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Chocolate Whoopie Pies



















I got my first whoopie pan and book last week. I was very, very excited. I have never experienced whoopie pies before, but I just knew they were going to be good. They are supposed to be the next big thing after cupcakes. Well, in my opinion after trying this batch, they are far superior to cupcakes. I am tempted by cupcakes as often as everyone else, but am rarely anything but disappointed.

And the filling, that amazingly gooey pillow that is sandwiched between the puffy chocolate sponge. Oh, wow! I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I tasted it. It is the most amazing filling I have ever tasted. I was tempted to forget the party and just sit there with a spoon and make a pig of myself.

Oh yes, the whoopie pies were being made for a one year old's birthday party. I made some pies freehand on greaseproof paper and some in the specialised tray. They both came out great, but the freehand ones varied greatly in size and shape. I think I am going to buy another tray. You have to leave them to cool completely in the tray, so it is no use just to have one tray and the filling would look a lot better piped rather than slathered on too. As you can see I didn't have much time to take a photo. It was a quick shot at the party, but it gives you an idea.

The book I bought to try out is The Whoopie Pie Book by Claire Ptak. Claire owns Violet, a cake company in East London. She is also a food stylist. You should see her work, it is amazing. It you have Ottolenghi’s Plenty, then you will already be familiar with it. I'm telling you, we could all learn a thing or two.

Anyway, enough of the rambling and on with the recipe, which I changed into cup measures.



Chocolate Whoopie Pies

1½ cups plain flour
1 cup cocoa
1½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
125g/1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk (or if you can't get any, use milk with a few squeezes of lemon juice, set aside for a few minutes to thicken.)
1 tsp vanilla extract


Preheat the oven to 180c/350f/gas mark 4.

Grease your whoopie pie tin or line baking trays with greaseproof paper.

Sieve the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and bicarbs into a bowl. Sprinkle in the salt and mix through.

In a large bowl whisk the butter until lovely and soft and then cream with the sugar until light and creamy. I like to use an electric whisk. Next add the egg and beat in, then add the vanilla extract and the buttermilk. Add the powder mixture a cup at a time until it is all Incorporated. Chill for a while in the fridge before baking.

Scoop ¾ heaped dessert spoonful of mixture onto your prepared trays. If you are using baking tray, leave plenty of room for them to spread. Bake for 10 minutes until they are springy to the touch. Cool completely in the tin.

Sandwich two cakes with a creamy marshmallow filling.

Makes about 16-20 pies (I will be able to give a more accurate number once I make them all on the same trays)


Marshmallow Filling

3 large egg whites
¾ cup caster sugar
2 tbsp golden syrup (I used pecan maple syrup, which may be why the filling was so delicious. You could use plain maple syrup)
a pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

Place a large glass bowl over a pan of simmering water, be careful to make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water. Add the ingredients and whisk continuously for about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and use an electric whisk to froth up until it is very opaque white, thick and stands up in peaks like meringue.

Sit in a comfy seat and eat with a spoon! Spoon onto your cooled cakes. Don't worry, there will be some left over to savour. Don't share!

Disclosure Statement: I did not receive this book free from the publisher to review, this is my own copy. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

30 comments

  1. What a great recipe! I love that there is buttermilk in there.

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  2. I did whoopie pies today too. Didn't realize there was a whole freaking book about them.

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  3. next big thing? whoopie pie trays? whoopie pie cookbook? I've never had one but maybe my life is about to change if they are on the horizon - and that doesn't sound like a bad thing :-)

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  4. I only just discovered whoopie pies last month and am a convert! Yours look fabulous. And I can see how the filling would be fantastic to just spoon up on its own! I'm amazed that they even make pans for whoopie pies. But if they really are the "next big thing," no wonder they do!

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  5. Those look really lovely. I am glad that whoopie pies are making it big. I never can make a cupcake look presentable, so I felt sort of left out in that trend.

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  6. not tried whoopie pies yet... but they look a hell of a lot easier (and tastier) than those blinking trendy macarons!... yours look divine!

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  7. I really want to try a whoopie pie! They look so good, especially with the gooey filling!

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  8. My nana made whoppie pies for us when we were children (a few years ago)! It's also the official pastry of Maine! They are delicious! People even use them as wedding favors! Have fun making them! You'll love 'em!

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  9. There's a special baking tin for these tasty things? We've made them twice before but just on a baking sheet. Very cool.

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  10. I have yet to try recreating my own whoopie pies but these may give me the inspiration.

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  11. Oh if I could only lick the bowl!!!!!

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  12. Well fake buttermilk Brittany. I always have the other ingredientts I need, but not buttermilk. It is a good job you can fake it.

    I will have to head over to your blog TB, to see if you have posted them :)

    It is no hardship at all Johanna and they were really easy :)

    I was just browsing on Amazon when I can across them Ricki :)

    Me too Angela, I could never get excited about making them, although the Maple Syrup ones I made were lovely, especially without any frosting.

    I've never made macarons, so I couldn't say, but these are easy Dom :)

    Well, if you were closer Anne.....

