The WHOOPIE! Goodness

A Small History lesson …

The origin of a Whoopie Pie is thought to be from Amish women who would bake these desserts (known as hucklebucks at the time) and put them in farmers' or lunch boxes. When farmers would find the treats in their lunch, they would shout "Whoopie!" It is thought that the original Whoopie pies may have also been made from cake batter leftovers. The whoopie pie is the official state treat of Maine, although it appears though that German immigrants brought the predecessor of the Whoopie Pie to communities throughout the northeast.

The Book that started it all for me though is 'The Whoopie Pie Book' by Claire Ptak, the owner of Violet Bakery in London. This book is amazing and will never leave my kitchen! And a trip to her bakery is top of my list of things to do.


My First attempt …

Well the photo say's it all and the fact that my friend at work loved it so much and felt threatened by everyone else she ate it whole (and yes it did fit) but it led me to make more and more and more! Although it wasn't all plain sailing! I still have not managed to master the chocolate chip Whoopies with their Chocolate Marshmallow filling … they are my arch-enemy and they are always peoples favorites which is TYPICAL!!! Although again that is the amazing thing with the book, instead of telling you to hunt high and low for Marshmallow fluff it tells you how to make it yourself! Although patience is needed if it goes wrong. I have shed many tears over this stuff now and still can get it wrong quite badly! But as I always remember the golden words from my nan "If at first you don't succeed! Chuck it out and start again!" and that's the thing it may not be cheap and trying to get hold of buttermilk is a mission in this country, but the results and seeing how people literally do want to say 'Whoopie' is why I do it. It is pure satisfaction.

Claire x