Treat Yourself: 70 Classic Snacks You Loved as a Kid

by Jennifer Steinhauer

If you grew up on corner-store treats, memory lane is paved with Ho Hos, Yodels, Oreos, and Ring Dings. And while your taste buds may have grown up a bit, chances are you still crave these classic flavors. Now you can re-create the lunch-box delights that made you the envy of other kids, with all-natural homemade versions.

After much obsessing and experimentation, Jennifer Steinhauer has cracked the code for 70 iconic treats to re-create in your own kitchen. There are cookies with a perfect crunchy base for cream filling, snack cakes with frosting so thick you can peel it off all at once, candies dipped in chocolate and dusted with sugar, and ice cream pops so juicy that they drip down your arm. A self-taught baker, Jennifer had no interest in complicated techniques or chemical gunk, just easy hacks that break down and remaster these throwback snacks.

So go ahead—treat yourself to your own homemade version of these favorites:
• Samoas, Pecan Sandies, Chips Ahoy!, and other classic cookies
• Nutter Butters, Mint Milanos, Oatmeal Creme Pies, and other sweet sandwich cookies
• Twinkies, Drake’s Coffee Cakes, Devil Dogs, and other snack cakes
• Fig Newtons, Lemon Mini-Pies, Strawberry Pop-Tarts, and other fruity, filled treats
• Soft Pretzels, Pizza Pockets, Funyuns, and other salty, savory snacks
• Cracker Jacks, Goo Goo Clusters, Candy Dots, and other candy favorites
• Orange Creamsicles, Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Pops, Nutty Buddies, and other frozen treats

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Reference, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[karen]

i just bought this today, and i think i will be using it as a future project book because oh my god - thin mints??? samoas??? (which will always be caramel delites to me), frosted oatmeal cookies?? nutter butters?? oreos?? oatmeal creme pies?? vienna cookies?? pinwheels?? fritos?? pudding pops?? although this only has the chocolate kind - i want to make banana <----- i miss them like



and



combined!!

i am very excited, even though many of these recipes look very involved. but i'm game! it might not be a super-soon project - i have a stack of books waiting to be tested, but this is probably going to happen, so join me for adventures in homemade twinkies!

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the "how to" books on our favorite childhood foods. They make me have fond memories of the foods I ate up when I was a chubby little kidlet.
I'm one of those moms now though that looks through the ingredient label with a fine tooth comb...so I like the idea of this book.
There are several of the recipes that I'm dying to try. First up is going to be these Lemon Coolers.


Then If my pants aren't tight enough I'll throw in some of these Twix bars.


There are several of the recipes in this book that I think are way out of my league of laziness though..thus the 3 stars.

And then this:


Homemade cheetos..they look like little orange dog turds..I think I'll pass and let the kids have the real chemically orange ones. Just cause mom is not going there.

I received a copy of this book from blogging for books in exchange for an honest review. Thanks

[Michelle Hankes · Rating 5 out of 5]

As part of Blogging for Books, my second book selection came in the mail about a week ago. Treat Yourself: 70 Classic Snacks You Loved as a Kid (and Still Love Today) by Jennifer Steinhauer is a fantastic collection of vintage desserts, snacks, and confectionables that most people have only been able to find in the grocery store in a little cardboard box. Think back to childhood in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, or 80s – what was more prized in your Care Bear lunchbox? A Ding Dong? Maybe a Ho-Ho. Or maybe some Nutter Butters, Raisinets, or a MoonPie? Or crunchy, cheesy, Cheez-Its? Any of the above were delicious, coveted, and easily traded, if you were truly willing to depart with it for somebody else’s lunchbox treasure.

As time has gone on and we have become adults, these confections are still coveted, by us and the children around us, but with the rising concern about health and the food we consume, many of us want to find a better alternative to the saturated, trans-fats, excess sugar and salt, and oftentimes, lower quality ingredients that most of these desserts and snacks are laden with. Enter Jennifer Steinhauer. Her unique book filled with fun facts, baking tips that parallel America’s Test Kitchen-quality knowledge, and beautiful pictures is not only filled with 70 mouth-watering recipes, but the actual writing is quite delectable, as well.

Jennifer has been writing for twenty years at The New York Times (where else can you truly earn your chops?), as well as a weekly food column for Food52.com called Weeknights with Jenny (where she actually writes about chops). But this is only part of what makes her book so special. The food, the pictures, the writing, the ever-so-desired treats and snacks that we all love, but no one wants to eat without feeling guilty. Not anymore.

Now, I’m not a fan of eating with or without guilt. I say, eat what you want. Everything has its place, unless you are literally living on Twinkies. Your shelf-life may end up being as long as the Twinkie’s itself, as long as you’re preserved and full of cream. But there is an alternative…and Jennifer Steinhauer is releasing it...

