Having grown up on Hostess, Svenhard's and Dolly Madison, you can imagine my surprise when I discovered that there were places known as bakeries that actually made fresh pastries, muffins, cookies and cakes that didn't come individually wrapped 8-10 in a box. Of course, nothing could beat my mom's homemade treats from the Betty Crocker cooky book (and yes, that's how they spelled it!), but you have to admit that pre-packaged goods are much more convenient.
Well, hold onto your cake pops and donut holes, because Hostess seems to be trying to go the other way with a new line of snacks called "bakery petites." I spotted at least three different types--cake delights, brownie delights, and crispi thins--each with at least two flavor varieties. Right away, you'll notice that the package is a lot "classier" and more subdued than the usual Ho Ho, Twinkie or Ding Dong boxes. Not to mention that the snacks aren't given such childish names such as Ho Hos, Twinkies and Ding Dongs.
The packaging also calls out the fact that these snacks are made with "REAL VANILLA," as well as without artificial flavors and colors or high fructose corn syrup. But, frankly, if you are picking up a Hostess package in the first place, chances are you aren't exactly worried about ingredients. The only important question is...how do they taste?
Well, first let's start with how they look...
I'd daresay that if you were to empty the contents of the bag onto a plate or a serving dish (classy!), people just might be fooled into thinking that you picked these up at an actual bakery. Heck, if you want to go crazy, shove a few popsicle sticks into 'em and call them cake pops. Maybe no one will notice the difference. At least, until they eat them.
See, the thing is, even if I have no idea what Hostess used as a preservative, my taste buds told me immediately that these things aren't freshly-made. They taste rather like any other Hostess snacks, actually. The outside coating is a bit waxy, and cracks easily, and the inside isn't much different than a Twinkie or cupcake with creme filling...despite the "higher end" ingredients.
Personally, I'm fond of Hostess snack cakes, and so I was fond of these as well. I especially liked the bite size portions that makes me feel like I'm making a better choice than if I were to stuff an entire Ding Dong in my mouth. Wait...that didn't sound right! (See what I mean about childish names?) If you are already a fan of Hostess, these will probably be a welcome addition.
RATING: 4 / 5
