How to Make Deep Fried Twinkies

Things You'll Need

Vegetable oil
Deep-fat fryer
Whisk
Measuring cups and spoons
Milk
Vegetable oil
Vinegar
2 mixing bowls
White flour
Baking powder
Salt
Wooden craft sticks
Wooden spoon, optional
Large plate or platter
Paper towels

The deep-fried Twinkie has become as essential a part of the American fairground experience as the ferris wheel and the 4-H auction. Made with a batter of milk, flour, baking powder and vinegar, then cooked in vegetable oil, deep fried Twinkies have a lush interior and a crispy, buttery exterior, wrote "New York Times" writer Melissa Clark in 2002. You don't have to have a deep-fat fryer to make deep-fried Twinkies at home, but it helps keep the temperature of your oil constant -- great when you're frying up Twinkies for a crowd.

Step 1

Put the Twinkies in the freezer for at least two hours or overnight.

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Step 2

Pour vegetable oil into a deep-fat fryer, using 4 cups for every six Twinkies you plan to fry. Heat the oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 3

Whisk milk, vegetable oil and plain vinegar in a mixing bowl. Use 1 cup of milk, 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 tablespoon of oil to make enough batter for six Twinkies.

Step 4

Combine white flour, baking powder and salt thoroughly in another mixing bowl. Use 1 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt for six Twinkies.

Step 5

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, then whisk until the batter is smooth.

Step 6

Remove the Twinkies from the freezer and insert a wooden stick lengthwise into the middle of each.

Step 7

Sprinkle all sides of each Twinkie with a small amount of flour. Hold the stick and dip a Twinkie into the prepared batter, turning to coat completely.

Step 8

Submerge the batter-covered Twinkie into the hot oil in the deep-fat fryer. Fry it for three to four minutes, using a long-handled utensil like a wooden spoon to hold the Twinkie beneath the oil, if needed.

Step 9

Take the Twinkie out of the oil and let it drain on a plate covered with paper towels. Fry the remaining Twinkies one at a time.

Step 10

Remove the wooden sticks and let the fried Twinkies cool for five minutes before eating.

Tip

Use the Twinkie batter to deep-fry sandwich cookies, candy bars and other pastries.

For an upscale twist, serve the fried Twinkies sprinkled with powdered sugar and accompanied by a berry sauce. Heat fruit preserves and fresh or frozen berries to a simmer to make the sauce.

If you don't have a deep-fat fryer, use a large pot with high sides or a Dutch oven filled with enough vegetable oil to allow the Twinkies to be submerged easily. Verify the oil's temperature with a cooking thermometer.

Warning

Have a fire extinguisher nearby whenever you use a deep-fat fryer. Never attempt to put out a grease fire with water, which can cause the fire to spread.

Once you're done using the deep-fat fryer, let it cool completely -- for at least two hours -- before remove the oil and cleaning it.

A deep-fried Twinkie can contain as many as 420 calories and 34 grams of fat. Enjoy them only occasionally to avoid excess weight gain and weight-related health problems.

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