White Trash Twinkie Tiramisu

                                             

Okay, I am slightly embarrassed to be posting this, but I just have to do it. I love Twinkies, although I have not had one in a long time....they just aren't on my "eat healthy in 2012" diet. But they give me comfort, and I smile when I pass a box in the store. I have long standing jokes with dear friends about Twinkies: the fuel of children born in the 50's. For a special "treat", my mom would pack a Twinkie in my lunch box and I just cherished the cream filled delicacy. In reflecting, my mom was an amazing baker, why would I think a Twinkie was better than her home baked goodies? She baked everyday, but I dreamed of a processed, hydrogenated oil filled treat?

I saw this recipe and decided to try it for my Golden Globes dinner. I love awards shows with the beautiful people and amazing gowns. I began my planning and looked at the menus from the parties that are held in Hollywood . Several celebrity chefs had tiramisu on their menus, so I chose to make it for dessert, even if it is the "white trash" version! This recipe does not require any espresso, so you can eat late at night during the awards shows and not be kept awake on a caffeine buzz.

 

 

 

 White Trash Twinkie Tiramisu

INGREDIENTS

• 10 Twinkies
• Hershey's Chocolate syrup (about a cup or so)-my son Matt's favorite condiment :)
• 12 oz tub WHIPPED cream cheese (in the deli section-do not look at the calorie count, you will faint)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 8 oz tub Cool Whip-don't use anything else, it doesn't turn out the same. The ingredients contained in Cool Whip must have some type of glue so that there is a not a major collapse. You can use the low-calorie version, but at this point, who cares?

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Line an 8×8 pan with plastic wrap and set aside.
2.  In the bowl of a mixer, whip cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together until combined, about a minute.  Using a spatula, gently fold in Cool Whip until combined. 
3.  Split Twinkies vertically and lay them across the bottom of the pan, cream side up.  Once the bottom is covered (it should take 5 whole Twinkies which is 10 halves), squirt chocolate sauce over the surface of the Twinkies.  You want most of the surface covered, but not super thick.  Carefully spread half of the cream cheese mixture over the chocolate.  Repeat layers–Twinkies, chocolate, and cream.  Dust the top with some cocoa powder, if desired.
4.  Chill for several hours before slicing and serving,