Vegan Gingerbread Whoopie Pies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Maine and Pennsylvania whoopie pies? ›

Experts agree that the biggest difference between a Maine whoopie pie and a Pennsylvania gob is the use of commercial marshmallow Fluff in the Maine version, versus homemade marshmallow fluff in the Amish version.

Ingredients for Whoopie Pie Marshmallow Cream Filling:

Marshmallow Creme or Marshmallow Fluff work here. Marshmallow creme has a slightly thinner consistency than fluff, so you may need to add a bit more powdered sugar to sufficiently stiffen it up. Butter – This helps create the creamy filling.

Whoopie Pie vs Moon Pie - Let's start by clearing up a common misperception: Whoopie Pies are not the same thing as a Moon Pie. A traditional moon pie has marshmallow filling sandwiched between graham cracker cookies, and then dipped in chocolate. Sounds good...but it's definitely not a Whoopie!

Outer Layers: The cakey, soft outer layers of a Whoopie Pie are primarily made from flour, sugar, eggs, cocoa powder (for a chocolate whoopie), and buttermilk or similar. These ingredients contribute to the overall calorie count of the dessert.

Gob [the term indigenous to the Pittsburgh region] has been trademarked by the Dutch Maid Bakery in Johnstown. The owner, Tim Yost, bought the rights to the name and the process in 1980.

The clear winner for the United States as a whole was (not surprisingly) apple pie with more than 27% of sales going to the traditional flavor.

It's commonly believed that this tasty treat, also known as gobs, moon pies, and black-and-whites, developed out of an Amish recipe. The story goes that Amish cooks in colonial America would use leftover batter from making cakes to make these small handheld cake sandwiches.

Whoopie pies can come out flat for a few reasons. The main reason is over mixing the cake batter.

Store the finished whoopie pies in an airtight container. I usually keep them in the fridge (see previous bullet), but many filling/cake combos would be fine at room temperature. I find that after 3 to 5 days they've usually dried out a bit, but they generally keep pretty well.

In 2011, the Maine State Legislature designated the whoopie pie as Maine's official state treat. This confection traditionally consists of two chocolate cake-like rounds surrounding a white cream filling. The popular treat is reported to have been baked in Maine since 1925.

Why are whoopie pies called gobs? ›

This is how the treats gained popularity. Susan Kalcik, a folklorist with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Committee in Johnstown said, “I'm convinced that the name gob is related to the coal mines. Lumps of coal refuse were called gob piles. These working people adapted the name to the dessert.”

In 2011, the Maine State Legislature designated blueberry pie, made with wild Maine Blueberries, as the official state dessert. Wild blueberries are harvested from late July to early September in Maine.

Kaiserschmarrn, Kaisergarten, Munich, Germany — 1,110 calories per serving. Kaiserschmarrn — translated as "emperor's mess" — is an Austrian dessert consisting of shredded pancake with plenty of sweet dipping sauce.

Once the cake mounds have cooled completely, prepare the filling by combining the marshmallow fluff, confectioners' sugar, shortening and vanilla extract in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix until completely combined. Add milk as necessary to get to a soft (but not too soft consistency.)

But the apple pie takes the cake when it comes to fiber and potassium, and it has less added sugar. So what's a pie aficionado to do? Well, if you want to consume fewer calories, go for the pumpkin—it almost always has fewer because of the single crust. You could also take a sliver of both pies.

In 2011, the Maine State Legislature designated the whoopie pie as Maine's official state treat. This confection traditionally consists of two chocolate cake-like rounds surrounding a white cream filling. The popular treat is reported to have been baked in Maine since 1925.

Regardless of its exact origins, the whoopie pie quickly became a popular dessert throughout the Northeast, especially in states like Maine, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. They were sold in bakeries, diners, and even gas stations, and they quickly became a staple at school bake sales and church picnics.

Shoofly Pie Summation

Whether you're a die-hard shoofly pie fan or simply curious about the history of one of Pennsylvania's most iconic desserts, there's no denying that this sweet and sticky treat has left a mark on the culinary landscape of Lancaster County.

Described as a “New England phenomenon and a Pennsylvania Amish tradition,” whoopie pie historians have decided that it has its origins in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country (think Lancaster County).