Cedar-Planked Twinkies

Before YouTube turned kitchen experiments into viral trends, grill masters like Ted Reader were igniting the ‘barbecue everything’ spirit with innovative recipes such as Cedar-Planked Twinkies. During an era dominated by TV cooking shows and text-centric cookbooks, barbecue personalities like Steven Raichlen, Tuffy Stone, and Ted Reader were pushing the boundaries of grill-worthy fare. Their explorations inspired a generation of backyard cooks, myself included, to embark on our own barbecue adventures, experimenting and innovating like smoke wizards on a quest for the uncharted flavors of the grill.

Cedar-Planked Twinkies embody this inventive trend. Transforming the iconic Twinkie with a bourbon whiskey injection, a lavish spread of Nutella, mini marshmallows, and the crisp bite of crumbled Oreo cookies, this dish is a bold twist on a classic treat. It melds the sweet nostalgia of a childhood favorite with the sophisticated smokiness of a grilled dessert. The cedar plank underneath lends each bite an aromatic woodiness, which beautifully harmonizes with the warm vanilla notes of the bourbon. This recipe is a comforting journey back in time, warmed by the embers of a charcoal grill—a salute to the ingenuity that has always been at the heart of barbecue culture, a culture that I, like many others, have come to love and celebrate.

Ingredients

Preparation

1. Preheat your charcoal grill for two-zone cooking: hot coals on one side, none on the other.
2. Place cedar plank on the hot side of the grill for 1-3 minutes, until slightly charred on one side.
3. Place Twinkies on the charred side of the plank. Top each with Nutella, mini marshmallows, and crumbled Oreo cookies.
4. Using a marinade injector, inject each Twinkie with bourbon.
5. Place the plank to the cooler side of the grill for indirect heat, close the lid, and cook for 5-10 minutes, or until marshmallows are nicely browned.
6. Remove from grill, let cool for a few minutes, and serve.