Chocolate - Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies

It’s official: I’m the latest food-blogger to jump on the whoopie pie bandwagon. I’ve always thought of whoopie pies with kind of a disregard. I ignore them in the grocery store when I walk by the boxed desserts. They’re not very attractive and those cellophane wrappers that they come in don’t exactly add to their appeal. Whoopie pies are receiving a lot of attention from the blogosphere lately. Some are even calling them “the new cupcakes”. Could it be true? Are whoopie pies taking over cupcakes? I decided to put it to the test!

Chocolate - Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies


What I liked about them: 1. The peanut butter & chocolate combination of course! If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you’ve must have noticed my love for all things made with PB & chocolate. 2. Not just the combination, but they both tasted good on their own. The chocolate cake was nice, and the PB filling was super yummy!

What I didn’t like about them: 1. Looks-wise they will never win from cupcakes. They kinda resemble a mini hamburger. 2. Also, the ratio of cake and icing is much better with a cupcake.

Conclusion: I enjoyed my chocolate – peanut butter whoopie pies very much. They were lovely and sweet, however, cupcakes prevail in my opinion. I’m definitely not choosing whoopie pies over cupcakes any time soon (especially with Halloween and Christmas coming). Rating: 3.5 out of 5.


Chocolate - Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies: MarthaStewart.com

Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, not Dutch-process
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup vegetable shortening
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed dark-brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Ingredients for filling:
- ⅔ cup natural, creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup confectioners' sugar

Instructions:
- Make cookies: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a small bowl; set aside.
- Put butter, shortening, and sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on high speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add egg; mix until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in half the flour mixture, then the milk and vanilla. Mix in remaining flour mixture.
- Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies spring back when lightly touched, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks using a spatula; let cool completely.
- Make filling: Put peanut butter and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on high speed until smooth. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add confectioners' sugar; mix until combined. Raise speed to high, and mix until fluffy and smooth, about 3 minutes. Season with salt, if desired.
- Assemble cookies: Spread 1 scant tablespoon filling on the bottom of 1 cookie. Sandwich with another cookie. Repeat with remaining cookies and filling. Cookies can be refrigerated in single layers in airtight containers up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.


Chocolate - Peanut Butter Whoopie Pie

Chocolate - Peanut Butter Whoopie Pie

Comments

Unknown said…
Cupcakes will always have my heart x
Danielle said…
I think whoopie pies are better than cupcakes. I'm not sure why, but they're just so cute and there are so many flavor combinations. They're almost like a mini cake with filling inside.
Dianne said…
I've never tasted a whoopie pie but the combination of chocolate and peanut butter sounds superbe! They look as if they would be easier to eat than a cupcake because of the shape.
Cherry Blossoms said…
You can't post such delicious desserts otherwise this pregnant lady is going to be requesting that I receive some in the mail from now on!!

I love whoopie pies but have never made them. i think its time I change that!
Well done for trying out a new thing I guess. They are really popular here in the blogging world, so I guess I must try them out too. But cupcakes will never die out against them! Yours look great..but cupcakes are a more creative palette. You can decorate them in so many different ways.
Ardna said…
I agree with you they kinda look like mini hamburger! lol
Unknown said…
to be honest, ive never had a whoopie pie but they look so delicious but i think its the fact that theres the possibility that i'll squeeze the pie too much and all the filling will squirt out onto my fingers. but yes i have seen a lot of whoopie pies on the internet now...maybe ill trying making one some time.
Lucie said…
That is one jumbo whoopie pie in your hand! I've got to say, I love them but get REALLY full whenever I have one. Guess it's better for my figure than cupcakes ;)
they look wonderful ...I am near the Lancaster area and they make these to perfection! great post!!
ImplausibleYarn said…
Here in Maine we tell people that we invented them with yankee ingenuity. What it really means is you can't turn around without finding people who claim they make the best ones, or the most unusual ones, or the biggest ones. Cupcakes are still better I think.
Paris Pastry said…
@ImplausibleYarn: Invented in Maine? I had no idea!
They made some of these on Top Chef Just Desserts the other night and I've been craving one ever since! These look scrumptious, as always!
A Bowl Of Mush said…
Ooh I love the look of these! Fantastic!
It was only a matter of time before someone tried to come up with a different popular pastry! I think they tried it with ice cream sandwiches in the Northwest but it didn't catch on.

These look amazing though!
Laura said…
I love whoopie pies. They're delicious and cute, but I agree with you: they will never top cupcakes. Cupcakes are a lot more festive. They just scream "special occasion". But those whoopie pies are pretty cute...
Mwahaha! I was just going to comment that cupcakes will always prevail, so I was glad to see that you agree with me. Still, I really can't say that fairly until I've made some whoopie pies. These look like the perfect introduction.
Anonymous said…
Chocolate AND peanut butter?! Yes, please!!! xo
Anonymous said…
Oh my Lord ~ I wouldn't know when to stop. I am such a chocolate peanutbutter girl. Reeses peanutbutter cups have been my favorite since I can remember walking. Now it's nothing but the jumbo reeses, though the Christmas trees, hearts, and Easter rabbits make close seconds...oh, the dark chocolate Reeses, too. Okay...I'm motivated to get my exercise in this morning. :) Have a great day ~ Alexandra
Ash said…
this is just pure awesomeness!
Chele said…
Wow! They turned out really well. My first attempt were not so great but I may need to give this recipe a try!
same here! i think of both whoopie pies and madeleins in disregard. whoopie pies because of the store bought ones from little debbie brand i think, they are horrible! and taste like fake paper or something, so i never revisited them again. its just a cake sandwhich no? hmmm, one day darling. one day :)
Lian said…
that's a big looking one! just checking your blog while still on vacay. new banner looks great :-)
Anonymous said…
I prefer whoopee pies to cupcakes. Cupcakes have a terrible frosting-to-cake ration problem. Far too much frosting! Too sweet! I only like whoopee pies that have a buttercream-based filling though. Marshmallow fluff can suck it.
Paris Pastry said…
@Anonymous: True. Normally, I scrape off half of the icing of a cupcake because it's too much, but the peanut butter frosting was just too delicious! :) Also, chocolate cake has a very present taste, so I really needed a little more icing with these.

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