
Kat/HappyHealthy365 says
The first ingredient is sugar. The rest are: palm oil, hazelnut, cocoa, skim milk, whey, lecithin & emulsifier (soy), vanilin, artificial flavors…it is a sugary processed food, nothing healthy about it… It is also not vegan.
trajayjay says
what disturbs me more is that advertisers make it seem like a healthy spread “with cocoa, hazelnuts, and just a touch of skim milk” and 5 teaspoons of sugar! Not a great way to start the day.
Kat says
Right…but Nutella is certainly NOT the only one with false advertisement as such. :/
Trajayjay says
You’re right, I say a commercial for some popcorn, which claimed that it had “half the fat of potato chips” and “zero grams of trans fat per serving” it was the second statement that got me. If there is 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving, manufacturers can claim that the product has zero.
I looked up the nutrition for this snack, and it contained partially hydrogenated oil (trans fat) so, I guess it isn’t so healthy, besides, fat makes a snack filling and flavorful. Take away fat, and it’s easier to eat multiple portions (and blow your daily allowance for trans fat). The food also had a whole bunch of refined sugar.
Thomas Nwafor says
Be trying these out this afternoon, well my girlfriend will. Cheers Katie
Maxine says
I would agree that some Wendy’s burgers are scarily unhealthy, I would know, I make burgers there! Worse than the triple baconator is the quadruple baconator though, I once made one of those and the person ordered 8 extra slices of cheese! I felt bad having to serve a ‘heart-attack’ burger…..also marshmallows…..pure sugar and I have a tendency to toast a whole bag’s worth and eat them singlehandedly, and then regretting it later. 😉
Britt says
Yes sometimes when looking at Pinterest recipes I think people are just trying to out-do each other. Like adding ranch, bacon, salami, and cheese to something that ordinarily doesn’t have any of those on it… why?? I totally believe in treating yourself, but don’t kill yourself at the same time…
Jessica says
There’s always Outback Steakhouse’s Bloomin’ Onion. There’s a girl I work with that orders it for her meal. It’s deep fried (and since I’m one of the minority here that isn’t vegan, I’ve heard they use beef tallow for frying) and over 2000 calories. I like the sauce it comes with, but it’s not worth it.
Believeme says
Potatoes are the worst thing for health. What’s worse is that people think they’re actually healthy. They are pure starch, and have almost no other nutrients. You might as well eat pure sugar because they are so high on the glycemic index. No seriously, they turn to sugar as soon as they hit your mouth. And a study from Harvard shows that an extra serving of potatoes leads to weight gain over the years. Most people don’t eat the skin, which has the negligible amount of nutrients, and then they start loading on bacon, sour cream, butter, salt, and it pretty much becomes the worst thing ever. We’re all better off without potatoes, as they have absolutely no place in a healthy diet.
Maya says
I think poor potatoes get a bad rep because of the low carb craze. They are a good source of potassium, fiber, vitamin c. I think it all depends on how you cook them.Yes, loading them up with stuff and not eating the skin would not be the most nutritious way to eat them, but if you leave the skin on and roast them with some olive oil, salt, and pepper they are tasty and nutritious. I don’t think many whole foods, such as a potato, are totally devoid of any benefit to your body.
Holly says
My dietician who has a degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics tells me that whole potatoes are very good for you.
Believeme says
Hahaha, I know. I’m just kidding, I was posing as one of the people who sheepishly bash potatoes, to show them how ridiculous they sound when really, there is no good argument for it. I believe that potatoes are good for you and a cheap source of nutrients.
They are pure starch: -No, they have a little bit of fiber, protein, water, and a plethora of several vitamins and nutrients, of which include potassium, iron, copper, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and others. Now, it may not have huge levels of these, except for K and Vitamin C, but you’re not going to get a vitamin deficiency, just because you had a baked potato at lunch instead of spinach. And even if they are starchy, our bodies like having carbohydrates to fuel our muscles. I wonder why people think “starch” is bad but “complex carbohydrates” are good. They’re synonyms.
