Twinkie Cake (No Bake Recipe)
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This easy Twinkie cake recipe starts with a layer of soft and creamy Twinkies before you add sweet vanilla pudding, refreshing fruit pieces, fluffy whipped topping, and crushed nuts to make the ultimate no-bake summer dessert.
I have one of my dear readers, Miss Mary Anne, to thank for sending me this Twinkie cake recipe. This isn’t a cake that tastes or looks like a Twinkie. It’s in fact made with Twinkies, which is even better, am I right?
A little look at the history of Twinkies
Did you know Twinkies have been around since 1930? They were invented by bakery manager, Jimmy Dewer at Continental Baking Co. in River Forest, Illinois. He named them Twinkies after being inspired by a “Twinkle Toe Shoes” billboard. The American snack cake is famous for its airy golden sponge cake and fluffy vanilla cream filling. But the first Twinkies actually had a banana cream filling, before changing to vanilla during WWII when they rationed bananas. Today, about 1,123 Hostess Twinkies are produced every minute and you can get them with vanilla, chocolate, and banana filling year-round.
This easy Twinkie cake recipe is a no-bake refrigerator cake, making it the perfect summer dessert. It includes a layer of halved Twinkies, which is topped with vanilla pudding, crushed pineapple, banana slices, whipped topping, and crushed nuts. It’s so easy to make as all you have to do is construct the layers, which takes no time at all. Then you pop it in the fridge to set and let the flavors mingle together.
I don’t think you’ll find a more refreshing summer cake. The combination of the sweet vanilla pudding, fruit pieces, fluffy whipped cream, and soft cake just melts in your mouth, leaving you wanting a second slice… and a third. Trust me, I know! Luckily, this no-bake Twinkie cake is so simple to make that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor sooner.
Recipe Ingredients
- Twinkies
- Bananas
- Frozen whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
- Vanilla instant pudding mix
- Crushed pineapple
- Maraschino cherries
- Chopped nuts
How to Make Twinkie Cake
Slice each Twinkie in half lengthwise.
Place the cream side up in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
You’ll only need nine Twinkies for this and the box comes with ten.
Miss Mary Anne says that the last one is to enjoy with your coffee and I say Miss Mary Anne is wise beyond her years 😉.
Next, you’re going to mix up your pudding.
We just do this according to package directions.
Spread that pudding over the top of your Twinkies.
Drain your pineapple and spread it over the top of your pudding.
Slice up a WHOLE BUNCH of bananas over the top of that.
Isn’t it pretty? If you only have a few bananas that’s fine, use as many or as few as you want.
Now spread whipped topping over the top of that.
Cover and refrigerate for several hours.
If you want, sprinkle the top with chopped nuts.
I served each slice with a nut topping and cherry.
Isn’t it pretty?
Excuse me while I dig into this delicious layered Twinkie cake.
Storage
Store leftover cake covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes
- You can use any kind of chopped nuts on top of the cake, like the mixed nuts I’m using, chopped pecans, or chopped walnuts. Otherwise, omit them completely.
- If you’re in a rush, the cake only really needs to sit in the fridge for a minimum of an hour to set.
- To make a strawberry Twinkie cake, substitute the pineapple and banana for strawberry pie filling instead. I am SO trying this next time! I’d then serve it with a strawberry garnish instead of the cherry on top.
- Speaking of, you can use any kind of fruit you like in this Twinkie cake. Maybe you want to do just sliced strawberries? Or canned mandarin oranges? Let your imagination run wild!
Recipe FAQs
Can I substitute another cake for the Twinkies?
Yes, you can simply use a layer of pound cake, homemade vanilla cake, or a simple boxed yellow cake mix if you like.
Can I make my Twinkie cake ahead of time?
Absolutely! Feel free to make your Twinkie cake the day before and let it sit in the fridge overnight so all those flavors soak into the Twinkies. YUM.
Check out these other summer cake recipes:
Easy Mandarin Orange Cake (a.k.a. Pig Pickin Cake)
Ingredients
- 1 box Twinkies
- 4 large bananas
- 1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 5.1-ounce box vanilla instant pudding mix mix with milk according to box directions
- 1 12-ounce container frozen whipped topping, thawed
- maraschino cherries and chopped nuts for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Remove Twinkies from wrappers and cut each in half lengthwise from top to bottom.1 box Twinkies
- Place Twinkie halves in a 9x13 baking dish with the cream side facing up. Prepare pudding according to package directions and spread over Twinkies.1 5.1-ounce box vanilla instant pudding mix
- Spread pineapple over pudding, top evenly with banana slices, spread whipped topping over all, and sprinkle with nuts if you like.4 large bananas, 1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained, 1 12-ounce container frozen whipped topping, thawed
- Cover and refrigerate for several hours.
- To serve, top each slice with a cherry if you like. Enjoy!maraschino cherries and chopped nuts for garnish, optional
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2010. I updated the photos in 2020.
Most folks are about as happy
as they make up their minds to be
~Abraham Lincoln
This recipe is featured on Meal Plan Monday and Weekend Potluck 😁
This will be a good one to do with my grandkids. My 8 year old loves pudding. My 4 year old can’t have nuts (peanut allergy), but nuts are optional.
The Twinkies remind me of a friend of ours who is overweight. Several years ago he had a heart attack. My husband rushed to the hospital to see him and they let him back to the restricted area because he is a minister. He found our friend lying on a gurney. The first thing our friend said was that if we had any money in Twinkies stock we had better take it out because the company would go broke since he wouldn’t be able to eat Twinkies anymore. Now *that *is really in the spirit of sticking out your tongue and winking! 😉
Oh – this sounds perfect for our family get together this weekend!!! Yummo!!! I never keep Twinkies in the house cuz they talk to me (eat me……eat me………) but I can sure find them and everything else I need at the grocery store!! Christy, I looked in our Walmart today for the potatoes you used in your easy potato salad recipe and couldn’t find any!!! Is that a southern thing or what??? I want some…….guess it wouldn’t work to mail them to me, huh???
Marlene, I had a hard time finding them also. They were on the very bottom shelf. I also found another off brand that had the cubed hash browns. As long as they are cubed, they will work.
Christy, I really, really enjoy making your recipes, but when I read the instructions here, it’s so much fun. It’s like being in the kitchen with you. Girl, you’re a mess, (she says as she sticks out her tongue and winks):)
My sister has made this recipe for years. It is delicious. You can get the sugar free twinkies for all you diabetics. It is easy and simple and always a crowd pleaser. Thank you for reminding me of this recipe.
Looks yummy!
I read a quote today…hope you enjoy!
“Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon!”
First I want to thank Miss Mary Ann for sharing, I want her to know this is not just a regular thank you but a very big thank you. My Mother something like them when I was a youngster. I think she used pound cake and whipped cream. The recipe has been lost. Now I can have them some more. I have winked and stuck my tong out at the monitor. Did you see me do that.
What size can of pineapple is used. The recipe says large, is that the 20 oz size?