Irresistible Deep-Fried Twinkies

Deep-Fried Twinkies

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 2 mins
Total: 27 mins
Servings: 4 servings

If you can't resist the creamy filling of a moist Twinkie, think about indulging in a decadent and crunchy fried Twinkie. One of the ultimate comfort foods, deep-fried Twinkies are a fair and carnival favorite. Although each year, carnival food vendors seem to add some novel and amazing edible treats, fried Twinkies always win out, no matter how many other options you have to choose from. Is it the fact that they have the perfect amount of sweetness? Or is it the crispy fried coating that makes them irresistible? Or perhaps it's that they take us back to childhood memories? Or all of the above? No matter your reason, you don't have to wait for a summer fair to indulge in these treats, as they are really easy to make. But beware, they are also really easy to eat.

Our recipe replicates these delicious bites in no time. Ideal for kids' parties, as desserts at a BBQ, or to enjoy for at-home movie night, our fried Twinkies make for a great and fun dessert and require just a few ingredients. Before you start, be mindful that the cakes need to sit in the freezer for an hour prior to preparation, so plan accordingly. A touch of confectioners' sugar on top makes them look pretty and gives them the perfect sugary coating. Alternatively, serve with a fruity dipping or chocolate sauce.

Use this versatile batter for frying other treats and candy bars, from sandwich cookies to chocolate bars, brownies, or cookie dough. Simply place the items in the fridge until very cold before frying.

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 cups vegetable oil, for deep-frying; or as needed

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 tablespoon malt vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 1/2 cups water

  • 4 Twinkies, frozen for 1 hour

  • Confectioners' sugar, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients, leaving Twinkies in the freezer until oil is preheated.

    Ingredients for deep-fried Twinkies recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat oil to 350 F.

    Pot with oil and thermometer

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Combine the flour, vinegar, salt, and water in a medium bowl.

    Flour, vinegar, salt, and water in a medium bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Once the oil is hot, remove the Twinkies from the freezer and dip them in the batter.

    Frozen Twinkies dipped in batter

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Carefully place them in the hot oil without overcrowding. Cook until golden brown, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. If frying in batches, allow the oil to go back up to 350 F before adding more Twinkies.

    Frozen Twinkies frying in a pot of oil

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Serve the hot Twinkies sprinkled with confectioners' sugar.​​ If you have any leftovers, keep refrigerated for up to three days and reheat in a 350 F oven until warm and crispy.

    Deep-fried Twinkies on a plate with a bowl of confectioners' sugar

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  7. Enjoy!

Thicker Batter, Twinkie Bites, and Chocolate Twist

  • If you'd like a thicker batter to have a fluffier coating around the Twinkies, simply add 1 to 2 tablespoons of pancake mix to the recipe, mixing well to combine. Alternatively, you may substitute our batter for funnel cake batter or pancake mix made according to package instructions.
  • For a fun twist, slice each Twinkie into 4 equal pieces once cold. Follow the rest of the recipe as instructed and serve with confectioners' sugar.
  • For a chocolaty flavor, add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the batter, and serve with a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

Aren't Twinkies off the market?

The Twinkie was created by James Alexander Dewar, a baker for the Continental Baking Company, in Schiller Park, Illinois. on April 6, 1930. It was later marketed as a "Golden Sponge Cake with Creamy Filling" by its long-time maker and distributor, Hostess Brands. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2012, and many mourned the demise of the Twinkie when its production was suspended. Twinkies became available again in July 2013 and are now produced in Canada. The brand is currently owned by Apollo Global Management and C. Dean Metropoulos and Company, which is known as the second incarnation of Hostess Brands.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
741 Calories
43g Fat
85g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 741
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 43g 55%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 22mg 7%
Sodium 780mg 34%
Total Carbohydrate 85g 31%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 47g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 21mg 2%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 71mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)