Too much for you? I plead The Twinkie Defense.
My defense is that yes, things like this aren't good for us all the time - but Twinkies make you happy.
Guys, did you hear? This childhood icon is in danger.
Jason always surprises me with a sweet treat at the start of my birthday month. The first couple years we were dating, it was a Twinkie. He even topped it with a lit candle. I rarely had Twinkies as a kid, but those Twinkies from Jason are my nostalgia.
I adapted my cake recipe to make a three pack of Twinkies. Vegan, gluten free, will only last a day Twinkies. Okay, maybe two days. Sorry, these won't last as long as the legendary original.
Or perhaps they will - these are so easy to make. You don't need a special shaped mold, you just need this.
Twinkie cake
makes three Twinkies
gluten, dairy and soy free, vegan
2 tablespoons chia seeds
¼ cup + 1 tablespoon water
¼ cup butter (Earth Balance Soy Free)
1 tablespoon coconut spread (or use more butter)
⅓ cup maple syrup (or sweetener of choice)
1 teaspoon vanilla
¾ cup flour (gluten free AP)
¼ teaspoon baking soda
Combine chia and water, set aside to gel. Cream butter, coconut spread, maple syrup and vanilla. Add chia, combine completely. Add flour and baking soda, combine.
Divide batter between three Twinkie molds. Bake at 350 for 25-27 minutes, or until inserted toothpick comes clean. Cool completely.
This cake is not as spongy as a typical Twinkie - cut holes in the bottom to fill with your favorite whip.
You know when you pull a Twinkie off the white strip of paper, and some of the cake is left on the paper? That was always my favorite part. These Twinkies do the same thing!
Live on, little Twinkie.
Geri says
so inventive, they look very cute!
Jane King says
you are right, a Twinkie is such an icon, even if we never eat them. I love this version and will be making for my kiddos! thank you,
J King
spabettie says
I hope you all love them, Jane! 🙂
Crystal T says
I made these today!! you are a GENIUS with this recipe, I love it and will be using it for regular cakes and cupcakes too. gluten free will always be different, but it does not have to be difficult - thank you for showing me this!!! 😀 😀
spabettie says
thanks, Crystal! so happy you like them. did you make them into twinkies?
Eva says
great recipe and mold technique! nice timing about the Twinkie troubles, you cannot PLAN that kind of thing!!
spabettie says
ha, I know, it was pretty good timing. I cannot take credit for the mold, but it IS genius and works SO well!! these were really fun to make.
hihorosie says
ha ha! That's awesome!
Tiffany says
Kudos to you--these look amazing!!
Shary says
I want to make these!! I saw a twinkie pan once, like a muffin but shaped like a twinkie.
(what runs) Lori says
My boyfriend was right behind me when I pulled up this blog. He gets these once-a-year craving for Twinkies. And now I may have to make him some... thanks... 😉
No, but really, they look awesome. I like it! These are Twinkies I would definitely eat. Not the real ones.
Yum!
julie@mightyvegan says
You are killing me with all of these fantastic looking sweets!
spabettie says
😀 these were just too fun, I had to...
Julia says
I have a little 'twinkie nostalgia' because it's the nickname my family gave me as a baby, and my mom STILL calls me 'Twink.' A healthy version, count.me. IN!!!!!
spabettie says
aw - cute story, 'Twinkie' !! 😀 I hope you try these!