Whoopie Pies

This dessert is something I used to make when I was a teenager which brings back some fond memories. I lost the recipe and the one below closely resembles the one I used to make many years ago. Whoopie pies are considered a New England phenomenon and a Pennsylvania Amish tradition. They’re one of Maine’s best known and most loved comfort foods. A whoopie pie is like a sandwich, but made with two soft cookies with a fluffy white filling. These cake-like whoopie pies were considered a special treat because they were originally made from leftover batter. According to Amish legend, when children would find these treats in their lunch bags, they would shout “Whoopie!” Click here for more on the whoopie pie.

Makes 36
recipe is adapted from Recipe Zaar

Whoopie Pie
1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons milk

Filling
4 tablespoons milk
4 tablespoons butter, softened to room temp
3-3 1/4 cups icing sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (OR mint extract is good)

Preheat oven to 200c (425f). Lightly coat cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray. To make Whoopie Pies: In a mixing bowl, beat sugar and oil until crumbly. Add eggs and beat well. In separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Gradually beat flour mixture into sugar mixture. Add milk and mix together well. Drop by spoonful onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Don’t worry if the batter is a bit runny but try to make the cookie shape no larger than two inches in diameter. Bake 5-6 minutes or until tops spring back when touched. Cool for 3 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool.

Filling: In a mixing bowl, beat together butter and icing sugar. Beat in milk and extract until fluffy. Spread filling with a knife onto the flat bottom of cooled whoopie pie and top with another whoopie pie to make a sandwich.

The Culinary Chase’s Note: My daughter took these to school and now I’m involved with a bake off contest with her other school friends! When preparing the filling, add only three tablespoons of milk and then see if you need the other one. You want the filling to be the consistency of icing on a cake. This is an easy recipe for those wanting to learn how to bake.