National Twinkie Day at HCMCF

April 6th was National Twinkie Day!

Huron County Medical Care Facility celebrated it with homemade Twinkies that tasted better than the real ones! Residents enjoyed a game of Slap-Jack in the Activity department while munching on our freshly made Twinkies. Our version of the Twinkie was well received by residents and so easy to prepare that it may be featured on our Spring/Summer menu. Enjoy the recipe below:

Homemade Twinkies
Makes 24 servings
CAKE:
8 egg whites
2 pounds Golden Pound Cake Mix (we used Krusteaz Crème Cake Mix)
1-1/3 cups Water
FILLING:
4 tsp Very Hot Water                                      ½ rounded tsp Salt
4 cups Marshmallow Crème (14 ounces)       1 cup Shortening
2/3 cup powdered Sugar                                1 tsp Vanilla
INSTRUCTIONS:
·         Using pan spray lightly coat cupcake tins (or you can make your own Twinkie molds using foil).
·         Preheat convection oven to 300 degrees with fan on low.
·         Disregard the directions on the box of cake mix. Instead, beat the egg whites until stiff. In a separate bowl combine cake mix with water and beat until thoroughly blended (about 2 minutes). Fold egg whites into the cake batter and slowly combine until completely mixed.
·         Scoop batter into cupcake tins using a 2 ounce scoop.
·         Bake in oven for about 20 minutes, or until the cake is golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Rotate the pan once halfway through baking time.
·         For the filling, combine the salt with the hot water in a small bowl and stir until salt is dissolved. Let this mixture cool.
·         Combine the marshmallow crème, shortening, powdered sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl and mix well with an electric mixer on high speed until fluffy.
·         Add the salt solution to the filling mixture and combine.
·         When cakes are done and completely cooled, use the end of a spoon or skewer to poke holes in the bottom of the cupcake (make 1 hole for cupcake shapes or 3 holes if using a Twinkie shape).
·         Fit a round tip into a pastry bag fill with the filling. Insert tip into holes in cupcake and carefully squeeze in filling, avoiding squeezing to hard and bursting through the top.
·         Turn cakes over and dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Andra Shier| Assistant Director of Dining Services | Huron County Medical Care Facility