By Ashley McIlwain

Having grown up in Central Pennsylvania, I am a country girl at heart. While living there, I didn’t always appreciate the small town environment, in fact, I downright hated it, but now that I live in the crazy, chaotic, and crowded Southern California, I can look back with clarity and admiration for a lot of the things I grew up with. Running into friends at the grocery store who stop you for an impromptu chat, the fact that nothing ever really changes, churches with steeples, mom and pop shops, beautiful scenery, no traffic, people sitting on their porches, a family-friendly environment, and somewhat innocence overall.  Once irritating, these things are now endearing and desirable.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Southern California which has its own set of perks, but there really is no place like home. I can’t always get back to Central Pennsylvania, but I do bridge the gap the best I can. One such way is by baking what are known as whoopie pies. These Lancaster County originals bring back little bits of my childhood with each bite. When we were kids, we would go to the Amish market about an hour away in Bellville, PA, and pick these up scarfing them down as we perused the fresh produce. My mom used to make them quite often too, and I can still smell the wafts of chocolate and sugar in my mind.

Whoopie pies are the perfect combination of comfort food, sweetness, and homemade goodness. Two chocolate, cake-like cookies stuck together with a sweet, creamy icing. They are soft, sweet, and a taste of home. My hope is that, whether from Pennsylvania or not, that you too will enjoy this tasty and delectable treat while making memories of your own with your loved ones. It’s amazing how things like food can hold so much meaning and fondness. Perhaps one day you too will be able to look back while enjoying a bite of yumminess and remember all of the precious moments you shared with those you loved.

Whoopie Pies

WhoopiePie3

Cookie Ingredients

  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 cup cocoa
  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 1 cup of shortening
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 2 teaspoons of vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 1 cup of warm water

Preparing the Cookies:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2.  In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, cocoa, and baking soda. Mix and set aside.

3. In another bowl, combine the sugar, shortening and eggs. Beat for about two minutes.

4. Mix the dry ingredients with the egg mixture and add the warm water and milk and beat at a medium speed for two to three minutes.

5. Add the vanilla and beat until the ingredients are thoroughly blended.

6. Bake the batter as drop cookies. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased non-stick cookie sheets.

7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the center of the cookies spring back when lightly pressed.

8. Remove from the cookie sheets and cool a wire rack.

WhoopiePie1

Frosting Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ sticks butter (softened)
  • ¼ cup Crisco
  • 6 Tbs. milk
  • ½ bag of powdered sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla

Frosting Instructions:

  1. Mix together all ingredients until combined and fluffy.

Assembling Whoopie Pies:

  1. Take one cookie and slather a good amount of icing onto the flat side.
  2. Sandwich with the flat side of a second plain cookie.
  3. Wrap each one individually in cling wrap to keep them from sticking to one another.

WhoopiePie2

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