 Chocolate and raspberry are just one of the whoopie pie flavor choices. Photo courtesy of WannaHavaCookie.
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KAREN HOCHMAN is Editorial Director of THE NIBBLE.
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August 2009
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The Gourmet Whoopie Pie
Exciting Choices From WannaHavaCookie
CAPSULE REPORT: The ubiquitous whoopie pie has been transformed into something exciting by WannaHavaCookie. In splashy and delicious flavor combinations, there’s another benefit: small size. You can enjoy a few bites of whoopie pie more often, without the guilt. Another idea: party favors!
Overview
The whoopie pie, actually a sandwich cookie, is attributed to an unknown Pennsylvania Amish woman, who first conceived of sandwiching two round, mound-shaped pieces of chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. As the story is variously told, the Amish housewives would bake these treats and put them in their farmer husbands’ (or children’s) lunch boxes. When the lucky recipients would discover what was for dessert, they would shout “whoopie!”
 The whoopie pie, also made with pumpkin cake, migrated to New England and became a phenomenon, made in as many flavors as bakers could imagine (see our review of Maine’s Wicked Whoopie Pies). In terms of making whoopie, Marisa Angebranndt’s whoopie pies, sold under the WannaHavaCookie brand, are our favorite to date.
Don’t like chocolate? Have a vanilla or
red velvet whoopie pie, with your choice
of four different buttercream fillings.
First, Marisa is an artisan baker, using the best ingredients and preparing everything in small batches to order. Second, she wisely makes mini-whoopies, just two inches in diameter (although, handmade, some approach three inches), so one’s treat doesn’t have to tip the scale as they do with some supersized whoopie pies.
But for excitement, Marisa works in three cake flavors and five different fillings. That’s 15 different options. Who wouldn’t say Whoopie!?
Whoopie Pie Flavors
Pick Your Cookie Flavor
The first thing you need to do is make a choice of cookie. Or, you could order one of everything and skip this step.
- Chocolate Cookie
- Red Velvet Cookie
- Vanilla Cookie
The cookie layers are moist and fragrant, a cross between a tender cake and a firmer muffin. Marisa’s red velvet is a delight and one of the best we’ve tasted; we typically find the red velvet category to be much ado about nothing. |
Red Velvet Whoopie Pie with chocolate filling. Be sure to try the Red Velvet with raspberry buttercream, too. |
Pick Your Filling
The distinction between these whoopie pies and all others we’ve tasted is the excellent buttercream center. Most whoopies pride themselves on not using buttercream—i.e., using an “authentic” shortening-based filling. Some of these are better than others, but none can match a buttercream. Take your pick:
- Chocolate Buttercream
- Mint Buttercream
- Peanut Butter Buttercream
- Raspberry Buttercream
- Vanilla Buttercream
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Chocolate Whoopie Pie with peanut butter buttercream. This is a tough category; the only solution is to try all the fillings. |
When you have 15 combinations, you can’t take someone else’s word for what the best ones are. The best is what you like (we love mint and peanut butter, for example, and other people don’t). Have fun figuring out which you prefer by ordering the minimum six of each flavor. In case a bell hasn’t rung, this is a memorable party concept. Each whoopie can be split into quarters, so 24 people can participate in the tasting (or fewer people can have larger portions).
These mini whoopie pies make great:
- Party food (reason enough to have a tea party)
- Party favors (fun wedding favors!)
- General gifts (for adults and kids alike)
- Corporate gifts (you can send enough for everyone in the office)
While “WannaHavaCookie” seems like a question, there’s no question here—go for it!
WANNAHAVACOOKIE
Miniature Whoopie Pies
- Whoopie Pies
1/2 Dozen- $9.00
1 Dozen- $18.00
2 Dozen- $36.00
3 Dozen - $54.00
4 Dozen - $72.00
5 Dozen - $90.00
Purchase online* at
WannaHavaCookie.com
*Prices and product availability are verified at publication but are subject to change. Shipping is additional. These items are offered by a third party and THE NIBBLE has no relationship with them. Purchase information is provided as a reader convenience.
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It’s O.K. to shout “Whoopie!” when you get a box as a gift. |
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