Whoopie

Whoopie Pies are American treats consisting of two soft, disc-shaped cookies filled with a light cream or frosting. We can add an Italian twist to these sweets using perhaps a mascarpone cream for the filling. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients for the cookies:

• 250 g of flour
• 125 g of sugar
• 75 g of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 100 g of soft butter
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 240 ml of milk
• 1 tablespoon of apple cider or white vinegar (to activate the baking soda)

Ingredients for the mascarpone cream:

• 250 g of mascarpone
• 100 g of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and prepare a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
3. In another bowl, whisk the butter with the sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well.
4. Combine the dry ingredient mix with the butter mixture, alternating with the milk to which you have added the vinegar. Stir until the batter is smooth.
5. With a spoon or a piping bag, place small amounts of batter onto the baking trays, trying to keep a round shape and spaced apart.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the disks are puffed and soft to the touch. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
7. For the cream, beat mascarpone with powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth and spreadable.
8. Once the cookies are cool, spread or pipe the cream on one disc and close with another disc, forming the classic Whoopie Pie.

Curiosity

Whoopie Pies are very popular in the Northeastern United States, particularly in the state of Maine, which has even named them as their official state treat. The story goes that they were invented by Amish communities and that the name “whoopie” comes from the children’s exclamation of joy when they found these treats in their lunch boxes.

Remember that you can always play with the flavors of the cream, perhaps adding a pinch of cinnamon or coffee to give a more spiced and original touch!