How to Make Homemade Chocolate Maine Whoopie Pies

My Maine Whoopie Pie recipe has been in the family for years.
My mom used to make these for us every winter, and as a special treat for my children and grandchildren I now do the same.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sugar
• Shortening (Crisco)
• Eggs
• Vanilla
• Sour Cream
• Water
• Flour
• Baking Soda
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Hershey Cocoa
• Milk
• Powdered Sugar
• Cookie Sheet
• Mixing Bowls
• Stove and Oven

1. FROSTING-
   Note: You should double the following ingredients, but I always do each ingredient x 5 to get lots of extra frosting for the perfect filled Whoopie Pies...
   First Step for Frosting-
   Heat on stove the following ingredients (using a 1 quart or 2 quart Pan)
   Add a pinch of salt 5 times-
   Add 2 1/2 TBSP flour 5 times-
   Add 1/2 cup milk 5 times-
   Stir Continuously until a paste is formed...
   Upon completion, transfer frosting paste into a bowl and refrigerate...
   Second Step for Frosting-
   In a large bowl combine-
   3/4 cup powdered sugar 5 times-
   1/2 cup shortening 5 times-
   1 tsp vanilla 5 times-
   Mix until blended well (For best blending results, use a mixer)-
   Upon completion of second mixture, remove first (cold) mixture from refrigerator and combine both mixtures together-
   Blend well using mixer and your tasty frosting is complete...!

2. WHOOPIE PIE CAKES
   1 Batch equals 12 Cakes-
   I usually make 3-4 Batches-
   Note: Batter becomes quite thick, therefore what I do is use 3-4 separate bowls for easier stirring...
   In each bowl add the following ingredients-
   1 1/2 cups of sugar-
   1/2 cup shortening-
   2 eggs-
   1 tsp Vanilla-
   1 cup of Sour Cream-
   1/3 cup hot water-
   Beat together well then add-
   3 1/4 cups of Flour-
   1 tsp Baking Soda-
   1 tsp Baking Powder-
   1/2 tsp salt-
   1/2 cup Hershey Cocoa-
   Stir all ingredients well and now its time for cooking...!

3. COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:
   Preheat Oven to 350 degrees-
   Use Un-greased Cooking Sheet-
   Place rounded teaspoons onto cookie sheet (approx 8-12)-
   Wet a small spoon with water and go over each placement of batter to flatten and round off to a nice round shape-
   Place cookie sheet into oven for 10 minutes-
   Place a large strip of Wax Paper on your counter or kitchen table-
   Place the completed oven fresh whoopie pies onto the wax paper-

4. COMPLETED WHOOPIE PIES + FROSTING = Yum...!
   Take two whoopie pies, add desired amount of frosting, put them together and your done, ENJOY...!
   Remind children or hubby to not touch until after dinnertime LOL...
   Whoopie Pies can be stored in sealed containers and left out on counter for about 5 days, or if you prefer they can also be refrigerated-
   You can also freeze them for later, its all up to you, but we eat them so fast there is never any left after 5 days...!

Tips & Warnings

• Due to the length of oven time usage (It's best to bake the Whoopie Pies in the Winter Months) Which will keep your kitchen nice and warm
• After each step, wash each preparation dish and utensils for easier clean up time (If only you could have seen my kitchen the times I had not done this)
• The Frosting can also be created using Peanut Butter (this special ingredient we tested a couple years ago, and is loved by my kids the most)
• Simply add peanut butter (to taste) as last ingredient in the second step frosting mixture and stir well to consistency...
• My Sister-in-law skips the frosting preparation and simply will frost her Whoopie Pies with Marshmallow...
• One time when my kids were visiting their Grandmother in Maine, they filled the Whoopie Pie Cakes with Ice Cream in the middle and froze them...
• Eat with Caution, I'm not sure if I just recently gained 3 pounds due to Thanksgiving, or if it may just have been because I ate way too many Whoopie Pies then I should have in one week...LOL

[psychonurse]

on 11/26/2009 Just the recipe I was looking-- for thanks!

[Upon-Request]

on 12/19/2008 What a funny vintage family recipe!