Peppermint Twinkies Review
Ahhhh, it’s the most magical time of the year. There’s a little chill in the air, Christmas decorations start popping up in households, and the generosity of the gift giving season begins. Sparkly lights adorn roofs, kids start making wish lists to send to the North Pole, and the pumpkin spice craze starts to take a back seat to more festive flavors. But none of these signify the beginning of the holidays. Nope. The official kickoff to Christmas…. when Hostess releases their limited edition holiday snacks. And they just rolled out Peppermint Twinkies. That’s legit Christmas right there.
Remember in January when Hostess recalled their White Peppermint Twinkies? It was something about a Salmonella scare. Whatever. Is a damn good Twinkie worth the risk of a little Salmonella? Of course it is. Maybe it was the “white” peppermint that threw them off. This year, they dropped the “white” (and Salmonella) to bring us Peppermint Twinkies.
I have to admit, I’m not a candy cane or peppermint kinda gal. I’ll eat the peppermint that comes with my Sonic meal – if I eat onion rings. I’ll happily snarf down a mint on my pillow when I stay in a fancy hotel – like that ever happens. And I’ll gladly accept a candy cane from Santa – because it’s Santa, and I’m not a monster. Yet, this year, the Peppermint Twinkies really have me excited. They nailed the Pumpkin Spice Twinkies and I absolutely loved the Cotton Candy Twinkies earlier this year. Plus, I’m a huge fan of Christmas and the holidays, so I’m totally game for the Peppermint Twinkies review today!
The package doesn’t have any candy canes on it, which surprised me. It does, however, have those little peppermint candies that look like a candy cane chasing its tail. But the most shocking and mesmerizing image on the box is the neon red Twinkie. Not just red. Not just bright red. This thing is a neon red. Am I scared? Puh-leez. Read my bio and tell me I’m worried about the crap I put into my body. There’s also “Twinkie the Kid” dressed as Santa, but it’s really not doing the Twinkie Kid OR Santa any favors.
First, the Whiff Test: take a big whiff of the product. OMG, this smells great! They have a creamy scent – almost like if you melted a bunch of the peppermint candies. Next – the Taste Test: eat this thing. I took a bigass bite, and instantly smiled. This thing NAILED it. It’s peppermint, without being too potent. It’s creamy and moist and definitely invokes a holiday flavor that puts me in the Christmas mood. Oddly enough, I realized that the red, spongecake part doesn’t actually have any peppermint flavor. It’s the cream inside that rocks the mint. It’s actually a great balance – soft, creamy and minty. Most peppermint products overpower with the mint, and this gives just the right amount. Plus, there’s no weird aftertaste, and the peppermint flavor lingers for just the right amount of time.
I’m super impressed, and don’t really think I should be surprised. It IS a Twinkie, after all. After I ate the first one, I decided to turn on Christmas music and really get into the holiday spirit. These would be pretty damn good year round, but it would definitely take away from their specialness. It’s the official kickoff of the holidays, so go out and get yourself some Peppermint Twinkies. Wrap them up and gift them to Toys for Tots. Serve them on a fancy tray at a holiday party. Take a box and hide in the bathroom when your in-laws come to visit. No matter how you work it, these Twinkies will help you celebrate the season!
Rating
Summary
The release of Peppermint Twinkies means it's officially the holiday season. And these kick it off with a BANG!
