Chocolate Twinkies Recipes

CHOCOLATE-ESPRESSO TWINKIES AND HOSTESS-STYLE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a canoe pan or muffin pan with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt 3 times. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on high speed for 15 seconds, until combined. On low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until each is incorporated. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 6 minutes. On the lowest speed, beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture. Beat in the buttermilk and vanilla, then another 1/3 of the flour mixture. Add the coffee, then the remaining flour.
• Fill each mold halfway with batter and bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Loosen the cakes from the edges with a sharp knife. Invert the pan and gently tap the bottom to release. Cool the cakes completely -- Twinkies top-side down and cupcakes top-side up -- on a wire rack.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, cream and vanilla until fluffy. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the sugar and beat until combined. Add the espresso and beat until combined.
• Transfer the filling to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch tip. For the Twinkies, insert the tip at 3 points on the bottom of the cakes and fill. For the cupcakes, insert the tip at the top center and fill.
• If making Hostess-style cupcakes, prepare the frosting. Place the chocolate in a large bowl. In a small saucepan, scald the cream. Pour the cream over the chocolate. When the chocolate softens, whisk the mixture until smooth. Let the frosting cool, then whisk until fluffy. Spread over the cupcakes to cover the filling. If you choose, decorate with melted white chocolate.

CHOCOLATE COVERED TWINKIES ON A STICK

Steps:

• Unwrap twinkies and place a candy apple stick into each one so it looks like a popsicle.
• Place each on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet and freeze until firm.
• Melt the chocolate on top of a double boiler or in the microwave until smooth.
• Dip twinkies, one at a time, coating completely and returning to waxed paper. Top with desired topping before the chocolate dries (that is why it important to do one at a time).
• Continue until all are dipped and decorated.
• Allow to dry completely before wrapping or serving.
• Note: if you have chocolate left you can save it for another use or dip something else you may have on hand like pretzels, oreos or marshmallows.

CHOCOLATE TWINKIE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350; grease a 13x9 pan.
• In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, shortening, vanilla and eggs; beating until very smooth.
• In a separate bowl, combine remaining DRY ingredients; set aside.
• Pour milk into a measuring cup.
• In three or four portions, alternate adding flour mixture and milk to the sugar mixture in the mixing bowl, beating well after each addition; scrape sides of bowl, and beat for one more minute (or so).
• Pour into prepared pan, smooth out the top, smack pan firmly against countertop (removes bubbles), two or three times.
• Pop it into the oven; bake for 25-30 minutes (springy top or clean toothpick); cool 5-8 minutes on rack.
• While cake is cooling, prepare filling: Cream butter & shortening, then add sugars, then milk, vanilla and lemon extract; beat until very fluffy & creamy; set aside.
• When cake is cooled, use bread-cutting (serrated) knife and slice in half, depth-wise.
• Remove top half of cake (slide hands between two layers and lift up--voila!); liberally spread filling over the bottom section, keeping edges clean.
• Place top half of cake on filling, press gently.
• Cover and allow to sit for a day to develop flavors (and to test your willpower!); altho' we've had good results eating right away!
• This recipe is easily halved and made in an 8- or 9-inch pan, too (and much easier to do the filling!).
• Cut into rectangles to sort-of resemble the traditional twinkie-cake shape.

CHOCOLATE TWINKIES WITH HOMEMADE FILLING

Steps:

• Cake:.
• Mix cake mix, eggs, milk and pudding together.
• Fill the canoe wells and bake according to the cupcake directions on the cake mix box.
• Remove pan from oven and let cool for 5 minute.
• Using flexible spatula, gently remove each cake and cool flat side down on rack until completely cool.
• In meantime, prepar snack cake filling.
• Filling:.
• In small saucepan cook flour and milk over medium heat until paste forms.
• Stir constantly and do not allow mixture to brown.
• Remove from heat and cool for 1 minute.
• Add vanilla and stir until smooth.
• Press a piece of plastic wrap down on surface of the paste to avoid forming a skin and set aside to cool completely.
• In bowl of mixer beat butter, shortening and sugar until fluffy, scraping bowl to fully incorporate ingredients.
• Add cooled flour/milk mixture and continue to beat 5 minutes on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy.
• To fill snack cakes:.
• Place about 1 cup of filling into a clean pastry bag fitted with round pastry tube.
• Gently insert tube into underside of cake, about halfway through the cake.
• Using gentle pressure, squeeze a small amount of filling into cake.
• You'll feel the cake expand under your fingers.
• Do not overfill, or the cake will burst.
• Repeat for a total of 3 times (different areas) per cake.
• Store cakes well covered at room temperature.