They’re high GI-If you eat with fat, protein, or fiber, you will reduce the GI. You should only be concerned if you’re eating several, deskinned potatoes absolutely plain. Enjoy potatoes with some olive oil, some beans. Besides, most tropical fruits are GI, and I don’t hear people screaming to avoid them like the plague.
They turn to sugar as soon as they hit your mouth-our saliva has enzymes that start to break down starch (polysaccharides/complex carbohydrates), same thing happens to oats, quinoa, apples, carrots, I don’t see anyone bashing those.
Potatoes cause weight gain over the years: – get off your a$$ and exercise.
Wendy says
I never liked twinkies as a kid. The banana filling sounds good though. When I think of unhealthy food, I think of a hot dog and soda.
Jody W says
Brilliant. I see vegan twinkies in my near future. Thanks for posting this.
Thomas Nwafor says
My partner made them yesterday and she did a great job as they were absolutely delicious.
~Megan~ says
Hi Katie!
When you revamped your blog, you had a ‘print’ option . Why did that go away?
Thanks 🙂
Mary says
These twinkies are genius! They look so much better than the store bought which I cannot stand. They taste like plastic goo! I admit I do like a gooey casserole and I think that those types are meant to be eaten with the veggies on the side? That’s how I was raised at least. I add greek yogurt in place of sour cream or soups for those recipes and you wouldn’t know the difference! Unhealthy favorites…anything smothered in gravy lol
Trish says
There’s nothing wrong with meat, people! Or cheese. Pastured hens (and free-range eggs), free range pork, grass-fed beef (and dairy products from grass fed-cows) are all very healthy. Omega 3s, CLA, vitamin E, B vitamins, beta carotene, calcium, magnesium, potassium are all benefits of these great sources of protein. And it’s necessary to include fat in your diet. We need fat for healthy brain development and function. If you’re truly concerned about health, you should be worried about the amount of sugar you consume. That’s the real killer – not fat.
trajayjay says
Just to play the devil’s advocate here:
Excessive amounts of animal protein have been shown to lower the pH of the blood to an undesirable level. The body’s natural reaction to this is to calcium from the bones, to neutralize the acidic blood. This doesn’t happen much with plants, even tomatoes and oranges.
As for vitamin b12, you have microbes in your appendix that can synthesize b12, and your body can recycle it’s current supply for about 20 years. Eating meat can deteriorate the b12 making microbes. b12 is in cows because they are supplemented with it, so basically, if you eat meat, you are just taking a b12 supplement indirectly. Organic unwashed vegetables have a small amount of b12.
Most people avoid meat so not to contribute to factory farming, they get their Omega-3’s from flax and walnuts, Vitamin E from almonds, B vitamins from whole grains and vegetables, beta carotene from orange vegetables, calcium from leafy greens, magnesium from leafy greens, potassium from potatoes, and fats from nuts and avocadoes. I’d only be afraid of not getting enough fat if I were this lady: http://www.vegan-weight-loss.com/ . I agree that saturated fat is not the heart clogger it’s made out to be, but I think that you can live without lard and burgers. Dark chocolate, coconut, and carob have a lot of saturated fat. I agree that sugar is pretty brutal, and people who go on low-fat diets tend to eat more sugar than those who don’t.
Colleen C. Johns says
Jake has been wanting homemade twinkies for awhile now. So this year on his birthday, I finally made them!
megan says
right before the twinkie shortage i bought a box on a whim(i never eat them) and decided to test their mythical freshness. one in the wrapper and one out, the one exposed to the air got dry, but nothing else, and the one in the wrapper is (scarily) still fresh as the day i put it on the shelf
Laura Miller says
I’ve never been a fan of Twinkies, but my family loves them so maybe I need to make these for them!
Here in Minnesota, that casserole is called tator tot hotdish. Except people do add green beans and/or corn and some use cream of mushroom instead of cream of chicken.
