The Twinkie Cake That Wasn't: How to Make Do

Grandmama, grandmother to The Fellows on their other side of the family, used to make this cake (she may still).  I don't know where the recipe came from, Google, perhaps could tell, although Grandmama was making it well before wireless or broadband or Google.  I do know that it's a light and cool summer favorite dessert that gets put together in moments -- and is consumed just as quickly.

Pardon the ClingWrap.  I'd forgotten to take a final photo

before putting it in the fridge and only remembered

moments before exiting Pine Level.

The original recipe called for Twinkies.  A soul will be hard pressed to find Twinkies in Leakesville.  You think I'm kidding?  Nope.  Piggly Wiggly (aka The Pig) doesn't carry them.  We've lots of Little Debbie treats, though.  It was a coin toss between the Swiss rolls and Banana rolls.  Strawberries go well with the Swiss rolls but I've already done strawberries this week so the banana rolls won without even breaking out a quarter.

This is one of those desserts where name brands

don't make a whole lot of difference in the

quality of the finished treat.

Besides a large box of Twinkies, you'll also need a 15 ounce can of crushed pineapple and an eight ounce tub of whipped topping.  "But, Mayree, " you say, "that's a photo of pineapple chunks."  Yes.  Those are pineapple chunks.  I'm pleading menopausal forgetfulness for not purchasing crushed pineapple while picking up the banana rolls.  Like so many other aspects of life, I made do with what was at hand.

Here's how to make it at a glance:

Place Twinkies (banana rolls) in bottom of 9 x 13 casserole.  Or 

whatever.  There are 11 rolls in the dish with

one left over for Mama.  No comments about

OCD okay? I like symmetry...

Spoon pineapple on top of Twinkies or banana

rolls.

Pour juice on top.  MMMMmmmm...

It soaks all into the rolls and makes

them a soggy cool mess.

Spread whipped topping on (duh) top.

This is the point that I remembered the dessert

is made with crushed pineapple.  Pineapple

chunks aren't 'smooth' friendly.

Cover and let chill.

Voila!  More time was spent in unwrapping the rolls than in any other step.  I've also used Swiss rolls topped with frozen (and thawed) sweetened sliced strawberries.  I'm warning y'all:  this very easy dessert is seriously addictive.  Do NOT take it out of the refrigerator until you are ready to see it consumed in its entirety. 

And "That's all," she wrote on a hot Saturday evening in the Deep South with Family Dinner tomorrow at church -- and a cool dessert to share.