Twinkie Cake (No Bake Recipe)

This easy Twinkie cake recipe starts with a layer of soft and creamy Twinkies before you add sweet vanilla pudding, refreshing fruit pieces, fluffy whipped topping, and crushed nuts to make the ultimate no-bake summer dessert.

I have one of my dear readers, Miss Mary Anne, to thank for sending me this Twinkie cake recipe. This isn’t a cake that tastes or looks like a Twinkie. It’s in fact made with Twinkies, which is even better, am I right?

A little look at the history of Twinkies

Did you know Twinkies have been around since 1930? They were invented by bakery manager, Jimmy Dewer at Continental Baking Co. in River Forest, Illinois. He named them Twinkies after being inspired by a “Twinkle Toe Shoes” billboard. The American snack cake is famous for its airy golden sponge cake and fluffy vanilla cream filling. But the first Twinkies actually had a banana cream filling, before changing to vanilla during WWII when they rationed bananas. Today, about 1,123 Hostess Twinkies are produced every minute and you can get them with vanilla, chocolate, and banana filling year-round. 

This easy Twinkie cake recipe is a no-bake refrigerator cake, making it the perfect summer dessert. It includes a layer of halved Twinkies, which is topped with vanilla pudding, crushed pineapple, banana slices, whipped topping, and crushed nuts. It’s so easy to make as all you have to do is construct the layers, which takes no time at all. Then you pop it in the fridge to set and let the flavors mingle together.

I don’t think you’ll find a more refreshing summer cake. The combination of the sweet vanilla pudding, fruit pieces, fluffy whipped cream, and soft cake just melts in your mouth, leaving you wanting a second slice… and a third. Trust me, I know! Luckily, this no-bake Twinkie cake is so simple to make that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor sooner.

Recipe Ingredients

• Twinkies
• Bananas
• Frozen whipped topping (like Cool Whip)
• Vanilla instant pudding mix
• Crushed pineapple
• Maraschino cherries
• Chopped nuts

How to Make Twinkie Cake

Slice each Twinkie in half lengthwise.

Place the cream side up in a 9×13-inch baking dish.

You’ll only need nine Twinkies for this and the box comes with ten.

Miss Mary Anne says that the last one is to enjoy with your coffee and I say Miss Mary Anne is wise beyond her years 😉.

Next, you’re going to mix up your pudding.

We just do this according to package directions.

Spread that pudding over the top of your Twinkies.

Drain your pineapple and spread it over the top of your pudding.

Slice up a WHOLE BUNCH of bananas over the top of that.

Isn’t it pretty? If you only have a few bananas that’s fine, use as many or as few as you want.

Now spread whipped topping over the top of that.

Cover and refrigerate for several hours.

If you want, sprinkle the top with chopped nuts. 

I served each slice with a nut topping and cherry.

Isn’t it pretty?

Excuse me while I dig into this delicious layered Twinkie cake.

Storage

Store leftover cake covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Recipe Notes

• You can use any kind of chopped nuts on top of the cake, like the mixed nuts I’m using, chopped pecans, or chopped walnuts. Otherwise, omit them completely.
• If you’re in a rush, the cake only really needs to sit in the fridge for a minimum of an hour to set.
• To make a strawberry Twinkie cake, substitute the pineapple and banana for strawberry pie filling instead. I am SO trying this next time! I’d then serve it with a strawberry garnish instead of the cherry on top.
• Speaking of, you can use any kind of fruit you like in this Twinkie cake. Maybe you want to do just sliced strawberries? Or canned mandarin oranges? Let your imagination run wild!

Recipe FAQs

Can I substitute another cake for the Twinkies?

Yes, you can simply use a layer of pound cake, homemade vanilla cake, or a simple boxed yellow cake mix if you like.

Can I make my Twinkie cake ahead of time?

Absolutely! Feel free to make your Twinkie cake the day before and let it sit in the fridge overnight so all those flavors soak into the Twinkies. YUM.

Check out these other summer cake recipes:

Strawberry Poke Cake

Easy Mandarin Orange Cake (a.k.a. Pig Pickin Cake)

Oreo Ice Cream Cake

Flamingo Cake

Moon Pie Cake

Lemon Icebox Cake

This post was originally published in 2010. I updated the photos in 2020.

Most folks are about as happy

as they make up their minds to be

~Abraham Lincoln

This recipe is featured on Meal Plan Monday and Weekend Potluck 😁