To continue reading my review AND find an adapted recipe from the book (gluten-free/dairy-free), please visit:

http://divine-by-nature.blogspot.com/...

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author/publisher for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.

Have a party coming up? Or is your family from out of town is visiting this weekend and you want to surprise them with some ultimate sweets? Or your husband is taking all the kids out on a camping trip and leaving you at home with peace and quiet and you feel like Treat(ing) Yourself ? Well, regardless of the occasion, Treat Yourself is the perfect treat cookbook!

As the synopsis says, these recipes are all natural, homemade and fairly easy to make. Some of the recipes look identical to the originals while others differ a bit in their appearance, however all of the ones I made (about 8 different recipes so-far) taste just like they are supposed to.

Before every recipe, there’s an introductory to the recipe with a brief history about that treat and a few comments from Jennifer. Most recipes have pictures alongside them, but there are a few that do not. The outline of the book makes it easy to navigate through, and there is a little “bubble” that tells you about how long it takes to make that particular treat, and it is actually very accurate.

One thing that you may need to prepare for is that many of the recipes take a while to make. Like the Snickers bars I made took almost a day and half because of the ingredients that needed to be frozen, cooked, drizzled and let to set. But they tasted delicious in the end :-)

If you love baking and love sweets (the two kinda go hand in hand….) I highly recommend this book, as you (and everyone you bake for) will love this book! I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

You can read this review, as well as many others on my website Literature Approved. (http://Literatureapproved.wordpress.com)

[victoria pistone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book needed more pictures.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most can be adapted to gluten-free and sugar-free.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally Posted on my blog here: http://ablogfromtheheart.wordpress.co...

When I first saw this book, I was like, hmm… this looks very interesting! I’m all for the idea of creating a replica of a famous treat and it thus being a healthier version of the treats we all love to “devour” every once in a while. This book does exactly just that with the author providing tried and true recipes of your most treasured delectable treat. Also, with me being a kid from a hugh family, it’s wonderful to have recipes that I can bake in bulk so that everyone will have the chance to enjoy them!



As the book says,those delicious treats that you enjoyed way back when or even those treats that you cherish now can be made and relished at home! How sweet is that? I really loved the fact that the author tried and tested every recipe in this book so that it would be close as it could to the real Little Debbie Cake or the Twix snack. That’s what I call dedication!

Her pictures are just so delectable! I love it when a cookbook adds as much pictures as it can because if I’m baking something, I want to know what the end result should look like. I also love the fact that her recipes are very easy to follow along as I baked. That was awesome! Another great feature about this book was that the author added many,many good tips that would help the cook know how to make the recipe better. I personally learned a lot and that’s something I’m very thankful for because I’m always looking for better ways to improve my cooking or baking.


Oh.My.Goodness! I tried the “Oatmeal Creme Pies” recipe. Wow! I can’t begin to tell you how good it was! It was a melt-in-my-mouth experience for sure! I was spellbound. I’m a very big fan of the “Little Debbie Oatmeal Pies” and to have a recipe I can make at home is just awesome! Even my biggest critics gave a thumbs up for this recipe! It restored my confidence in baking again! The version of “Oatmeal Pies” in this book tasted so much more healthier and fresher than the original! They had a very good taste. I did make a little bit of the cream for the recipe to go in the middle and it was good as well. I did however mostly use Marshmallow Fluff in order to save time and it was still good!

Though I thought something was wrong when my Oatmeal Pies weren’t as dark as a normal Oatmeal Pie, it still had a very soft and moist flavor. So don’t be alarmed if your pies don’t brown as much as the original because it’s okay! I just didn’t want them to burn but maybe next time I’ll try to leave them in the oven a little bit longer. You won’t regret baking this because it was the BOMB! I can’t even explain it! It tasted like an organic and fresh Oatmeal Pie. It wasn’t sugarless either but it was just right!

I was just amazed at all the recipes the author included in this book! It was from various recipes including, Homemade Oreos,Ice Cream Sandwiches,Twinkies,and Ice Cream Nutty Buddies! All homemade, without all the extra added sugar and stuff like that. REALLY AMAZING!
I’m glad that I had the opportunity to read this book and I can assure y’all that this cookbook will be used again in the future! I really recommend this book to any one who’s looking for delectable and satisfying treats that the whole family can have fun making together at home.





(I love Chocolate and Mint! It’s so tasty. There’s also a recipe on how to make mint thins in this book!) ;)

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the Book:

If you grew up on corner-store treats, memory lane is paved with Ho Hos, Yodels, Oreos, and Ring Dings. And while your taste buds may have grown up a bit, chances are you still crave these classic flavors. Now you can re-create the lunch-box delights that made you the envy of other kids, with all-natural homemade versions.

