Well, what do you know…. the little hint of itchy throat (or sandy, as previously mentioned) has now turned into a full blown tonsilitis. Just grand. I might have to turn up for my rehearsal tomorrow wearing a mask, quite unlike the inconsiderate unknown person who’s passed his/her germs to me. mmm-hmmph. Not happy, Jan.
And there began the intensive workout of my stoves. Chicken soup one side, congee another. And propped on the other side of the kitchen, my electric mixer, mixing bowls and various baking ingredients. Someone stop me before I cover my apartment with baked goods!
To be fair, slaving away in the kitchen IS definitely the better option, considering the other involves bed and….. lack of entertainment as my iPad’s broken (there goes everything I downloaded including 500+ books), and I’ve finished all the books at home, most of them more than once. Woe is me etc.
Which is why I’ve managed to bake these Whoopie Pies as part of the Bake Along hosted by Joyce from Kitchen Flavours and Lena from Frozen wings and Zoe from Bake for Happy Kids.
I’ve never eaten a whoopie pie before but I know they are somewhat a cross between cake and biscuits. A lot of the recipes I came across are either chocolate or red velvet (also uses cocoa powder). Having anything chocolate would be the worst idea for my throat so I’ve decided on a fruity combination: Lemon and Strawberries. The recipe I’ve used come from Martha Stewart, though it’s a raspberry version. Simple, just swap the fruits!
Coincidentally, my sister have been baking macarons this weekend and we were both tracking our progress through Whatsapp. The wonders of technology.
Recipe from Martha Stewart
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup light-brown sugar
Zest of 2 lemons
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1 cup whole milk
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup fresh strawberries
Before I proceed I shall mention that I bloody hate using the big grater, be it to zest lemons or grate vegetables. I almost always take some part of my knuckles away. Avert your eyes if you must.
Anyway…. let’s make some whoopie pies!
Preheat oven to 170 degree Celsius. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter, almost 1 cup of sugar (with 3 tablespoons reserved for the filling), and lemon zest until light and creamy. Add vanilla and egg and beat to combine, scraping down bowl as needed.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With mixer on low, beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with milk and ending with flour mixture (scrape bowl as needed). Beat well to combine.
Drop batter in 2-tablespoon mounds, about 2 inches apart, onto two parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until puffed and pale golden around edges, 17 to 19 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cakes cool completely on sheets on wire racks.
In a large bowl, whip cream and 3 tablespoons brown sugar to soft peaks. In a small bowl, mash raspberries with a fork, then fold into whipped cream. Divide raspberry cream evenly among bottoms of half the cakes, then sandwich with remaining cakes.
My first batch (being slightly generous with the 2 tablespoons) turned out soooo big!! For the second batch I’ve the mixture by nearly half and yield normal size whoopie pie shells.
I wonder why my whoopie pie came out a little flat, if it’s because I’ve reduced the sugar content? My sister’s macaron first came out flat too because she had forgotten to add the powder sugar. Maybe I should also reduce the milk next time for a thicker batter. Nevertheless, the taste was everything I expected, with strong citrus scent and lovely light strawberry cream. Frank devoured 4 of those large ones at one go. I mean, that must be a record.
I shall end the post with a public display of my tooth marks. Things you do for the blog etc.
I promise to return to my cheerful self when I get rid of my tonsil… I mean, when I get better. In the meantime, do check out all the other delicious whoopie pies from the Bake Along participants!
Kelly Siew Cooks 
Oh yeah, did u see that some of the other girls used a whoopie pan hence they had a fatter whoopie? I also think the mixture needs to be thicker to get that effect. Haha only way to find out is to try again!
Btw I would love to try this lemon- strawberry ones, I think my kiddies will like it!
Yeah I think that my batter was definitely on the runny side. And yes I did see that whoopie pan and I want one!
Strawberry and Lemon, a winning combo!!!
Indeed!!! I’ve always loved fruity desserts.
Ahh I see you do love lemon, hehe. I’ve never ever tried a whoopie, though I may have to now! 🙂 lovely!
