Say Whoopie for Whoopie Pies!

Black moon. Gob. Black-and-white. Big Fat Oreo. Whoopie pie. These are all names for the beloved whoopie pie, the official state treat of Maine. Whoopie pies are believed to have first originated in Amish areas of Pennsylvania where they were called “hucklebucks”. Amish farmers or children would reportedly say “Whoopie!” when they found the treats in their lunch bags.

No one knows for sure how whoopie pies became so popular in New England, but it may have gained popularity from a 1930’s cookbook called “Yummy Book”, published by Durkee-Mower, the manufacturer of Marshmallow Fluff. In this New England book, there was a recipe for Amish Whoopie Pie that used Fluff in the filling.

Whatever you call them, what’s better than two moist chocolate cakes with a creamy filling in the middle? And what better way to celebrate the whoopie pie than the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival on Sat. June 28, 2014? Find Dysart’s at the festival and enjoy sampling our whoopie pies! For more info about the festival, check out: http://mainewhoopiepiefestival.com/

Want to make our traditional whoopie pies at home? Read on for the recipe and get ready to say “Whoopie!”

Whoopie Pies

2 1/3 c. flour

1 ½ c. sugar

½ c. unsweetened cocoa

1 tsp. baking soda

½  tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

2 eggs

½ c. shortening

1 tsp. vanilla

½ c. milk

Whisk flour, soda, salt, cocoa, and baking powder together in large bowl. With an electric mixer, combine sugar and eggs in medium bowl until thick and blended together, about 45 seconds. Slowly blend in shortening until combined. Add milk and vanilla, mixing well. With mixer on low, slowly blend egg mixture into flour mixture until well blended.

Drop by tablespoons on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 12-15 min. Cool on wire rack.

Traditional Filling

½ lb butter

1/2 tbsp. vanilla

4 c. powdered sugar

One 7 ½ oz. Jar of Fluff

Mix butter, vanilla, and Fluff in mixing bowl. Combine well, and add in powdered sugar, one cup at a time, so you don’t get covered in it.

Then scoop the filling on the flat side of the cookies and put the two cookies together.