Last weekend there was nearly a riot in my house as everyone had lists of recipes they “had to have” made from Casey Barber’s new book, Classic Snacks Made From Scratch. With choices like Twinkies, Strawberry Pop-Tarts and Nacho Cheese Doritos, it took a lot of compromise and a bit of arm wrestling, but we narrowed it down to just four recipes-Cheez-Its, Chicken in a Biskit Crackers, Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes and Oatmeal Creme Pies.
For us adults, the 70 recipes in this book are a throwback to some serious treats from our childhoods. For me it was the Chicken in a Biskit Crackers and for Ari it was the Oatmeal Creme Pies. But for both of us, it was those amazingly sweet Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes with the fluffy white creme filling that really tugged us back to days when we’d open our lunch boxes and discover the one thing that no one would dare trade. For the kids, Cheez-Its are always on their snack menu and we literally go through several boxes of them at a time!
We spent Saturday and Sunday recreating the four recipes to much success and applause. There would have been cheers and accolades, but mouths were full!
Throughout the book, Casey rates each of the recipes on a difficulty scale from 1-5, with 5 being the most difficult. The Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes were labeled a 4, and while there were many components, it was not that difficult to put together. The hardest part was perfecting (we didn’t!) the swirly White Doodle Icing on the top! Their taste? Exactly like the real thing- but without all the preservatives and chemicals. The chocolate cupcake was dense and flavorful while the creme in the middle was just as fluffy and delicious as the original. And the best part? The recipe makes a bit more of the white creme than is needed, so you have some extra for those that love the creme filling! (Like me!)
The molasses inspired Oatmeal Creme Pies were incredibly soft and chewy, and once filled with the sweetened cream cheese filling it rivaled its branded version. A real indulgence!
The crackers were quick and easy to prepare. Several recipes require some “Special Ingredients” but have no fear, Casey tells readers exactly how to find them. The Chicken in a Biskit Crackers called for Buttermilk Powder, which I actually did find in the powdered milk section of the grocery store, just where Casey said it would be! These crispy crackers had the same light chicken flavor that I remembered from my youth and were a big hit.
I think, had I emptied a box of Cheez-Its and replaced them with the ones we recreated from Classic Snacks Made From Scratch, that no one would have been able to tell the difference. They were that good. Not only did they taste identical, they looked identical!
Needless to say, nothing lasted very long- everything was eaten within a day or two and now we have another long list of recipes that have been demanded requested. Seems we will be recreating Classic Snacks for a long time to come!
With 70 nostalgic recipes, this book is a snack lover’s delight! Get your own copy of Casey Barber’s new, fun book, Classic Snacks Made From Scratch here.
I’m in intrigued by the idea of chicken in a biscuit crackers…something I remember my grandmother always had when we visited and would let us eat with her soup. We never had crackers at home. And, of course, now that Hostess is gone all we have are our homemade memories of those delightful cupcakes…the ones we would never trade away!