It’s no secret that Twizzlers are my weakness. I have a Costco-size box of 180 sitting at my desk, which my co-workers and I attack around 3 pm every day.
So imagine how ecstatic I was when, one afternoon in early July, I read a conversation on Twitter between Maureen Jaret, co-owner of Stuffed Cupcakes in Nutley, and one of her followers, suggesting that the shop should come up with a Twizzler cupcake.
I didn’t know the context of that comment, but I didn’t care. I pounced. I tweeted Jaret, “I’d like to pre-order a dozen of those Twizzler cupcakes.” The next day, she replied, “I am so going to have to work on this!!! LOL!!” I wasn’t certain if she was serious, but a follow-up tweet later that day saying Keith, her husband and partner, was on the project, gave me hope.
A week later, Jaret tweeted again, asking whether I would like strawberry-flavored or licorice-flavored Twizzlers? After getting a resounding response of “strawberry” from family, friends and co-workers, I tweeted my preference.
On July 23, a Jaret tweet announced the debut of the Twist and Shout, a vanilla-and-strawberry Twizzler cupcake, stuffed with strawberry Twizzler mousse, and topped with vanilla icing and Twizzlers. I was salivating – and on my way for a sample.
It’s hard to replicate flavors, but when I tasted the vanilla-and-strawberry Twizzler cake, it seemed as though I was biting into a soft Twizzler. The best part is the surprise inside, which I won’t spoil for you. But I warn you – this treat is not for the faint-of-sugar.