Monday, April 10, 2017

Whoopie Pies





Apparently Whoopie Pies are considered an Amish Mennonite dessert/cookie/cake
and recipes for them appear in many Mennonite cookbooks.
I don't recall my mom ever making these but they truly are delicious.

I was inspired to make some for our Easter gathering and for
an upcoming curling banquet - they sort of look like curling rocks, right?

Here is the recipe I used:
(It comes from the "Stack Your Dishes" recipe book published
by Conrad Grebel University College)

Whoopie Pies
Makes approx. 35 whoopie pies

1 Cup shortening
2 Cups sugar
2 eggs
1 Cup sour milk - I used Buttermilk
2 tsp. vanilla
4 Cups All-purpose Flour
1 Cup Cocoa Powder
2 tsp. salt
1 Cup hot water mixed with 2 tsp. Baking Soda

Blend the shortening, sugar and eggs. Add the milk and vanilla. Mix together the flour, cocoa and salt and blend into the wet ingredients. Dissolve baking soda in the hot water and add to the creamed mixture - beating till smooth. Chill the batter for a few hours (I chilled mine for 1 hour). Drop by tablespoonful (or use a cookie dough scoop for consistent size) onto greased or parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 400F for 8 to 10 minutes. They puff up nicely into soft muffin top shapes. Cool completely.



Traditional Filling:
1 1/2 Cups shortening
6 Cups icing sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla
Milk to moisten

My Filling:
I couldn't bring myself to make a filling with that much shortening and icing sugar so I found this recipe that worked great and tastes wonderful:
2 egg whites (I used pasteurized liquid egg whites since raw egg whites are not recommended for small children)

I will be using this for my Paska Spread as well.

2 Tbsp. vanilla
4 Tbsp. All-purpose flour
4 Tbsp. milk (I used light coffee cream)
4 Cups icing sugar - divided
1 1/2 Cups butter - softened
Beat egg whites till stiff. Mix in the vanilla, flour, milk, and 2 Cups of the icing sugar. Cream for 2 minutes. Add the butter and remaining 2 Cups of icing sugar. Beat until fluffy. When cakes are completely cool, spoon or pipe filling onto half the cakes, cover with the remaining cakes to make a "sandwich". They freeze well.




Today I also buckled down and finally baked the Easter bread (Paska).
I think it's famous!!!


Post update - here are the finished "rocks" (I don't think anyone recognized
them as curling rocks - sigh...) I could use some decorating tips!



Till next time ........ preparing my heart for Easter.






9 comments:

  1. My family loves whoopie pies, but I didn't grow up with them either. I love that you swapped out the filling for a butter based version---so much better!!! Happy Easter if I don't get back before the weekend!!! xo

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  2. I grew up with whoopie pies and they are huge here in my corner (sometimes literally). That's because they were invented by a housewife in Bangor, Maine or so the legend goes. I understand that there is a battle for the claim of invention between Maine and Pennsylvania as sometimes there are even truces called. Ha! Whoever invented it created something fabulous.

    Shortening is not what it used to be...more's the pity as I wish that it were. The new and improved shortening in the sticks has 0 trans fats and the stuff in the tub has only 3%. (If that helps with your sensibilities.) My filling is much different from yours. There are many different types, but only one original. If one is familiar with a Devil Dog, that filling is most like a genuine whoopie pie filling. It is not frosting and it is not some marshmallow nightmare. I do have a butter based filling for pumpkin whoopie pies, but it is unsatisfactory for the chocolate ones. I am certainly a whoopie pie snob. 🤓

    Preparing one's heart for Easter... Isn't it wonderful that our righteousness is His and comes from Him?! I'd never make it without Him.

    🌷Have a beautiful Easter week!

    (The tulips are just peeking up through the ground...the snow is terribly close to them. Are yours up?)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the look of those curling cookies :) !
    I found a Russian market in Spokane yesterday after taking Katie to the airport and they had a table full of Paska/kulich in different sizes for sale. I'm not making paska this year so I was happy to buy one for our Easter centerpiece. Doubt that it's as good as Lovella's or my mom's. You have been busy in the kitchen. That's a nice batch of Paska! Happy Easter to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad you found some Paska/Kulich for your Easter table. Enjoy your cuddle time and have a wonderful Easter!!!!

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  4. Perfect for a curling banquet! Whoopie pies are not 'big' over here, and I must say I have never even tasted one. But yours look fabulous! As does your Paska. Happy Easter to you and your family!

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  5. The whoopee pies look delicious! I've never had paska, but I'm guessing I'd love it by the looks of it!

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  6. My Keepers at Home club girls made pumpkin whoopie pies this past fall and they were delicious!! I have never made them myself . . . but I have eaten one or two. ;)

    Enjoy your Resurrection celebration!!

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  7. Those cookies remind me of a friend who always made them and they do look like the perfect cookies for a curling party. And your Paska looks so good! Is that a new tradition to you? Wishing you a happy and blessed Easter! I was thinking about your butter lamb today...

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  8. What beautiful traditions you have. One of my friends makes a lamb cake each Easter. I love your butter lamb.

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