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Weekdays at 3 p.m. mean one thing for kids across the nation: School's out and the snacks are on the way. Dozens of nutrient-free snacks contend for the spot of top treat, but our favorites were always Hostess classics: Twinkies and chocolate cupcakes.

So which snack rules the after-school roost?

Hostess Twinkies
Hostess Cup Cakes

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Appearance: Miniature, oblong yellow cakes with a sweet filling.
Appearance: Deep brown cup o' cake, covered with a thick layer of chocolate icing and a little swirl of white frosting.
Stats: About $5 for a box of 10; 150 calories, 4 g fat.
Stats: About $5 for a box of 8; 181 calories, 6 g fat.
Taste: Soft, spongy cake yields a luscious, buttered taste, while the filling is pure vanilla nectar: all toothsome and yummy.
 Taste: Rich chocolate in soft, moist cake form. A decadent layer of cocoa icing, along with the creamy, white filling, make it the perfect afternoon treat.
Downside: The tiny cakes are individually wrapped, and require that you only eat one per sitting for fear of looking like a piggy.
 Downside: They're cups of cakes, not whole slices.
Our pick: The chocolate cupcakes. If there's ever a choice between chocolate and anything else, we're going for the choco. Twinkies are a very close second, though.