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 used Lovella's recipe from The Mennonite Girls Can Cook.

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.