Old-Fashioned Whoopie Pies

Total Time Prep: 35 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling
Yield 2 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
These classic whoopie pies are a delicious cake-cookie hybrid, filled with a fluffy vanilla-tinged frosting. They are one of our favorite uniquely American treats.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup baking cocoa
  • 1/2 cup hot water
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • FILLING:
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • Dash salt
  • 1 cup 2% milk
  • 3/4 cup shortening
  • 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a bowl, combine cocoa and water. Cool for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in the eggs, vanilla and cocoa mixture. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
  2. To form each cookie, drop 2 teaspoon dough 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake until firm to the touch, 10-12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.
  3. For filling, in a small saucepan, combine flour and salt. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth; cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened, 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and refrigerate until completely cool.
  4. In a bowl, cream the shortening, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Add milk mixture; beat until fluffy, about 7 minutes. Spread filling on half the cookies; top with remaining cookies. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts

1 whoopie pie: 244 calories, 11g fat (3g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 116mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (20g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.

Who can resist soft chocolate sandwich cookies filled with a layer of fluffy white frosting? Mom has made these for years. They're a treat that never lasts very long with my two brothers and me around. —Maria Costello, Monroe, North Carolina
Recipe Creator

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