Moody's Diner Whoopie Pies

When I got wind that Dunkin’ had created a whoopie pie donut (available only through the end of this month!), I rushed out to get mine. Certainly it was a clever enough version the treat, piping their glazed chocolate donut full of sugary frosting as they did. And yes, it went down well with a cup of Dunkin’ coffee, but I thought you might enjoy making the real deal yourself—with creamy homemade frosting sandwiched between two fresh-out-of-the-oven mini chocolate cakes (not donuts). And where better to start than with a whoop-inducing recipe from Moody’s Diner in Waldoboro, Maine?

My parents used to have a cottage in Friendship, Maine, and Moody’s was en route—basically a counter and a few booths when I first started going in the 70’s. The slice of banana cream pie or whoopie pie I used to squirrel away as a kid would last me the better part of a week.

Moody’s has since added to the enterprise (I love when they pop up in magazines or on those diner and dive kinds of shows) and they continue to lay claim as purveyors of the best whoopie pies in the state of Maine. Several websites purport to give the recipe from Moody’s, but I pulled this one from my copy of their actual cookbook. Do enjoy! 

Moody’s Diner Whoopie Pies 

Adapted from What’s Cooking at Moody’s Diner 

Whoopie Pie Ingredients:
¾ cup oleo (margarine)
1½ cups sugar
2 eggs
½ tsp vanilla
1½ cups milk
3 cups flour
¾ cup cocoa
¾ tsp baking powder
2 ¼ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt

Method:
In large bowl, cream oleo, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add milk slowly and mix well. Combined dry ingredients and stir into batter. Drop batter with small scoop onto greased cookie sheet and bake 15 minutes at 350° degrees. Cool, then fill with whoopie pie filling.

Whoopie Pie Filling Ingredients:
1 cup milk
6 tbsp flour
½ cup shortening
½ cup oleo (margarine)
1 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla

Method:
Cook milk and flour in saucepan until thickened. Cool, and beat in remaining ingredients. Beat until filling is light and fluffy.

Deb's Whoopie Pies

I'm not sure if you know about Whoopie Pies. I grew up with them in New England, and they seemed to have skipped over to Pennsylvania without much notoriety between the states or beyond. Please let me know where you're from and if you've ever had these creamy, chocolatey treats. Our neighbor Debbie just down the road from our place in Friendship, Maine shared her recipe for Whoopie Pies to be featured on Evenings With Peter. She doubles the whole shebang because people always want more! Thanks so much Debbie!

Deb's Whoopie Pies
Pies
Ingredients
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. flour
1/3 c. Hershey cocoa
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c. milk

Method
Oven 350 degrees
Beat shortening, sugar, egg and vanilla until fluffy. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add alternately with milk to shortening mixture. Drop dough by tspoons on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes or less depending how moist you want cookies.

Filling
Ingredients
4 TBS softened butter
4 TBS shortening
1 c. marshmallow creme or Fluff
1 1/3 c. confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method
Beat until fluffy. Cut your pies in half and slather on the filling for a perfect sandwich!