These fried Twinkies are also full of bourbon

Bourbon Soaked Fried Twinkies — Thrillist Recipes
Drew Swantak
Drew Swantak

How do you improve upon quintessential fried fair food? You douse it in booze, of course! Man that was a dumb question. Even people who turn up their noses at Twinkies may not admit it, but they will indeed love them, and then admit it, because they just ate a few shots of bourbon.

The Twinkie's spongy cake slurps up alcohol faster than Rip Torn locked in a liquor store, and, I assure you, not one ounce of it gets burned off.

I strongly recommend you eat it right out of the fryer before the cream gets a chance to melt -- or wait and let the cream ooze into the warm cake. Either way, you have won.

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You can't tell from the photo, but this smells amazing.
Drew Swantak

Fried Bourbon-Soaked Twinkies Recipe

Total Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Yield: 6

INGREDIENTS:
  • 6 Hostess Twinkies
  • 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) bourbon
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons vinegar
  • 1 quart vegetable oil, plus 1 tablespoon, divided
  • 1 cup flour, plus 6 tablespoons, divided
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
DIRECTIONS:
  • Place a Twinkie in a shallow bowl, and drizzle 1 tablespoon of bourbon all over. Make sure it soaks up every last drop, then transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and repeat with remaining Twinkies. Place the sheet of Twinkies in the freezer for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  • Heat 1 quart of oil in a fryer or large, heavy pot until it reaches 375°F.
  • Combine milk, vinegar, and remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a liquid measuring cup.
  • Whisk together 1 cup flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
  • Whisk wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until smooth.
  • Put remaining flour in a shallow dish and dredge a Twinkie in it, coating all surfaces. Insert a short wooden skewer into the middle. Holding onto the skewer, dip the Twinkie into the batter, fully coating it and letting excess drip off. Submerge Twinkie in hot oil for a few seconds, and let go of the skewer. Let it fry for 2 minutes, then flip it and fry for another 2 minutes. 
  • Transfer to a wire rack; remove the skewer. Depending on the size of your pot, you can cook 2-3 at a time, just be sure it doesn't reduce the temperature of the oil too much. 
Bourbon Soaked Fried Twinkies — Thrillist Recipes
Drew Swantak

Cheers!