Tastykake
by Graham Kolbeins
Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets

Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets are primo. There are few things better, in this life. The feeling of my mouth closing around that soft, spongy cake topped with divine butterscotch frosting is supremely satisfying. It might not be too much of a stretch to claim that Tastykake laid the foundation for my entire palette, my complete understanding of what is desirable and undesirable in the realm of edible enticements.

Sadly, Tastykake is an East Coast Thing. Spending the early years of my life in the suburbs of Philadelphia, there was a long period of time when my goals in life were largely within reach. I would simply save up the requisite amount of nickels, dimes and quarters. Then, I would walk down to the 7-11 for a packet of these moist delicacies, perhaps supplanted by a 20-ounce bottle of Sprite and a copy of Mad Magazine—all essential elements of a balanced lifestyle. Upon the depletion of my funds, I would start back up again from scratch, collecting change until I could re-live the same delicious, yet fleeting, moment of happiness. It was all an ominous premonition of the places capitalism would take me— on a sinister hamster wheel of irrational desire, followed by wish fulfillment, surrounded by a void of utter emptiness. JK! Pass me a krimpet!

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Personal | April 3, 2009

  • I just discovered your blog yesterday and I’m starting to really like it. I just felt like saying that ;)

    Posted by Dickie on April 3rd, 2009 at 3:45 pm

  • Thanks! :)

    Posted by Graham Kolbeins on April 5th, 2009 at 12:49 pm

  • I’m also from the Philly suburbs and I never got over them changing from wax paper to plastic… the frosting always comes off!!

    But there are pounds on me that I’m pretty sure will never, ever be lost due to my mom always keeping these stockpiled in our cabinets. (She still does, too, I’m just not there to consume them, and if she read this she would want to know if you’ve tried the pancake flavored krimpets!)

    Posted by erin on April 6th, 2009 at 11:00 am

  • They have pancake flavored krimpets?! I wonder if there are any art foundations that would give me a grant to make a body of work based around Tastykake, so I would have a legitimate reason to hang out at the Tastykake factory eating pastries all day. What area of PA are you from? I grew up in Ardmore and Villanova.

    Posted by Graham Kolbeins on April 6th, 2009 at 2:47 pm

  • NOVA!!! haha congrats to them.

    I am from really Southeast–Marcus Hook–right on the border of pa, nj, and de pretty much!

    My friend’s dad actually owns a candy factory that I worked at through highschool and underneath was the place where they manufacture Tastykake’s packaging materials… no kakes.. just wrappers :(

    but its cool to know that this random blog I have found and been reading is actually by a local! I was so excited to see this page emblazoned with krimpets.

    Posted by erin on April 7th, 2009 at 8:49 am

  • http://pancakekrimpets.blogspot.com/

    Posted by erin on April 7th, 2009 at 8:50 am

  • Yes those Butterscotch Krimpets are indeed tasty! They are the jewel of all Tastykakedom. They have them at the Wawa here on campus. Were there Wawas in Philadelphia?

    Posted by Doug on April 16th, 2009 at 8:56 pm

  • Tastykakes are no longer an east coast thing!

    They’re sold at our local Walmart in New Mexico!

    Posted by steve on April 30th, 2009 at 8:07 am

  • Just stumbled across your site, and will definitely be back. Especially now that you’ve mentioned Tastycakes, my first love.

    Posted by Kelly on July 15th, 2010 at 7:54 am