by Curtis D. Tucker
Posted: 09/02/13
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I've reached fifty years old and my selection of foods has become smaller and smaller as I hone in my favorite things and stick with them. This new food philosophy has worked out well for my diet because it keeps my calories in check week after week and I don't have to worry about monitoring my weight that closely. A few of the things I had latched onto were a smattering of Hostess products.
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My early favorite was the cherry pie. The Hostess fruit pies were basically fried pies with a golden crust and a combination of real fruit and goop inside. I really enjoyed the cherry variety but would switch it up with the apple version from time to time. After switching back and forth I eventually became addicted to the chocolate, or frosted as they call them, Donettes Gems.
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I began eating the Donettes on such a regular basis that I'd buy a weeks supply at a time. Not only had they become my 3 o'clock snack but I'd combine them with frozen yogurt in the evening and that would be my dinner! I thought I had found the ultimate food source and was one happy camper. My love of these Donettes soon turned to dismay as we hit the summer months. For some undisclosed circumstance, the Hostess delivery guy would come in an unrefrigerated truck. This ultimately led to melted donuts, donuts stuck together and donuts with the frosting stuck to the bag rather than the donut. I quickly found a replacement in the Dolly Madison chocolate donut!! You see, they brought their donuts frozen in a refrigerated truck. Life was good again.
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I soon became very comfortable with this situation and even lost 20 pounds because I able to maintain the same number of calories everyday. Life at that point couldn't have been much better. That is until Hostess decided it was time to close up shop and go out of business. At first it didn't seem like that big of a deal because I had switched to Dolly Madison snacks, especially in the summer months.
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Lo and behold I was soon to find out that Hostess had actually, at some point, become the parent company of Dolly Madison. So whatever happened to Hostess, happened to Dolly. Let me say that I was pretty much in shock the first week or two after the announcement and that soon turned into desperation as the available supply of my delicious snacks began to dwindle.
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I, like thousands of others, began looking for alternatives. I tried mediocre frosted donut after frosted donut. No company could hold a candle to the waxy feel of the chocolate covering my frosted Hostess and Dolly Madison Gems. All of the local retailers began carrying inferior products and I was at my wits end. I had become comfortable with the thought that my last meal would probably include a mini chocolate donut. Now my dreams and hopes were shattered.
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I never did find a donut replacement for my waxy Gems but one day while pondering my situation I took a wild chance. I purchased a Mrs. Baird's apple pie. You see, I love real apple pie and had always liked the fried cherry pies. For some reason I was drawn to try this variety of apple pie. Obviously it was divine intervention because I immediately fell in love with the new found apple pies. They actually were much like the Hostess apple pies of old but had a better tasting filling. They even lacked that weird tangy flavor I never could put my finger on that came from the Hostess variety.
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I again was happy, happy, happy!! My happiness was not all drama free though. For you see, others had caught on to my newly found treasure. There was always a shortage of these great tasting fried pies. I couldn't just pop into the convenience store and pick one up and the grocery stores do not carry them. I soon solved that problem by tracking down the exact delivery date and attacking the store upon arrival. I would leave with a weeks supply at a time and have become well known as the apple pie guy.
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This brings us to today, Sunday, September 1. Hostess was purchased by another company and has been making a slow comeback. I've found my beloved chocolate Donettes here and there but not in a steady enough supply that I think I'll ever get hooked again. In fact they still seem to come a bit melted and have lost that bit of magic they once had over me. As sad as it might appear, I have to admit that my love of the Mrs. Baird's apple (not cherry) pie has been strong enough to overcome all of this strife.
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Most Sunday mornings I make a run to the local grocery store to pick up a surprise breakfast snack for my two crumb crunchers. Like their father, each of my girls had become very attached to their own Hostess product back in the day. One had my love of chocolate donuts and the other was cosmically connected to the apple pie. This very morning the stars aligned and the Gods looked upon us, for I found a section filled with newly delivered Hostess products including the infamous apple pies!
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I was almost giddy as I filled my basket with several of the fried pies and knew my daughter would be ecstatic. The first indication that this might not turn out well was when I picked up the pies. You see, I had become a snack picking expert. I can tell whether a snack is good or bad just by feeling it through the package. The apple pies of old were firm and had a perfect bloat right in the middle. As long as a pie had that bloat I knew it was the perfect specimen. Without the bloat I knew the pie had been smashed or it had one of those weird Hostess pie crust bubbles which form and then pop leaving a nasty crust spot with an indention and funky inner crust spot. If you ever ate many fried pies you know what I'm talking about.
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These new Hostess pies were not firm at all. In fact they seemed squishy and not one had that distinguishable bloat. I decided to load up on the best four I could find and headed home. As I arrived home I was met by my crumb cruncher that had been asking when we would be able to find her a Hostess apple pie. This is a child that asks for very little and does not show extremes of emotion. As I pulled out the green Hostess wrapper she immediately recognized her once favorite treat. She squealed and her eyes lit up. She showed enough emotion that her mother came into the room just to see her take her first bite.
