Noboday Bakes a Cake...

...as tasty as a Tastykake!



If you are from anywhere near Philadelphia that's a jingle you've heard for probably your entire life. Last week I wound my way through a random facts meme and ended up with hoagies and cheesesteaks. It reminded me of my favorite Philly area food tradition. Tastykakes!

The rest of the country may munch on Little Debbie Pies and Hostess Snack Cakes. When I want to clog my arteries and rot my teeth with some mass produced baked good I will run for a Peanut Butter Kandy Kake every time, or a Chocolate Junior, or if I am really in a pinch I may consider a Butterscotch Krimpet.

Tastykake is a Philadelphia tradition since 1914 when the bakery first opened. Since 1922 most of the baking has taken place at a facility right in Philadelphia. In recent years there was talk of relocating the major operations away from the city in order to allow an expansion of operations. Philadelphians were in an uproar. This past May it was announced the company would indeed relocate but instead of leaving Philly they'd be moving to the Navy Yard. This is a win/win for both the Navy Yard, which was shut down by the Defense Department in 1996, and for the Tasty Baking Company as it seeks to grow...not to mention all the local and loyal lovers of Tastykakes in Philadelphia.

No, I am not being paid to advertise for TatstyKakes. I just love them that much. How much? Well, when I was pregnant in Trinidad and enduring all manner of horrendous food cravings my father came to visit. He asked if there was anything he could bring for me. I told him he needed to have a collection of Italian cheeses and seasonings so I could make a lasagna, a bag of Doritos, and a box of Peanut Butter Tastykakes. I also warned him that Mr. Lime was under orders to put him on the next plane back to the USA if he failed to carry these items with him. Dad did not disappoint. I mean just look at the peanut buttery, chocolatey happiness! Mmmmmm

I will tell you, all the images I've used here have been taken from the Tastykake website. You can order their items if you wish to indulge in the yumminess that is Tastykake. Upon my return to the US I was also graced with a lovely little recipe which produces a reasonable facsimile of my beloved Peanut Butter Tastykakes. So if you want to taste them but not deal with mail order give this a try. I don't remember who gave me the recipe or I would credit and bless them here and now.

Tandy Take Cake (tandy take is the old name for PB candy cakes)

4 eggs
1 cup milk
2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
8 oz Hershey bar (another PA favorite)
1 cup peanut butter

-Beat eggs until thick and lemony.
-Gradually add sugar, milk, and vanilla.
-Mix dry ingredients separately.
-Fold egg mixture into dry ingredients.
-Pour into greased jelly roll pan.
-Bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes.
-Spread peanut butter on warm cake.
-Cool.
-Cover with melted Hershey bar.