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Whoopie pies
Soft chocolate cakes sandwiched with marshmallow-style buttercream
Whoopie pies are Maine's official state treat and a lunchbox favourite in Pennsylvania Dutch country too; you find them wrapped in cling film by the till at petrol stations and bake sales all over New England. Two domed, soft chocolate cakes hold a thick, fluffy white filling. This filling is a meringue buttercream, so there's no gelatine-based marshmallow. Chef's tip: pipe or scoop the batter in even mounds and leave room, as they spread to 8 cm.
- Total time
- 37 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the cakes
- 9 oz plain flour
- 1 ¾ oz cocoa powder
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 4 oz buttersoft
- 7 oz soft brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
For the filling
- 4 oz sugar
- 6 oz buttersoft
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 ⅛ oz icing sugar
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 375°F (350°F fan) and line two baking trays. Sift the 9 oz plain flour, 1 ¾ oz cocoa powder, 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda and ½ tsp salt together.
3 minStep 2: Beat the 4 oz butter and 7 oz soft brown sugar until fluffy, then beat in the 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Mix in the dry ingredients and 1 cup buttermilk in turns to a thick batter.
5 minStep 3: Drop 24 heaped tablespoons onto the trays, 5 cm apart. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the tops spring back when pressed. Cool completely on the trays.
15 minStep 4: For the filling, whisk the 2 egg whites and 4 oz sugar in a heatproof bowl over simmering water until the sugar dissolves and it feels hot, about 4 minutes.
4 minStep 5: Whisk off the heat for 6 minutes until thick, glossy and cool. Beat in the 6 oz butter a spoonful at a time, then the 1 tsp vanilla extract and 2 ⅛ oz icing sugar. A common mistake is adding butter while the meringue is warm, which makes it soupy.
8 minStep 6: Pair the cakes by size, spread or pipe a thick layer of filling on the flat side of half, and press the others on top.
8 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 45 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does whoopie pies take?
- About 37 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of cocoa powder?
- Drinking chocolate, same amount (sweeter, so cut the sugar).
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