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She slowly unwrapped the pie and removed the zig zag pattern bottom piece. There it was!! Something I barely recognized! This was a flat looking object with a gnarley brown crust, not the firm golden crust it once had, dribbled with a light coating of sugar. At first it looked as though it had been overcooked but because it was so squishy I knew that was not the case. I watched as my daughter took a bite and all of the tingle left her eye. The pie crumbled in her hand and she made one of those faces that only kids can make when they eat something they hate. It was over practically as quickly as it had begun. I knew by the look that this was not an original Hostess apple pie. This was a fraud and we had been swindled.
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In my heart I knew the pie was no good before she ever took a bite. A quick look at it would tell any real Hostess fan that this was deception at its worst. She tossed the pie in trash as I asked her if the Mrs. Baird's was much better. She shook her head and I know her Hostess affair is over forever. Mine on the other hand had not been met. I waited until later in the day and sneaked off with one of the imposter pies and thought I would do my own investigation. I too unwrapped the green paper and removed the paper waffle in the bottom. I grimaced as I looked at the awful color and then I poked my finger into the crust. It was soft and sagged towards the middle of the pie. I took a bite and honestly realized it was way worse than I had imagined.
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I deiced to snap a picture of the pie to save you the trouble. As you can see there is a crust bubble towards the end and had been another one on the other side. Once you bite into a crust bubble the thing falls apart. This is what remained after I tried to swallow a few more bites. I retired this pie to my trash can and will not even open the others. Hostess has failed and I promise you, these fruit pies are not the same as they used to be. I hope each of you fried pie lovers will each find your own substitute and have happy memories of apple pies gone by.
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I read somewhere recently that the new Twinkies are also not the same. They supposedly have many more (chemical) ingredients and a longer shelf life. Maybe the new bakery you heard is going into the old Carl’s Jr. will be able to provide you with a fresher sugar fix. Good luck!
Thanks Sheila.
I know this comment is late. I still wanted to throw my 2cents in. I watched Charlie Brown xmas with my daughters. After I began remembering stuffing my trap with the cherry pies when I was a kid watching. The next day I bought one. There seemed to be some cosmetic differences, but was most remarkable was the filling. As a kid the filling had actual cherries in it. Now they only contain thin gel. Anything to save a buck anymore I guess.
They have a after taste to them, must be using cheaper ingredients.
I didn’t know how else to reply and I know it’s late but everyone on here is SO right! Hostess has changed DRASTICALLY! Yes the fruit pies have gone way down hill. No fruit inside and just jelly. No nice flakey crust with that nice sugar on the outside. The creme filled cupcakes have lost there taste. There is just no flavor. It’s like eating something with no sugar taste. Just flat. The worst for me are the Raspberry Zingers. My absolute favorite. They have made them smaller and the Raspberry flavor is gone! Flat tasting. Not sweet enough. Very disappointing over all with ALL Hostess products. I gave quit buying them completely.
I was excited to buy Hostess cherry pies after months of not having them. The overly-brown, underbaked shell was filled with nothing but pure disappointment. After just one bite, I threw it into the trash. After reading your post, I can pretty much bet that the others I bought will be just as disappointing and disgusting as the first. At this point, I guess I might as well throw them all into the trash , …
I tried the cherry as well and it was just as awful!! I’m not sure how they’ll stay in business if something doesn’t change.
Its because the evil bastards at Hostess abused the bankruptcy process to get rid of their longtime union employees – and any obligations they had to them in the way of pensions and benefits – and then “reopened” using products made of God knows what, made by God knows who…I wouldn’t pay them `10 cents for a truckload of that crap….
Ten years, the current fruit pies available at stores all seem to be the equivalent of pizza made with a slice of toast, ketchup, and Kraft American cheese.
Ten years hence, the current fruit pies available at stores all seem to be the equivalent of pizza made with a slice of toast, ketchup, and Kraft American cheese.
Note: The comment I submitted should read “Ten years hence”
THESE PIES REALLY SUCK ASS, CAN’T LEAVE THEM THE SAME REMOVE THEM I AM LIKE YOU TASTE LIKE THICK JEELY NO REAL FRUIT TASTE YUK!!!!!
Pretty much sums it up.
To call that hideous thing an apple pie is, well, unAmerican. I did the ‘feel’ test in the store, noticing the change in the previously thick wax paper and previously thick pie crust. It was thin and smooshy and I left that gross thing right there in the store. I’d rather have fond memories of a sweet treat gone forever than a ridiculous Easy Bake Oven imitation. Glad you’re calling them out on this!
You are so lucky you did not try one. They are awful!!
What happened to the fruit in the fruit pies? I am really going to show my age by saying this but I can remember when the cherry pies had cherries in them. Bah humbug.
LOL. Please.
LOL! Tell your bosses at Hostess, nice try but the product still sucks.
