Healthy Twinkies

Fun fact about Twinkies: The original filling was banana flavored! It wasn't until bananas were being rationed in WWII that Hostess changed it to vanilla.

Another fact that is probably NOT surprising: Twinkies are not so nutritious.

So, I went on a quest to make a healthier version of the beloved Twinkie. They came out totally cake-like with a perfect creamy vanilla filling!

I get my flours, extracts and stevia from Vitacost (cheap, and delivered right to your door!).

Ok here's the recipe!

Healthy Twinkies

Ingredients for the Twinkie:

1/4 cup light spelt flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/3 cup granulated stevia
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla or butter extract
1 egg
1/3 cup almond milk
1/2 cup plain, non-fat Greek yogurt

Filling:

1/3 cup plain, non-fat Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon sugar-free vanilla Jell-O pudding mix

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the egg, milk, and Greek yogurt to a blender or large food processor and blend until combined. Add the dry ingredients and blend until smooth (Don't overmix!!).

3. Spray a canoe pan with cooking spray (I got mine on clearance at Sur La Table- mine has 6 "canoes"). Divide batter evenly amongst pan. Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until knife comes out clean.

4. To make the filling, combine the Greek yogurt and pudding mix. Add mixture to the bottom corner of a small Ziploc plastic bag. Cut a small hole in the bottom corner of the bag (this is where the filling will come out).

5. To add the icing to the Twinkie, use a chopstick or a knife to hollow out the Twinkie by pushing it through horizontally (don't go all the way). Pipe the frosting in each Twinkie.

Keep in the fridge!

Serves 6

Nutrition Facts Healthy Twinkie (per one): 65 calories, 1.8 g Fat, 9.1 g Carbohydrates, 5.5 g Protein, 2.7 g Sugar

Nutrition Facts Original Twinkie (per one Twinkie): 140 calories, 4.5 grams Fat (2.5 Saturated Fat), 24 g Carbohydrates, 1 g Protein, 18 g Sugar