Twinkie facts for kids
A whole Twinkie resting on a split Twinkie
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| Type | Snack cake |
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| Place of origin | United States |
| Created by | James Dewar |
| Invented | 1930 |
| Main ingredients | Wheat flour, sugar, corn syrup, niacin, water, high fructose corn syrup, eggs, corn starch, shortening, and others |
A Twinkie is a famous American snack cake. It's known for its "golden sponge cake with a creamy filling." For a long time, it was made by Hostess Brands. Today, Hostess Brands, Inc. owns the brand. This company is now part of The J.M. Smucker Company.
Twinkie production stopped for a few months in 2012. This happened when Hostess Brands faced financial problems. But don't worry, Twinkies came back! They were available in stores across the U.S. again on July 15, 2013.
Twinkies are made in different places around the world. In Canada, Vachon Inc. makes them. They have a bakery in Montreal. In the U.S., they are made in Emporia, Kansas. You can find them in Mexico as "Submarinos" or "Tuinky." In Egypt, Edita company produces them. Twinkies are also sold in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Many bakeries in China make Twinkies too.
Contents
The Sweet Story of Twinkies
Twinkies were created on April 6, 1930. A baker named James "Jimmy" Alexander Dewar invented them. He worked for the Continental Baking Company in Illinois. He noticed that machines used for strawberry shortcakes were idle. This happened when strawberries were not in season.
Dewar came up with the idea for a snack cake. It would be filled with banana cream. He called it the Twinkie. He said he got the name from a shoe billboard. It said "Twinkle Toe Shoes."
From Banana to Vanilla Cream
During World War II, bananas were hard to get. So, the company had to change the filling. They switched to vanilla cream. People really liked the vanilla flavor! Because of this, banana-cream Twinkies were not widely sold again.
Sometimes, the original banana flavor came back for a short time. In 1988, "Fruit and Cream Twinkies" were made. They had strawberry filling mixed with the cream. But this product didn't last long.
In 2005, banana cream made a comeback. This was for a movie promotion for King Kong. Hostess Twinkie sales went up 20 percent! In 2007, banana-cream Twinkies joined the regular lineup. They now use a little bit of real banana.
In 2012, Time magazine called the Twinkie an "iconic" junk food. They said Twinkies are a big part of popular culture. Even though they are not very healthy, people still love them.
When Twinkies Disappeared (and Came Back!)
In 2012, the company that owned Hostess faced big money problems. They had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This means they needed help to reorganize their business. Twinkie sales had gone down. Hostess said people were choosing healthier foods.
On November 16, 2012, Hostess announced they would close down. They asked a court for permission to sell their brands. This included the famous Twinkies. All bakeries stopped making products.
A few days later, Hostess and the bakers' union tried to work things out. But on November 21, 2012, a judge approved the shutdown. This stopped Twinkie production in the United States.
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But the story didn't end there! On March 18, 2013, news spread that Twinkies would return. Two companies bought Hostess Brands for $410 million.
Twinkies finally came back to U.S. stores on July 15, 2013. The new owners later sold Hostess for a lot more money.
Before the company's financial troubles, Twinkies became a bit smaller. They now have 135 calories and weigh 38.5 grams. The original Twinkies had 150 calories and weighed 42.5 grams. New Twinkies also stay fresh longer. They last 45 days, compared to 26 days for the old ones.
In December 2020, Twinkies Cereal was introduced by Post. In 2017, Chocolate Cake Twinkies also came out.
Deep-Fried Twinkie Fun
Have you ever heard of a deep-fried Twinkie? It's a special treat! First, you freeze the Twinkie. Then, you dip it in batter. Finally, you deep-fry it in hot oil.
The New York Times newspaper described it as magical. The creamy filling melts and soaks into the cake. The cake becomes soft and warm. It's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Often, it's served with a berry sauce for a tart taste.
In 2002, a restaurant owner named Clint Mullen started selling fried Twinkies. He sold them at different state and county fairs. People loved them! The idea spread quickly. Now, you can find fried Twinkies at fairs, ball games, and restaurants. Since August 2016, Walmart stores in the U.S. even sell frozen, prepackaged deep-fried Twinkies!
See also
In Spanish: Twinkie para niños
- Chocodile Twinkie
- Ding Dong
- Ho Hos
- Ladyfinger (biscuit)
- List of deep fried foods
- Twinkie the Kid
