German Chocolate Whoopie Pies

If I had a dollar for every Klutzy thing I did I would be a wealthy woman.

This week I get to add 3 new accomplishments to my Klutzy list.

1.  While cleaning my bedroom I stepped on a plastic hanger, broke the hanger, decided to kick it to the side, in retribution the hanger decided to slice my toe open.  Stupid hanger...I knew I hated hanging things on you for a reason.  Don't clean your room, it will only get dirty again.


2.  Trying to get out of a small parking lot full of pretentious people I backed my Mom's Lexus up into another Lexus.  Screaming ensued, not by me.  I panicked.  Made someone else drive.  That was one 5 point turn I was never going to make.  Pretty sure this means I am banned for life from the Lexus...in all fairness everyone was well aware of the fact that I am a bad driver.

3.  I was taking pictures of these lovely whoopie pies and I got caught on a loose nail sticking out of a chair...not my favorite shorts, please no...hello rip, goodbye shorts...rips.

Which leads me to these pies.  Word on the street is that Whoopie Pies are after the top dog position and are trying to push Cupcakes over the hill.  Technically these are basically cupcakes in a different form, but I would be happy with anything crushing the cupcakes to the ground.  Too much?  Well, that is how I feel about cupcakes.


I do love Whoopie Pies...sometimes...when they meet this basic criteria:

1.  No shortening
2.  No marshmallow or fluff
3.  No fakeness
4.  Not too sweet
5.  Not soggy

Do you know what a Whoopie pie is?

1.  Basically too pieces of cake like but cookie shaped masses sandwiched between a creamy filling
2.  The Amish call them "Hucklebucks", and the men would shout "Whoopie" when they found them in their lunch pails
3.  They are the official State treat of Maine
4.  People from New England are kind of obsessed with them

Last week we had a guest over for dinner so I decided to make pumpkin whoopie pies, they were awesome.  So this week I decided to make German Chocolate Whoopie Pies, they were awesome, so I am posting the recipe.  I now understand why Amish men shouted "Whoopie", I feel like maybe I was meant to be an Amishanian as well.  Eat these pies, shout "Whoopie", and you too will understand.

German Chocolate Whoopie Pies

adapted from a few recipes from Food and Wine and Epicurious

yields about 32 whoopie pies

Make the filling:

Measure out all the ingredients first, because once you add sugar to egg yolks you must constantly stir to prevent permanent clumping.  

2 large egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup evaporated milk

3 TBS unsalted butter

1 cup unsweetened coconut, optionally toasted

1 cup chopped pecans, optionally toasted

3/4 tsp vanilla

In a heavy medium saucepan, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. Whisk in the evaporated milk and then the butter. Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and lightly coats a spoon, about 10 minutes; do not let it boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the coconut, pecans, and vanilla. Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely. 

Make the Cakes: 

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup well-shaken buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 large egg

                                                                Preheat oven to 350°F.

Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl until combined. Stir together buttermilk and vanilla in a small bowl.  Beat together butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes, then add egg, beating until combined well. Reduce speed to low and alternately mix in flour mixture and buttermilk in batches, scrape down bowl in between additions. 

 Scoop out about tablespoons of batter onto parchment lined pans, leaving 2-3" of space in between each cookie.  Bake 10-12 minutes until cooked through, and when the tops spring back lightly when touched.  Cool completely.

Make Ganache:

1/2 cup heavy cream

4 oz chocolate, I used semi sweet but you can use whatever you like or have

Bring cream to a boil, as soon as it boils remove from heat and pour over chocolate.  Stir to loosely combine, let sit 1 minute, then whisk until smooth.  Put in fridge for ten minutes, stir, set on counter.

Assemble the Whoopie Pies:

Take 2 pieces of the cake/cookies.  Flip flat side up on both.  On one piece spoon one tsp of ganache.  On other piece spoon one tablespoon filling.  Sandwich together.  Voila, whoopie pies!