Apparently there is such a thing as fried butter. That just sounds apalling.
Megan says
The unhealthiest foods I can think of are stuff that’s deep fried and the items they serve at the Heart Attack Grill.
I find that I prefer the taste of the desserts and recipes you post over the less healthy versions.
I never have tried a twinkie before. I’ll be sure to make this and share it with the others i live with.
Amy W says
Someone seriously needs to shut that restaurant down. Free meals if you weigh over, what, 280? 300-something? I think that’s more apalling than people worrying and arguing about who wants to eat chicken or not.
Robbin says
THANK YOU !!! This recipe was a life saver. I had to make a gluten free girl fit in this week and I found your recipe for homemade twinkies. I made it with gluten free flour and it was actually a moist fluffy little cake that was easy to fill. That’s usually unheard of for gluten free baking but the coconut oil made it so spongy and light. This recipe rocks and you made a gluten free 5 year old very happy this week! No one looked at her plate and wondered why she was eating something different. Her twinkie”hotdog” looked just like all the other kids. THANKS AGAIN!
Chocolate Covered Katie says
This made me smile. Thank you so much for trying it!
Ethal Frida says
I am fortunate enough to have eaten Twinkies and other Hostess products when they contained real food. Twinkies were my fave, then the cupcakes and then the Snowballs. But I haven’t eaten them in decades simply because no longer contain real food and are full of chemicals. But to find a version that can possibly taste great and is healthy too is fantastic. And the recipe is easily adaptable to using totally organic products. Thanks bunches!
Kristal says
Twinkies were one of my favorite Hostess treats and now I can have them again!!!! Can’t wait to make these 🙂
frances says
If your going to comment, comment with positive productive comments. You went to this website, if you don’t like it, you know what to do, you have options. Why waste space with your negative opinions? Just saying. The author of this site chose not to delete negative comments. Keep up the good word Katie! Love the spin you put on the recipes.
harriet says
I think the two sides of this argument are both completely valid, and neither side is more right than the other! Yes, some meat producers can be inhumane, but many can be completely humane and cruelty free. Meat can be part of someone’s diet or it can not be, and no-one should be judged nor criticised for what they act on or what they do or don’t eat. So the casserole can be a ‘special occasion’ food- because life is better when everything is in moderation and control. So there should never be a ‘never’ food, no matter what’s in it. Sure, vitamins and stuff come from red meat, but you can be completely healthy without them. There are completely valid points for both sides of the argument, so it’s completely a personal choice. And everyone has a right to say their opinion, just nicely so no-one gets offended.
Michelle says
What does the banana serve as in the filling, I’m not allergic but I have a ready made cream cheese frosting but just curious as to what will I get from the banana?
Rachel says
Hi Katie. I was wondering how many calories were in your filling for the Twinkies. Thanks!
Verna says
crunch bars and twinkies,thanks for the recipes,Katie.
Lisa says
Too bad we couldn’t have a FUN conversation in the comments about the unhealthiest foods we can think of. Here’s one: I have recently found a recipe online for bread pudding that uses 2 dozen stale Krispy Kreme glazed donuts, eggs, and a can of sweetened condensed milk, among other things – wowza! talk about rich!
Elaine says
These sound wonderful. My husband would love them.
Betty Jo Foss says
Katie I know this is and old post but I just found your site, my bad. Anyway my question is instead of the flours u listed can these be made with almond flour or coconut flour? I am a diabetic but I have a massive sweet tooth and I am trying to eat low carb where I can but I am new to baking low carb. It is really confusing with all of the different sweeteners and whatnot that all these sites use. I want to stick to just coconut and almond flour if I can because if I don’t I know I will have a dozen different flour in my pantry and I seriously don’t want that. Thank you for listening to me rant.
CCK Media Team says
Hi! To be honest, we have never tried it so really don’t know. Normally you can’t sub one of those flours in an even sub in recipes… maybe try this as the base instead? https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/keto-muffins-recipe/