Twinkie Ghosts

Made with 4 ingredients in less than 30 minutes, these adorably spooky Twinkie ghosts are made with classic Twinkies, powdered sugar, black gel, and candy eyes.

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About Twinkie Ghosts

Turn the iconic Twinkie into something just as eternal as they are (see what I did there?) with these adorably delicious Twinkie ghosts.

They’re easy to assemble and decorate, making them a go-to option for last-minute gatherings or an easy horror movie marathon. Plus, there are many different flavors of Twinkies you can use, turning these ghosts into a new treat each time!

What’s in Twinkie ghosts?

To serve up your own adorable Twinkie ghosts, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Twinkies – The star of the show! Feel free to use any flavor of Twinkie that you’d like (Pumpkin Spice Twinkies come to mind for a tasty fall theme) but I’d recommend sticking to ones with yellow cake as they’ll be easier to transform into “white sheet ghosts” with powdered sugar.
• Powdered sugar – For that ghostly pale coating.
• Black writing gel – For drawing the cute mouth and securing the eyes to the Twinkie. Any type or color of gel frosting can be used; candy melts or chocolate are not recommended, as they may clump or dry out when they come in contact with the powdered sugar.
• Candy eyes – To give the ghosts some character. You can also use more black writing gel to draw your own eyes instead.

How should Twinkie ghosts be stored?

For best results, store these cute ghosts in a single layer in an airtight container in the refrigerator (to preserve the cream filling). Twinkie ghosts should not be stored at room temperature for more than a few hours as the cream may begin to dry out. NOTE: Twinkies may absorb powdered sugar over time.

Can you make these in advance?

For the best presentation, I recommend making these treats no more than 24 hours in advance.

How long are these ghosts good for?

Once decorated, Twinkie ghosts can be stored in a single layer in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two to three days.

Can you freeze Twinkie ghosts?

Technically, yes – the cream filling within Twinkies has a consistency like ice cream when frozen, and it’s actually quite delicious – but the decorations (such as the powdered sugar and gel frosting) may get absorbed by the external cake of the Twinkie during the freezing and thawing process.

So as long as you’re freezing these with the idea of saving the Twinkie and not so much the ghost decorations, then yes, these little ghosts can be frozen in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to six months.

Notes & tips for Twinkie ghosts

• You can use any flavor of Twinkie that you’d like (such as fall-themed Pumpkin Spice Twinkies), but no matter which you choose, the ones made with yellow cake are recommended as they’ll be easier to coat with powdered sugar for that “white sheet ghost” look.
• When applying the powdered sugar, be sure to use a powdered sugar shaker or a mesh strainer. Attempting to coat the Twinkies with a spoon may result in clumps and an uneven coating.
• For best results, coat the Twinkies just enough for coverage; the powdered sugar should not be layered on thick.
• Black writing gel (or any type of gel frosting) is recommended over candy melts or melted chocolate as the gel will more easily absorb the powdered sugar without clumping or drying out. Royal icing may also work, but I have not personally tested it.
• The iris part of the candy eyes has a tendency to smudge, ruining the cook of a gazing eye. You can avoid this by handling them with clean, dry hands, tweezers, or tongs. If the iris of the candy eye does smudge, use a lightly damp Q-tip or napkin to clean it.
• Serve Twinkie ghosts with cocktail forks or toothpicks for easy eating.
• Ghost Twinkies can also be served flat on a plate or standing up (the cream will help adhere them to the plate.)

How to make Twinkie ghosts

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – Prepare your Twinkies by cutting them in half and placing them on a plate or a piece of parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Step 2 – Use the black writing gel to draw a circular mouth (slightly smaller than the size of a standard button) near the cut end of each Twinkie.

Step 3 – Insert a fork into the cut end of a Twinkie. Using a powdered sugar shaker or mesh strainer, coat all sides of the Twinkie with an even layer of powdered sugar. NOTE: It’s okay if you cover the mouth during this step; it can be cleaned up.

Step 4 – If needed, use a toothpick to gently trace around the gel mouth, letting the gel absorb any wayward powdered sugar so that the mouth is visible again.

Step 5 – Dot the back of two candy eyes with black writing gel, then attach them to the Twinkie. Repeat this step until all the little ghosts have eyes.

Step 6 – Serve and enjoy!