Secret Family Recipe: Whoopie Pies

Whoopie pies are my dad's favorite dessert, I make huge batches for his birthday or Father's day and he freezes them to eat with his lunches for the next few weeks.

This recipe has changed little over the past years. My copy of the recipe is a copy of the recipe card that my mom wrote out by hand. She went to parochial school and has very nice handwriting.Changes that I've made to the original recipe? I make them smaller then my mom used to and I make extra frosting. Because they are smaller you will use more frosting.

Combine all the ingredients in the mixer and mix until just combined. Seriously. Its that easy. Put all the ingredients in the bowl at the same time. Then mix. The batter is on the runnier/wetter side.

I use a cookie scoop so they stay about the same size. I use the normal size scoop, not my mini one. This one is probably about 1 1/2 tsps. Scoop about 12-15 per cookie sheet. Most of the time I will use parchment paper, it makes for much easier clean up and less sticking but I didn't have any on hand.

Watch carefully, depending on the size of the cookie and your oven it could vary. The ones I made here take 8 minutes.  When you set them out to cool make sure they aren't stacked because the tops are sticky.

Frosting
Wait until they are cooled before frosting them. I double the frosting because, well frankly everyone says its the best part (recipe below is already doubled!!)! The frosting is a little stiffer than a buttercream frosting. I approximate the Fluff because putting it into the measuring cup then getting it out is a sticky mess. I'll just take a heaping knife full that looks around 1/2 cup.

The easiest way to spread it if you are making massive batches like I do, is to put it into a plastic bag, snip the corner, and use it like a piping bag to put a dollop on the cookie. You don't need to spread it because you'll squish it with the the top cookie.

So, take half of the cookies and dollop with frosting. If you do the frosting all at once prior to assembling you'll be able to add more frosting if you have any left over. Then take the other half and top the ones with frosting.

After they are assembled be careful with stacking as the cookies tend to be a little sticky.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

Update: I made a whoopie pie cake! I used a half sheet baking pan lined with a silicone baking mat and a double batch of the cake recipe. Smooth over and bake at 350F for 15 minutes. Remove and let cool. Remove from pan, cut into half. Flip over and spread icing (1 batch) over the bottom and then place the other half on top. Cut and serve! Makes approx 26 big sandwiches.

Whoopie Pie Recipe
Makes approx 23 sandwiches (depends on the size of the cookie)

In stand mixer with paddle attachment, put in all ingredients and mix until just combined.
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/3 c oil
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ¾ cup milk

Drop by tbsp onto cookie sheet. Leave room for spreading. Bake approx 8 minutes on 350. (Baking time varies by oven and size of cookie). Let cookies cool on wire rack before frosting.

Filling
Beat together ingredients for about 1 minute.
• 2 sticks butter
• 2 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
• ~1/2 cup of marshmallow Fluff
• 2 tsp vanilla

Spread filling between 2 cookies.


Enjoy!!