I went to buy the Donettes today (Crumb, my favorite) and found that they are a little smaller and it now has coconut in them( not a fan of coconut flakes).Hostess was the only crumb donut I had found that didnt have coconut, so the recipe has obviously changed. I opted for the chocolate instead and was not impressed…they remind me of the cheap 8 pack that are out there from companies you have never heard of. These are definitely not the donettes of old! I was so excited too…oh well.
I know Phil!! I noticed they were smaller as well. Wonder where the Ding Dongs are?
I am older lol but i than how can it be a cherry pie? ive been looking for the Cherry pies but i didnt know they now have no cherries??? i found that walmart carry them but now i think ill just have to pass i tried the lil doughnuts and i taste the difference in the dough tastes different!! Thank you for letting me know i also would of loved to have there lemon pies/
do they even make them anymore? i dont care for the apple
Good, it’s not just me. Knowing how I loved the old Hostess pies, my wife bought me a new apple one. It was obvious when I opened the package that these are NOT the same Hostess pies. The crust had a strong, disgusting flavor I couldn’t get out of mouth. (I felt like I was eating Play-Doh.)
Luckily there are a few competing products that are much closer to the original. The Wal-Mart where I live has started carrying Franz Bakery pies in the past two weeks. These are the closest I’ve found so far–though they don’t make blueberry. All-American pies are not as good but decent. I would try Mrs. Baird, but I don’t know of a place around here that sells them.
I don’t know what the heck’s going on with the new Hostess line. Now I can’t even think of their products without getting sick.
Layne I agree! Some Wal-Marts also carry Cutie Pies which are mini versions that come about 6 to a box. They are decent.
Wow. This is ridiculous and SO way off. It’s sad when people exaggerate THIS much.
Read the comments, we’re not making it up.
I was at Wal-Mart the other day AND there they were: a display of Hostess products with my beloved Apple Pies on top. I grabbed one and immediately thought what is wrong with this? It was flat and squishy. I thought maybe this particular one had gotten smashed in transit. I proceeded to pick one pie up after the other, only to find they were all like that. Nonetheless, I bought an apple and a lemon one.
I have never had a lemon one before. So when I tried it the other night, I attributed it’s dismal taste to the fact that is was the lemon flavor–which I’d not tried before..
Well, I opened my apple one tonight, I took a couple of bites and threw it away. Where’s my firm, frosted crust with slices of apples and cinnamon goo???
I then googled “hostess pies taste different.” And here I am. I am sooooo disappointed. What were they thinking? Do they not have tasters? As these pies are disgusting. I long for my chocolate Hostess pie, but I guess it is not to be. I realize it is only a pie and of little importance in the whole scheme of things, but it was always so nice to have one as a treat. Especially the chocolate ones as they were always harder to find than the other flavors.
If Hostess has changed all their products I hope they are not long in business or they go back to the original recipes. I suspect it boils down to cost cutting. But no more Hostess for me. I will look for Mrs. Baird’s products but don’t think they are in my area.
It’s such a bummer. I hope you can find Mr’s Baird’s because they rock!!
Pies are definitley different than before. Instead of a syrupy mixture of cherries, or apples, it’s now just a “gel”,, they doubled the shelf life, but were all still on 50 cent clearance at my local Kroger. Sadly, others must have felt like myself, just horrible, they weren’t even selling at 1/2 off. The only thing up to par is the cupcakes (orange) is the best, but seemilngly harder to find than the more popular chocolate. Zingers are decent too, still looking for the elusive Suzy q.
Try J J ‘ s Bakery pies they are pretty good a lot like the old Hostess ones.
J.J’S ARE PRETTY GOOD
Hostess lemon suck they used to be the very best..I guess those days are gone
I have been eating my beloved hostess apple pies for 30 years. I have been waiting for over a year for the new hostess pies to come out. My wife surprised me today with the apple pies and all I have to say is, these pies are nothing like a hostess apple pie, from the crust to the filling to the size and shape in fact these pies are just 1 grade over the stater brothers 25 cent pies what a joke. Needless to say I’m extremely disappointed and hope they fix this huge problem.
Disappointed is an understatement.
I agree!! I wonder if they are hearing us?
I came to the Web to see if anybody else felt that the NEW Hostess were bad as well. I am so disgusted and angry because I bought quite a few since I had not had any in awhile, Donuts, Fruit pies, etc. Absolutely disgusting. I will never buy a Hostess product again!!!!!!!
I don’t see how anyone continues to buy the pies.
This is so funny that I found your article. I had bought an apple pie the other day and bleck, they just don’t taste the same anymore. Did someone else buy them out? If so, what happened to following their recipe? It was gross!
Yes, a new company purchased them and I think they lost the original recipes.
I think you are right about either they lost the original recipe or they were never given the original recipe. Is their pictures of those old hand pies. I’m trying to remember what the package looked like.
Well I too felt the instant enjo