    You lucky thing Ocean Breezes :)

    Hey Chrystal and Amir, to be honest they are just as good on a baking sheet, but it is nice to have them all the same size I think, although maybe the appeal is to have them all a little different?

    Oh good Val, I do hope you try them :)

    Wish I could too Brownieville Girl, but it is long gone :(

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  13. They look great, love how the marshmallow is trying to ooze every where, makes them sooooooooo naughty but sooooooooooo good too lol. They've been saying for at least 2 years now that whoopie pies and macaroons are taking over from the cupcake but I beleive all three need to learn to share the limelight lol

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  14. I have never made whoppy pies before but these look incredibly tasty!!

    Happy Birthday to Cooper!

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  15. They look great - all gooey and oozy and delicious! I know what you mean about not having the right pan though, can be very frustrating.

    I might give whoopie pies a go, but I'll probably stick to cupcakes - it's the gooey middles that seem tricky to do...

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  16. Oooh they look lovely!
    Ps: If you do make those pancakes I'd add another tablespoon of coconut and a pinch of salt to the batter - that's what I did :)

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  17. I saw this in the Lakeland catalogue (the book and the pan) - it sounded interesting, but a little gimmicky. However, if they're really that good, I may have to reconsider ;)

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  18. Oh wow... I am really behind the times as I am just catching up with the Cup Cake phenomenon! I hadn't actually heard of Whoopie Pies before this so thank you. Great blog :-)Glad I found it as I'm doing a series of foodie posts over on my blog..Cooking with WiiBoy... dealing with encouraging my fussy eater to try different foods! I will have to come back here again :-)

    xx Jazzy (Via BMB blog post)

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  19. Hi Jacqueline ~ You're doing something with food blog events, yes? Would you like the domain foodblogevents.com? I am happy to transfer to you, otherwise I plan to let expire. Let me know, ak @ kitchen hyphen parade dot com.

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  20. Ooh - I can actually taste that filling it looks so good!

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  21. I, for one, appreciate your generosity with the filling. Good work!

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  22. Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh... I have yet to try a whoopie pie, but I saw plenty at the weekend (see latest blogpost), and must try soon! Yours look absolutely scrummy.

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  23. Oh, these look fantastic. I've yet to try whoopie pies, but I do keep hearing good things about them. Didn't know there were special tins for them. Your marshmellow filling sounds scrumilicious in the extreme.

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  24. I think they can all exist side-by-side in their yumminess Chele, but I am definitely favouring whoopies pies just now. I am thinking of making some more today.

    I got an extra tray C, so it will be easier next time to get a better looking whoopie pie.

    I didn't get around to making them in the end Jan, but I am planning to make them soon. I will adjust my recipe. Thank you :)

    They are so, so good Rachel. Why not just try them on greaseproof paper first, to see if you like them?

    Nice to meet you Jazzy. Thanks for stopping by :)

    Thanks Alanna, but I am happy to leave it as it is. It is just a wee side project giving people somewhere to add their events, it's not my main focus at all. Thanks for thinking of me :)

    Oh it is Pixie, my mouth is watering just thinking about it :)

    Thanks CC :)

    Wow, looks like you had fun Spaghetti :)

    What a great word Choclette, it is definitely scrumilicious :)

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  25. You really don't need a special tray. This is a very unfancy, down-to-earth everyday treat here in Maine and it sounds like people are cashing in on it because it's becoming trendy. The chocolate parts are kind of cake-like and shouldn't spread out so much they'd need a special tray. I read about this particular book and it sounds as if the author had very much Britified the recipe ingredients (golden syrup).

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  26. Me again. Just to let you know this is the most authentic recipe I've seen and the pictures give you a good idea of what these should look like:

    http://www.omnomicon.com/whoopie-pies

    Also, authentic home-made ones are much smaller than the commercial ones you see. Again, this is a modest little treat, not something fancy like on the book cover.

    Think of how your great-grandmother made scones. She didn't use fancy equipment and she probably used a very basic recipe, if any. And yet I bet her scones were the best! (and I'm sure she wouldn't recognize what we call scones in America) Same idea here.

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  27. OK, I know I'm getting annoying, but here's another link with whoopie pies from Maine:

    http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2009/07/real-maine-whoopie-pies.html

    It shows real grandmothers and I think the picture will give you a better idea of how things should look. Smaller cakes and less filling are the two most helpful tips. Her recipe is different, but still classic. I know you guys weigh ingredients but maybe you can figure it out.

    I'm done now. Thanks for bearing with me, and have fun in your whoopie pie endeavors!

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  28. No, I don't mind at all Lynn, it is all new to me, so it is great to find out more. Thank you for the links. I am off to have a look now :)

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  29. Wow these are new and I am drooling will book mark nad give it a try. I will add the book to my wish list too. :)

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  30. Made these today for after lunch - they have all gone already. They are a lovely change to cupcakes. The filling was really easy to do, but there wasn't enough to fill the last two (maybe a bit too generous with my piping). Thanks Jac x

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I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x