What Are Pattinson’s ‘Hot Pockets’?

If you’re reading this, I assume you either know who Robert Pattinson is or you’re at least familiar with his movies. The English actor burst onto the scene almost a decade ago with his role as the vampire Edward Cullen in the hit series ‘Twilight’. Since then, he’s appeared in major motion pictures including ‘Good’, ‘Jackie’ and ‘Belle’. Most recently, he portrayed the title character in ‘Legally Blonde’.

Now that the world is finally taking notice of him, Pattinson can be found posing for magazines and walking the red carpet. Along with acting, he’s established himself as a fashion icon and social media star; he has over 55 million followers across all platforms.

As for the ‘Hot Pockets’ question on this occasion, let’s dive into the details.

A Breakfast Sandwich That’s Hot Enough to Warm You Up On a Cold Winter’s Day

While ‘Twilight’s’ main draw was the elaborate make-up and eye-catching outfits worn by the famous young cast, it was the film’s most memorable creations that graced our social media feeds in the following years – from Rosalie’s (played by Kristen Stewart) orange-frosted cupcakes to Emmett’s (played by Alex P. Stewart) black-and-white cookie monster outfit.

The films were so popular that their respective fast-food chains – Rosalie’s CupCakery and the Emmett’s Ice Cream – became household names. But what exactly are these ice cream sandwiches known as ‘Hot Pockets’ that have our favorite Hollywood actors and actresses raving about them? Let’s take a closer look.

A Brief History Of ‘Hot Pockets’

The short answer: They’re breakfast sandwiches made with ice cream. But that’s not all there is to know about these popular snacks. Here’s a short history lesson.

In the ‘70s and ‘80s, McDonald’s primarily served up hamburgers and fish sandwiches as breakfast items. But in an effort to attract more mature audiences, the fast-food giant began experimenting with new flavors and serving sizes. One such innovation was the egg and bacon sandwich, which was inspired by British TV host Jimmy Prichard’s ‘60s-era show, ‘Top Gear’.

It was during this time period that McDonald’s came up with the ‘Hot Pocket’ concept. The chain was inspired by Prichard’s car reviews and decided to rebrand their egg and bacon sandwich as the “Hot Pocket”, a name that made its way into common parlance. In an effort to attract more consumers, McDonald’s began marketing the snack as being “Hot Enough To Warm You Up On A Cold Winter’s Day”. In 1987, McDonald’s released the first of what would be many Hot Pocket trilogies, featuring different kinds of meat – in this case, ham and Canadian bacon – and cheese. Over time, the hamburger giant would include other variations like the ‘Fish’ and ‘Veggie’ pockets, all of which were eventually rolled into one dish.

The name ‘Hot Pocket’ is commonly used as a hashtag on Twitter to this day, proving how recognizable this snack is to those on the platform. Indeed, when you search for ‘Hot Pocket’, you’ll find many recipes for the versatile sandwich, as well as countless photos of people eating them. There are even dedicated Twitter accounts, @TheRealHotPockets and @McDonaldsHotPockets, that provide tips and tricks on how to make the most of your frozen foods.

The Evolution Of A Classic

While McDonald’s began serving up the Hot Pocket in the ‘70s, it wasn’t until the ‘80s that the ice cream sandwich really took off. That’s when manufacturers began putting more and more fruit and nut flavors into their ice cream and using less and less milk – creating what are commonly known as “grappa flavors”.

The flavors in these new ‘80s ice cream sandwiches were inspired by various Italian vinegars – think balsamic, sun-dried tomato and red wine – and paired with pieces of marzipan, candied fruit and chocolate.

These new concoctions were a major hit and helped to popularize the ‘80s ice cream sandwich craze. In some cases, manufacturers even began including miniature bottles of the vinegars in the packaging as a way of enticing people into buying their flavors. And what better way to end a meal than with a cold ice cream sandwich? It was during this time period that the humble ice cream sandwich began evolving into “something more”, as one Twitter user put it.

But it wasn’t just the product that evolved, the marketing approach did as well. While McDonald’s had positioned their egg and bacon sandwich as a “fast and easy meal”, the ‘80s generation of ice cream eaters were looking for something more sophisticated. They wanted to experience the savory flavors of their food without the greasy aftertaste that went along with it. So McDonald’s began marketing their new sandwiches as a way of enticing people into trying new, more expensive flavors. They released a new variation of the Hot Pocket around this time, featuring a meatball and spaghetti slurry, as well as sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese. Similarly, they introduced the Club House burger, which was topped with fried egg, jack cheese and bacon, around this time as well.

After creating several variations of the sandwich, McDonald’s started marketing it in a way that would make its ultimate audience – health-conscious Gen-Xers and millennials – aware of what they were buying. They began including serving suggestions on their boxes and leaflets, like “Add a Little Delight – Serve in a Gala Wreath,” and “Savor The Flavor – Serve In A Rose.” This was also the time period when dieting and eating healthy foods became fashionable, so maybe that’s why these kinds of serving suggestions were included.

It wasn’t just the packaged foods that were evolving, the restaurants and cafes that served them were as well. While McDonald’s began serving up the sandwiches in the ‘70s, they really didn’t take off in Europe until the ‘80s. That’s when the Mediterranean diet became popular and people decided to begin incorporating more vegetables and fruits into their diets.

The new wave of health-conscious consumers eventually led to a decline in the popularity of the ‘70s ice cream sandwich. But that didn’t mean this classic American invention was a recipe for disaster. Instead, it helped to establish something new, which is why the ‘80s are sometimes called the “golden era” of the ice cream sandwich.

Where Do ‘Hot Pockets’ Come From?

While we’re on the subject of origins, it’s worth noting that ‘Twilight’ wasn’t the first time that Pattinson had portrayed a vampire. Back in the ‘90s, he was in a TV movie called ‘Deadly Deception’, in which he played the lead role of an assassin who turned out to be a vampire. He also portrayed the werewolf Daniel in the 2006 horror film ‘Honeymoon’.

It was ‘Twilight’s’ success, however, that truly put Pattinson onto the map. The films made him a household name and set the fashion world on its ear. They also earned him seven acting nominations at the annual Oscars, including one for Best Actor for his portrayal of Edward Cullen.

It’s not hard to see why the ‘Hot Pockets’ are so popular. Not only does Pattinson lend his name to the product, he also has a hand in creating the “blissful explosion of flavor” that is the essence of the sandwich. This is a man who grew up loving ice cream and is clearly an authority when it comes to what makes a perfect, creamy center. The question is: Can these tiny ice cream sandwiches really fulfill your every craving? Let’s take a look.

Is It The Ultimate Breakfast?

Let’s assume, for a moment, that you have everything you need to make a complete meal with this snack. You’ve got your ice cream, you’ve got your bun, you’ve got your cheese, you’ve got your pickle … and, of course, you’ve got your HOT POCKET®. Is it the ultimate breakfast? Is it even a breakfast food?