Manufacturer Hostess filed for bankruptcy in May of last year and Twinkie production ended on Nov. 21, leaving Twinkie junkies to go cold turkey or settle for inferior substitutes. New owners return the snack food/pop-culture icon to store shelves today.
The Wall Street Journal reported in 2011 that creator James Alexander Dewar devised the name of his 1930 invention when he saw a billboard for “Twinkle Toe Shoes.” That kind of makes sense, as the cream-filled golden cakes sort of look like little, fuzzy slippers.
The treats should still taste the same, even though their formula was altered just prior to the shutdown to extend shelf life to 45 days from the previous recipe’s 26. Hostess’ new owners say that, for the first time, around 10 percent of the snack cakes are slated to be delivered frozen, at certain retailers’ request. No change to the quality nor taste should be noticeable, a spokesperson claims.
Just in case, though, here are some other uses for frozen Twinkies:
- Written threats tied around them and hurled through picture windows go down easier with the inclusion of a tasty treat.
- They are just as effective as — and slightly more delicious than — an ice pack. For example: Place one frozen Twinkie over each eye to remove puffiness (as a bonus, you'll look something like Geordi from "Star Trek: The Next Generation"). Consume when thawed.
- They provide you a decisive edge against hurlers of the unfrozen version in Twinkie fights.
- Placed behind car tires, they make an effective alternative parking brake.
- Two words: Delicious hammer.