Deep-Fried Oreos Answer Nation’s Call, Finally Hit Retail Shelves

If a Walmart product page is any indication, snack food fans will finally be able to enjoy a treat that was previously available only at the deep-frying booths of regional fairs. Mondelēz International is rolling out Oreo State Fair Cookies, a variation on the popular chocolate sandwich cookie that ups the ante by covering each one in a fried batter.

Making Oreos even more decadent and nutritionally bankrupt originated with “Chicken” Charlie Boghosian, a deep-fry specialist at county fairs in California. Boghosian submerged everything he could find in the fryer: pickles, frog legs, White Castle hamburgers, s’mores, and Twinkies. When the latter proved especially popular, he decided to experiment further, eventually dipping frozen Oreos in pancake batter, drowning them in hot oil, and finishing with chocolate syrup and powdered sugar.

Neither Walmart nor Mondelēz, which owns the Oreo brand, have commented on the development process of making these treats available for mass production, but there might be clues in the 2016 release of the Hostess Deep-Fried Twinkie. A Walmart exclusive, the chain worked with Hostess to develop a frozen treat that could be reheated and enjoyed hot out of the oven or microwave. The Oreo State Fair Cookie will also be found in the freezer aisle, though there’s no word on whether it will be available at other retail locations.