Whoopie!

Apparently whoopie pies are the next cupcakes! I remember seeing them a lot on Tastespotting in the last 2 years so I tried making some for valentine's day. They were loooovely, but for some reason I expected them to be like cookies, not cakey! How misled I was! They are like discs of cake with lovely icing sandwiches inbetween. Whether they are 'the next cupcakes', I dunno... Anyway, I was lured in by this cute book and decided to try the chocolate ones out. My verdict - lovely cake but icing isn't as good as cupcake icing. You were supposed to be able to pipe it on but mine was so thick I could barely spread it on with a palette knife! Maybe I did something wrong... I think they would be nice iced with just some whipped cream though. 

This book is adorable though, I want to try a few more recipes out. There are even savoury whoopie pies! The book is divided into 2 halves, one with the cake recipes and the other half with frosting recipes so you can mix and match. I will share with you the cake recipe but suggest just icing them with some whipped cream. The cake is definitely work trying!

Ingredients

1 2/3 cups plain flour

2/3 cups cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

4 tablespoons butter at room temp. 

4 tablespoons vegetable shortening

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup milk

Method

1. Preheat oven to gas mark 5. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. 

2. In a stand mixer, beat tgether the butter, shortening and sugar on low until combined. Then increase the speed to medium and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg & vanilla and beat for another 2 minutes. 

3. Add half of the flour mixture and half of the milk and mix until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the remaining flour and milk and beat until well combined. 

4. Using a spoon, drop about 1 tablespoon of batter onto a prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake one sheet at a time for about 10 minutes, until they are light and spongy and spring back when pressed gently. 

5. Remove from the oven and let the cakes cool on the sheet slightly, then transfer to a cooling rack. When they are cool, ice them with a frosting of your choice or whipped cream. Enjoy!