Snack Review: Barry’s Bakery California Almond French Twists
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and guess that, if you’re reading Snackerrific, you’re probably pop-culture savvy enough to have heard “Seasons of Love,” the finale from a little-known musical called “Rent.” (For those of you who aren’t musical theater dorks, “Seasons of Love” is the song that your gay nephew sang at his high school talent show last month. With me now? Super.)
As you’ll recall, “Seasons” asks us to measure our lives in love, rather than hours, minutes, or “cups of coffee.” And while recently blasting this song out my car speakers listening to it on iPod Shuffle, I realized something profound: I could measure my life in pastry.
Awesome, right? Each chapter of my epic suburban existence has been marked by a significant pastry event. For instance, when I was 11, my dad dropped his job as an environmental chemist and moved us across the country to open a Cinnamonster shop. Hauling ass from Colorado to Massachusetts was a massive, life-changing journey – and it was all done for the love of pastry.
Four years later I landed a job at our local bakery, Cakewalk, where I worked throughout high school in order to scrape up some gas money. Couple this doughy employment with my Cinnamonster saga, and you’ve got a girl who knows her baked goods.
So believe me when I tell you that Barry Bakery’s “French Twists” are the real deal. Having spent the better part of my youth spreading butter over croissant dough, I recognize a well-made layer pastry when I see one. To achieve such fluffly, melts-in-your-mouth deliciousness, the dough of these Twists must’ve been folded over many, many times. My biceps ache just thinking about it.
Resembling a seven-inch DNA strand covered in cinnamon sugar, these sticks look homemade enough to get your mouth watering immediately. Seriously, you can almost imagine a French grandmother from the 1940s pulling these out of the her oven (possibly to feed rebel fighters? Vive la Resistance!).
And although my Cakewalk education has led me to believe that you can’t make a decent layered pastry without TUBS of butter, Barry’s Bakery proved me wrong. In place of butter, they use soy and palm oil, which is probably why each stick is only 60 calories. Furthermore, the packaging says that Barry had a near-fatal heart attack a few years ago, so I guess he has a vested interest cutting back on the lipids.
So I stand corrected – you CAN make a delicious layered pastry without using the golden devil (I’m sorry, but that’s the sexiest butter euphemism I could think of). And as for the flavors, oh man, SO GOOD. Their “Califonia Almond” variety was subtle but evocative, and I’m now super eager to try their “Maple Frech Toast” and “Cafe Mocha” flavors. They just sound so comforting, don’t they?
Take it from a pro: if you want a snack that will remind you of Sunday mornings in the country, this is the treat for you.
Buy Barry’s Bakery French Twists Online:
- at Amazon.com
8 Comments
cybele on September 23rd, 2008
They sell a version of these at Trader Joe’s and they are freakishly awesome.
I’m not not really a pastry person, but they’re really good. Especially
the maple ones.
Rachel on September 23rd, 2008
525,600 pastries? God, I hope not.
I don’t think excessive and former-teenage-fangirl-obsession with
“Rent” is reserved for the musical theatre geek crowd, m’dear…;)Now strt referencing Sondheim and watch everyone either scratch their heads or run screaming…
Rachel on September 23rd, 2008
525,600 pastries? God, I hope not.
I don’t think excessive and former-teenage-fangirl-obsession with
“Rent” is reserved for the musical theatre geek crowd, m’dear…;)Now start referencing Sondheim and watch everyone either scratch their heads or run screaming…!
Allissa on September 23rd, 2008
Sondheim 4 evah!
Mikey on September 25th, 2008
Does the link for Barry’s Bakery need to be fixed?
It took me to the Quaker Oats web page.
Your description of these twists really,
really makes me want to try them–I, too, need
to avoid “the golden devil.” Thanks.Allissa on September 25th, 2008
It took you to Quaker Oats? Oh no! Our bad! The correct link is:
http://www.barrysbakery.com/shop/cart.php?target=category&category_id=1.Enjoy!
charlene on May 25th, 2009
what’s going on? Are you all getting ready to go out of business or what? I shop 100% at the Acme in Cuyahoga Falls, OH and have been able to get a selection of Twists. Now recently all that are on the shelves is Maple and not more than 2 or 3 packages. I love the cinnamon and almond even original…not a maple anything fan.
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Jim on September 23rd, 2008
I saw these at my local Publix Supermarket, actually picked up a box
and held it, but put it back on the shelf fearing the low fat/calories
would make for disappointment. Thanks for the insider info!
And “Rent” was “little-known”? I thought it was huge! Still, I never saw it.