After much obsessing and experimentation, Jennifer Steinhauer has cracked the code for 70 iconic treats to re-create in your own kitchen. There are cookies with a perfect crunchy base for cream filling, snack cakes with frosting so thick you can peel it off all at once, candies dipped in chocolate and dusted with sugar, and ice cream pops so juicy that they drip down your arm. A self-taught baker, Jennifer had no interest in complicated techniques or chemical gunk, just easy hacks that break down and remaster these throwback snacks.

So go ahead—treat yourself to your own homemade version of these favorites:
• Samoas, Pecan Sandies, Chips Ahoy!, and other classic cookies
• Nutter Butters, Mint Milanos, Oatmeal Creme Pies, and other sweet sandwich cookies
• Twinkies, Drake’s Coffee Cakes, Devil Dogs, and other snack cakes
• Fig Newtons, Lemon Mini-Pies, Strawberry Pop-Tarts, and other fruity, filled treats
• Soft Pretzels, Pizza Pockets, Funyuns, and other salty, savory snacks
• Cracker Jacks, Goo Goo Clusters, Candy Dots, and other candy favorites
• Orange Creamsicles, Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Pops, Nutty Buddies, and other frozen treats.



About the Author:

Jennifer Steinhauer has been a reporter for the New York Times for twenty years. Her weekly column at Food52.com, “Weeknights with Jenny,” shares her adventures in weeknight cooking. She lives with her husband and their two daughters in Washington, D.C.



My Review:

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this cookbook! I love recreating well loved treats for my family and this is exactly the cookbook to help you do just that. The book is chock full of those yummy recipes along with bright colorful pictures. The author has painstakingly created over 70 recipes of all those treats that everyone loves. So when you get a hankering for home made pop tarts or Oreo's now you can create them at home with ease.

Most of the recipes involve easy to find ingredients but they all are not really simple recipes. There is prep work involved and you may have to dig out the rolling pin but still so worth the effort. The author includes her own little tidbits of each recipe which is always interesting and fun. And what is also great this book not only include sweet treats, but savory and also some "cool" desserts as well.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Blogging for Books Blogger Program.

[J.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I'm trying to lose weight, I always have the most intense cravings for baked goods like bread and sweets. I come by it naturally: I come from a long line of inveterate "sweet-tooth's." I frequently make my mom's recipes for chocolate-chip cookies and zucchini bread. When my wife was pregnant and having wishing for Chocodiles, I was a more-than-willing accomplice (and even after she wasn't pregnant anymore). And, not a sugary treat, but I think one of my dad's favorite snacks when I was a kid was Coke and a box of Cheese Nips (and the rest of us were happy to share).

So, when I saw Treat Yourself: 70 Classic Snacks You Loved as a Kid (and Still Love Today) by Jennifer Steinhauer, I couldn't resist. She's experimented to discover the recipes for lots of classic treats that we all loved as kids, and she's tried to make them as close to the originals as possible. You can make your own Oreos, Nilla Wafers, Nutter Butters, or Chips Ahoy cookies; Hostess Twinkies, Cup Cakes, or Sno Balls; even Fig Newtons, Pop Tarts, and Twix. She's even got recipes for a couple of Girl Scout cookies. Some of the recipes are a bit involved, and I wonder if it's worth the effort when I can get an Almond Joy for less than a buck, and store-bought marshmallows are a lot easier, but I guess a lot of people prefer the challenge of making them at home (she says many people say her recipes are even better than the real thing). We've only tried a few recipes so far, and not all of them were as delicious as we expected, so the fun nostalgia-factor is certainly at play here - but still, everything was eaten rather quickly regardless!

Still, this is a nice cookbook for those of us who love goodies (maybe not so good for my diet, however). And I really like the comments she has for each recipe and section - the bits of information she provides are helpful as well as entertaining. And as someone who's not known for his kitchen skills, I also appreciate the section where she talks about equipment that's nice to have even if it's not entirely necessary. It's a beautiful cookbook with lots of great pictures, so if you're like me this might be the most "fun" cookbook you'll want to have. (I received a free copy from BloggingForBooks in exchange for an honest review.)

[Katherine Gypson · Rating 3 out of 5]

We all have our childhood favorites - from Doritos to Little Debbies - and sometimes even the fanciest dessert can't hold a candle to the memories of these tastes. This is where "Treat Yourself" comes in - divided into several sections such as classic cookies, sandwich cookies, snack cakes and fruity treats, this book offers just about every 20th century American favorite (but where are Swiss Cake Rolls?). I was happy to even see savory snacks and ice cream included in the book.

