KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In response to consumer flavor trends and as part of its ongoing innovation efforts, Hostess announced the introduction of Chocolate Cake Twinkies.

From seasonal offers including Pumpkin Pie Twinkies to limited-edition items such as the Ghostbusters Green Slime Twinkies, Hostess Brands has created numerous innovative flavors for Twinkies’ creme filling. However, until now, the golden sponge cake, which even gave Twinkie its “gold standard” status, has gone untouched.

“Twinkies are the most recognized and beloved brand in the sweet baked goods category, getting as close to perfection as possible,” said Burke Raine, Hostess senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “Be it new flavors, new formats or different parts of the store, Twinkies are so iconic and well known that we have endless opportunities to extend the brand in ways that others can’t.”

Not only did Chocolate Cake Twinkies score high in concept tests, but they also performed well in a blind taste test in which the clear majority of consumers said Chocolate Cake Twinkies met or exceeded expectations.

Meanwhile, consumer feedback fed another improvement to Hostess’s snack cake portfolio: Fudge Covered Twinkies, more commonly known as the Chocodile. Fudge Covered Twinkies have been reinvented by its larger size, a higher crème-to-cake ratio, an intensified fudge coating and slightly modified shape.

Both Hostess Chocolate Cake Twinkies and Fudge Covered Twinkies are now available at retailers nationwide and are sold in single-serve, twin-pack and multi-pack formats.