Cupcakes started it all, of course—those individual treats that went from second-grade-class-party staple to haute couture in a matter of months. (Seriously, how many cupcake shops have sprouted up in your city recently? I’ve counted at least three in mine.)
And now , thanks to the cupcake trend, mini-cupcakes (and mini-everything, really), doughnuts and cakepops have heightened in popularity, as well. But there’s another classic that’s having its moment in the spotlight, as well: whoopie pies. Whoopie pies are a bit ambiguous in that they can be considered cookie, cake or pie, thanks to the soft pieces of chocolate cake that surround a creamy frosting center. But no matter how you classify them, one thing is certain: They are delicious.
Whoopie pies got their start in Pennsylvania—they were originally a highly regional Amish treat that may have been thought up as a use for leftover cake batter. Amish wives would put the treats in their farmer husbands’ lunchboxes, and when the men opened the boxes and discovered the treat, they would holler, “Whoopie!” Hence: whoopie pies. Cute, huh?
Now, of course, whoopie pies are everywhere. They’re the official state treat of Maine. You can find them in high-end bakeries, but Starbucks also sells mini-versions at all its retail locations. They’ve become popular in baking-oriented cookbooks—Baked Explorations: Classic American Desserts Reinvented, by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito of the famous Baked bakeries, offers an especially tantalizing version.
Although red velvet and pumpkin are also popular whoopie pie flavors, I prefer good old chocolate. Make sure you start with a good cake base—it’ll throw the whole thing off if you don’t. And as far as frosting goes, you can’t skimp. Whoopie pies are one of those desserts where you just have to go whole-hog—they simply taste better with a thick layer of creamy filling.
And speaking of filling, whoopie pie purists often insist that it should be made with marshmallow fluff, but I say feel free to experiment. Peanut butter filling would be delicious; so would a slightly tangy cream cheese frosting. Why not mix it up?
Do you have a favorite whoopie pie recipe? Please share it!