Twinkie Cake

Dive into the simple joy of a no-bake Twinkie Cake, where easy prep meets delightful flavors with layers of Twinkies, vanilla pudding, bananas, and pineapple, all smothered in Cool Whip. This effortless dessert is topped with pecans and maraschino cherries, making it a fun and tasty treat for any occasion.

This is the best no-bake Twinkie cake recipe you’ll ever use. All of the cake layers work together perfectly! The main ingredients are bananas, pineapple, Twinkies, whipped cream, and nuts. Then, it’s all topped with super-sweet Maraschino cherries. Just like the filling in the Twinkies, the sweet vanilla pudding ties everything together. 

When you need a delicious dessert to serve at a party but don’t want to spend a lot of time baking, this is the answer for you! It will quickly become a personal favorite that you make at all your parties and dinners. 

Why You’ll Love Twinkie Cake

• Easy Dessert  – Prepare the ingredients, layer them in the dish, and let it set. It’s that easy! 
• Popular no-bake dessert – The bright flavors burst from the cake. 
• Creamy Filling – The middle of the cake has a filling similar to the center of a Twinkie. 
• Perfect any time of year – this no-bake cake tastes amazing in any season. 
• Sweet dessert – It’s so rich and bursting with sweet flavors without adding more sugar. You might be too full to eat a second slice. 

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

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All of the ingredients are easy to find at the grocery store. Here is what you’ll need before you begin. 

• Twinkies – This is the main ingredient and the star of the cake. 
• Bananas – Use bananas that are ripe enough for you to slice them. 
• Crushed Pineapple  – Canned juicy pineapple adds zesty, sweet flavors to the cake. 
• Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix – The creamy pudding acts like the filling in the Twinkies. 
• Cold Milk – You’ll use this to mix with the pudding mix. 
• Cool Whip Topping – Whipped topping is part of the layers and will be the top layer. You can also make your own Cool Whip.
• Pecans – These are optional, but they add saltiness and crunch to the cake. 
• Maraschino Cherries – The bright red cherries are the perfect garnish. 

How to Make Twinkie Cake

• Step One: Spread ¼ of the Cool Whip topping into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish or a similar size. 
• Step Two: Unwrap 7 Twinkies and slice each Twinkie cake in half, lengthwise.
• Step Three: Line the sliced Twinkies into the baking dish.
• Step Four: Place half of the sliced bananas on top of the Twinkie layer.

• Step Five: Whisk the pudding and milk together in a large mixing bowl until smooth.
• Step Six: Pour the pudding over the bananas and spread evenly.
• Step Seven: Spread the drained crushed pineapple on the pudding layer.

• Step Eight: Add the remaining sliced bananas to the pineapple layer.
• Step Nine: Spread the remaining whipped cream on the banana layer.
• Step Ten: Top with crushed nuts. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight.

• Step Eleven: Slice and serve with maraschino cherries for garnish; enjoy!

Equipment Needed

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• 9×13 Baking Dish – This is the perfect-sized dish to hold all the ingredients. 
• Whisk – Mix the pudding and milk with a whisk or stand mixer. 
• Large Mixing Bowl – The large bowl should be big enough to hold the pudding and milk. 
• Knife – You’ll use this to slice the Twinkies and the bananas.
• Rubber Spatula – This is gentle enough to spread the whipped cream. 
• Lid or Plastic Wrap – You must cover the cake when you chill it. 

What to Serve with Twinkie Cake

The Twinkie cake is a great recipe to serve at parties, as dessert, or at potlucks! Serve it with the following desserts. 

• Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls
• Cream Cheese Fruit Tarts
•  Sweet Spiced Pecans
•  Rocky Road Bites
• Cinnamon Cappuccino

Variations and Substitutions

• Marshmallow fluff instead of Cool Whip. Using something like marshmallow creme will make it taste even sweeter, so you might want to cut back on how much pineapple you add. 
• Bundt pan instead of rectangle dish. This is a fun way to change the shape of the cake. 
• Change it to a Strawberry Twinkie Cake recipe. Use strawberry Twinkies, and instead of pineapples and bananas, use sliced strawberries. 
• Use heavy cream instead of whole milk. Or use your favorite dairy-free milk. 

Storage Instructions 

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Do not freeze the cake. If you do, the texture will change too much. 

Twinkie Cake Tips and Tricks

• Be creative with the top of the cake. Add different types of garnish, like Clementine orange slices instead of cherries. 
• Cover it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Keep the air off of it when it is in the refrigerator. 
• Use a hand mixer with a whisk attachment. This will save you a lot of time. 
• Use a large piping bag to add the vanilla cream filling (the whipped cream).

What Are Twinkies? 

Hostess Twinkies are a popular type of processed dessert sold in the snack section. They’re these yellow spongy cakes filled with a creamy vanilla filling. In America, they are super iconic and nostalgic. It’s like a bite-sized time machine back to childhood snacking! 

Can I Make It Ahead?

Yes, this is the perfect dessert to make ahead of time. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to three days. 

No-Bake Desserts               

Want to make more delicious no-bake desserts at home? Here are some of my favorites:

• No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake
• No-Bake Cherry Tarts
• No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Haystacks
• No-Bake Butterscotch Cookies
• No-Bake Nougat Bars

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