Heheheh I’m going to tackle the lemon meringue macarons after seeing yours! But some intense study has to be done first. And I better go get a kitchen scale..
Love the flavors of lemon and strawberry in one whoopee pie! Hope your finger heals soon. Take care.
Oh no! you poor thing!! But I like that you are keeping busy instead of becoming a vegetable in bed… that can get boring after a while!!
These looks fantastic! Need to try making whoopies again 🙂
Hehe… Yeah… Normally people lose weight when they are sick, I think I’m putting on weight!
hi kelly, actually from the look of your whoopie pies , i dont see that they are really flat. They look fantastic! i was just comparing the flour and liquid amount of yours and mine, i see that you hv more liquid , about 3/4 cup more so i’m not sure is it really that runny that you said that it comes out flat but glad to know that your frank had enjoyed eating these! it must be really good! the next time i make, i will make a different recipe with another flavour. Thanks for joining and hope your throat gets better..also your finger!
3/4 cup is quite a lot! I guess I’ll pay attention to the liquid next time!
What flat ?! 😀 I guess you’ve already seen mine ! lol Your pies look fab ! And such a lovely combo , lemon and strawberries !
Hope you’ll feel better before that rehearsal !
Thank you! Yours are the opposite of flat! All gloriously rounded!
Lovely combination! I dont think yours are flat. Looks super to me.
Hope you are feeling better. And of course do get a kitchen scale first. It will make life much easier…believe me 😀
Haha thanks for making me feel better!
Hi Kelly,
Your whoopie pies looks wonderful with the strawberry lemon filling! Sorry about your finger, ouch!! Get a smaller grater, I bought one from Ikea for less than RM8, but then that was years ago!! The small grater is great for zesting lemons, and since we bake very often, it is a good investment!!
Hope your throat gets better soon!
Thank you for baking along with us!
Yeah! Was looking at microplane grater just then and will definitely get one next groceries trip!
I too have the same experience every time I grate something! Really should get a microplane lol! Your whoopie pies have lovely combination of flavors! I bet they are delcious! Hope you get well soon!
Hahahaha so I’m not the only clumsy one 😛
They are quite good indeed. Especially that strawberry cream. I want to use them for scones too!
Thanks for the wishes!
nice-looking pies! i like how the soft filling is oozing out! the only places i remember in kl that sell whoopie pies are deliciously chocolate at menara imc and butter tree at section 17, but the filling at those outlets is not as creamy as i’d love it to be!
p.s. hope you feel better in the morning! 😀
I actually add more cream when I eat them. Yum yum!! 😀
Your strawberry whoppie pies look fantastic.
My son loves eating strawberry and now we are all hooked on eating whoopie pies, he will be extremely happy if I bake these strawberry whoopie pie for him.
Poor Kelly, hope that your finger heal better now 😀
The strawberry cream itself is so delightful I would make it next time for scones too! Couldn’t help piling on extra cream with the whoopie pies! My knuckles are now healed thank you very much!
Love your fruity combo! Looks FAB!
Thanks so much!
yum yum… great idea to mix in fresh strawberries in the whoopie pies 🙂
grater is my enemy too, especially the small one, hope ur finger is ok 🙂
Oh dear… The smaller one too? I think I need to hire someone to do this job for me next time!
That happened to me before. Worst for me as I will cut myself when I used the sharp object for the first time.. back to this lovely pie, they are fantastic: )
YUM! Lovely whoopie pies & the strawberry cream filling looks so tempting! I love the idea of using fresh strawberries in the cream. I don’t think they look flat , mine it’s way too thick like a burger bread! LOL Ya, I’m quite clumsy with grater & tried to avoid using it if I can. Hope you’ll get well soon & nice to know you thru Bake Along; Have a lovely day, Kelly! 🙂
I think thick ones are cuter hehe!! Glad to know I’m not the only one who’s clumsy!
You really need to do this again. I was in heaven.
We’ll buy more lemons!