Gourmet Twinkies

File Under: Recipe Corner

For Joy, Beth and anybody else interested, here is the recipe for Twinkie-misu. Below is the recipe as published in The Twinkie Cookbook. Afterwards I will let you know what modifications I made.

Twinkie-misu
Serves 6 to 8

1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding
1 3/4 cups milk
1/4 cup Amaretto
1 cup strong coffee, warmed
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup Kahlua
2 cups frozen nondairy whipped topping, thawed
10 Twinkies
Unsweetened cocoa for dusting

In a bowl, combine the pudding mix, milk and Amaretto and whisk. Set aside until quite thick.
In a separate small bowl, combine the coffee, sugar, and Kahlua and mix until the sugar dissolves. Refrigerate until cool. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and set the Twinkies on the paper. Slowly drizzle the coffee mixture over each Twinkie, allowing the liquid to soak in.
Fold the whipped topping into the pudding mixture. Spoon one-third of the pudding mixture into an 8 x 8 baking dish.
Arrange the Twinkies evenly evenly over the pudding. Spoon the remaining pudding over the Twinkies.
Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until set. Dust with cocoa just before serving.

My notes:
1. I made a double batch. 20 Twinkies (2 boxes), 2 boxes of pudding, 2 containers of Cool Whip (the tub, not the can).

2. I am not a fan of Amaretto. I love Kahlua. I did not buy Amaretto, decided to just add 1/4 tsp. of almond extract to the pudding mix and I substituted Kahlua. The bit of almond extract was just fine. Not overpowering.

3. I didn't brew enough coffee. I should have had 2 cups, I only had about 1. I made up the difference with Kahlua. I love Kahlua.

4. I didn't drizzle the coffee mixture onto the Twinkies, I used a basting brush. I brushed and brushed and brushed. I got tired of brushing and ended up pouring out about 1/4 cup of the Kahlua/coffee mixture. Sad, because I love Kahlua.

5. The container I used for transporting the dessert was a foil pan, not large enough for the Twinkies to be a single layer. 12 fit in the first layer, then I added more pudding then the remaining Twinkies on top, then the remainder of the pudding/Cool Whip mixture. There wasn't enough pudding/Cool Whip mixture to completely cover the second layer. I decided that was rustic. Or white trash. As if it would have been anything but had it been neatly arranged.

6. I forgot to sprinkle cocoa over it. Nobody noticed.

7. I made it mid-day and didn't serve it until evening. It was fine, I was concerned it would have become really mushy but it did not.

It might be good with berries in it, or if you're a fan of egg nog, using that instead of milk to make the pudding. Or maybe not.

Enjoy!