Now a word about the difficulty of the recipes - there are some oddball ones that seem to require an excessive amount of effort for something that can be bought in a bag at a grocery store - the Cheetos recipe for example. But that's not really what this book is about - no one needs to create their own Cheetos - the fun is all in seeing how close you can get at home. But if that type of baking doesn't appeal to you then this isn't your book. Personally, I enjoy having a handy, one-volume goof-off cookbook full of my old favorites.

Steinhauer has written very nice introductions to each recipe - including her childhood memories and her quest to perfect the recipe. As a baker who aspires to always get better and better, it was interesting to read about her trial and error process. I do feel as though the book is a little on the thin side - the last recipe is on page 171 - and I would have appreciated more pictures of the finished product as well as some step by step photos. All in all, a funny and unusual addition to any cookbook collection - I'll be making myself homemade Twix bars in just a couple of hours!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books for review purposes.

[Dana Kamstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures in this book are wonderful. I can't help but flip through and start drooling over all the recipes of things I try to avoid.

The introduction to this book resonates with me in why she set out to write this book. First for a bit of nostalgia, but second, to enjoy the same treats in a (slightly) healthier way. Jennifer Steinhaur's writing is conversational and you can picture having a talk with her in your kitchen. She also gives a helpful list of kitchen tools to have on hand and why they are beneficial.

The majority of the recipes call for ingredients that I regularly keep in my fridge or pantry. I love cookbooks like that. Usually when I start browsing through them, I want to make something right away and I don't want to go to the store first!

A number of the recipes don't look how we picture their store-bought counterparts. The Oreos are without their design on the cookie and the windmill cookies, aren't well windmills. With the introductions to each recipe, Jennifer tells us how she adjusted something or a bit of history behind the more familiar store-bought food.

This is a fun cookbook. I would imagine that for parents, there are a lot of fun recipes to make for children to take into school. I might just make some for my husband to take into his coworkers. It would be hard for someone to not appreciate this cookbook, in my opinion.

**I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review**

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever enjoyed an Oreo or Twinkie as a child and wanted to return to those blissful moments than check out this cookbook. Bright colorful pictures and easy to use (for the most part) recipes make this book a favorite. The author also adds a personal touch and bit of whimsy by writing a bit of history or her own personal feelings about each recipe.

I really enjoyed browsing through the book. The recipes look fun and do-able for me. As a huge fan of dessert, I was delighted to see several favorites here. But there were also some that I didn't recognize and look forward to trying. I'll definitely be keeping this and trying out quite a few of the recipes.

I received this book free of charge from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

[Crystal Carney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh.My.Goodness!!! I am in love with this book! The last time I wanted this book(from Bloggingforbooks.org), there wasn't anymore print copies available, but I was able to get one this time! There are several things in this book that I already want to make.My husband is excited to make his own funyuns! *yuuuum* My two older girls love to help cook/bake, & we can do some of these together as a way to spend more quality time together!

Check out the whole post for this item on my blog as well as other posts! If you stop by the blog, please say hi & let me know where you are viewing from!
http://sweetandsourreviews84.blogspot...

**Disclaimer*
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am on the fence about this one. On the one hand, I love that you can make versions of your grocery store shelf favorites at home and know exactly what's in them. On the other hand, it seems that the majority of the recipes involve chilling dough for several hours, so a lot of these recipes are all-day projects. Everything seems fairly easy though and there are no complicated steps, ingredients, or tools needed. Overall, I think it's a keeper.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of childhood snacks, both sweet and savory. I found recipes for several of my favorites (Biscoff, Little Debbie's, Oreos, Pop-Tarts, etc). The author leaves out preservatives and additives so the homemade version is probably healthier for you. I can't wait to try some of the cookie recipes. However, some of the savory recipes don't look like their original version. (Page 132, those are NOT Cheetos!)

[Pondering · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for those, like our family, with food allergies. We can make treats - and live, too!

Some substitutions are necessary, of course, and some recipes are not doable - as with most recipe books on the market.

But if for no other recipe than the Junior Mints, this book is a Book List Keeper.

[Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

With recipes for things like Twix bars, Milano cookies, and Twinkies, this book is a real treat for anyone with a sweet tooth. No less than three Girl Scout cookie recipes are included. Some recipes employ time-saving supermarket ingredients, but most are completely homemade. Yum!

[Linda Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great memories and yummy recipes.

Great cookbook for taking a stroll down memory lane. I have tried several of the recipes and each of them were tastier than the store bought version. I'm definitely hooked on the Payday bar. I can't wait to try out another recipe

[Kat]

looks like some good recipes, can wait to try them

[Kerry Batchelder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a real treat as it takes me back to my childhood days. Delicious recipes that I thought were long gone. I have enjoyed making many of these with my mother.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recreate favorite commercial products. Most sweets, a few savory at end.