"WhoopiePies" news and stories

No, I'm not going to make a "making whoopee" joke, or even a whoopee-cushion joke. But it's pretty tempting. However, I will tell you that in a New York Times story about whoopie pies, it said, "food historians believe whoopie pies originated in Pennsylvania, where they were baked by Amish women and put in farmers' lunchboxes. Tired from a morning's work, the farmers purportedly would shout, "Whoopie!" if they discovered one of the desserts in their lunch pails." Really? This just reminds me of that Weird Al Yankovic video for "Amish Paradise."

Whether you're Amish or not, whoopie pies are fun food, and with this recipe from blogger fritesandfries, which includes a dash of Syrian Aleppo chile pepper in the buttercream filling, they're a touch spicy as well. And if you want to temper your fun with a little veg, try this recipe for a carrot-cake version.

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• Dumplings: They're not just for winter anymore.
• Papas arrugadas are, in essence, really just potatoes and salt -- but you've probably never had them quite like this before.
• The Delphine at the W Hollywood is "a little of the South of France in Hollywood." (Really want to feel like you're at the Riviera? Go for the bouillabaisse.)
• The wine of the week, the 2007 Viré-Clessé from Domaine de Roally, begs to be paired with a seafood dish.
• The prize for best new business name ought to go to Baking Whoopie. Just six months old, it's gaining a loyal following.

Whoopie pies are one of those wonderful concoctions of debatable origin and undebatable deliciousness. A few months ago, a piece in the New York Times proclaimed it was having "its moment," though plenty of its champions knew full well that the perennial classic needed no such official declaration.

This photo of a mint whoopie pie from This Chick Bakes beautifully illustrates the treat's timeless appeal, and looks like it has all of the hallmarks of whoopie pie greatness, with cakey chocolate layers sandwiching just the right amount of creamy mint filling. The chocolate-mint combination points to the endless flavor possibilities that the treats present to the adventurous sweet tooth. Though originally simple snacks created by the Pennsylvania Amish, today's bakers take them in all sorts of inspired directions. And if this photo is any hint, this could taste like the best peppermint patty on the planet, unquestionably worthy of the shout of joy its name entails.

[Via Blondie & Brownie]

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I have always been a huge fan of deliciously rich and creamy whoopie pies. So, when I read the recent New York Times article about its current popularity among New Yorkers, I was not too surprised.

The article traces the history of this delectable to pockets of New England, Pennsylvania and Ohio. And, it explains that due to their gaining popularity, supermarkets like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and (specialty deli) Zingerman's sell them. But, my favorite spot for whoopie pies is at One Girl Cookies in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.

As food historian Sandra Oliver states, the cake part that sandwiches the cream is not especially sweet and is often dry, because the frosting, the heart of the whoopie, is full of sugar and a gooey consistency. This characterizes One Girl Cookies' luscious whoopie pies. There is an amazing balances between the frosting in the center and the light fluffy dry cookie/cake.

Perhaps, one of the reasons why they're so special is that cream cheese frosting is sandwiched between pumpkin cake (see the photo above).

You can purchase a dozen whoopie pies from One Girl Cookies online for $27. The Times mentions another pastry shop in Brooklyn with whoopie fever called Trois Pommes Patisserie.

Run for the hills folks, an army of thousands of Martian whoopie pies has just landed and is intent on colonizing Earth. Their marshmallow-filled wrath knows no mercy. OK, fine they're not from outer space, but this closeup shot sure makes the sweet treats look like they're flying through the ether.

They were cooked up by the Barmy Baker, who says that the sandwiches of chocolate cake and marshmallow are a great way to satisfy one's sweet tooth. She also includes a recipe for the treats, which she adapted from Lora Brady's Chocolate American Style. Compared to some of the whoopie pies I've had in Maine, these things look like they're on steroids.

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