What is a Whoopie Pie?
A whoopie pie is simply two cookies held together with cream. A better word would be a sandwich cookie. Whoopie pies are commonly made with leftover cake batter.
A legend has it that its name came about when Amish mothers would bake and place the Whoopie pies in children’s school bags. The children shouted ‘whoopie’ with delight, upon finding them.
Why Oatmeal Whoopie Pie?
The most popular version of whoopie pie is the chocolate whoopie pie. Albeit, many versions and flavors have been invented by chefs over time.
During Whoopie Pie festivals or bake sales in Amish Countries, there are over 400 flavors of Whoopie Pies for you to sample and buy! The chocolate, pumpkin, and oatmeal whoopie pie flavors are my favorites.
The Amish Oatmeal Whoopie Pie is a simple one because we’ll be simply putting together two oatmeal cookies. In my homestead, oatmeal cookies are very common as they are very easy to make. To elevate the deliciousness of the simple oatmeal cookie: pair two cookies with some delicious cream of your choice.
Easy handling
Whenever we have to transport cake with frosting, we have to use special boxes to keep the cakes or cupcakes from being squished.
Whoopie pies are easier to handle because the frosting is in between two cake-like cookies. Whoopie pies make an amazing easy-to-carry work or school snack.
Amish Buttermilk Cookies Recipe
Why an Amish Whoopie pie recipe?
The Amish migrated to America in the 1800s, fleeing religious persecution in Europe. They found freedom of worship in America and settled in various states. The largest Amish settlements are found in Lancaster, PA. If you have never been to this place, you’d better plan a trip, it will be memorable.
The Amish Country is a beautiful place to be, you will enjoy the horse buggy rides, apple picking in the orchards, and buying handmade vintage craft items. Honestly, what sticks with me as a foodie is their simple yet very tasty cuisine.
Most Amish ladies are skilled cooks having made meals to be served after church services year after year.
This practice has made them perfect their culinary skills and ultimately open successful bakeries and restaurants. Some of their popular recipes are whoopie pies and shoofly pies.
This Amish recipe calls for ingredients that are commonly found in most of our pantries. The steps are easy to follow requiring minimal baking skills.
I am happy to share this great recipe that I adopted from one of my Amish and Mennonite cookbooks.
Amish Pretzels Recipe. Click to Read.
Ingredients And Substitutions
Quick oats
Quick oats are the primary ingredient in this recipe. Oats are cereal grains with a mild and nutty flavor. Quick oats add a coarse texture to the whoopie pies making them chewy when baked. Oats are nutritious grains rich in fiber and contain no gluten.
All-purpose flour
All-purpose flour is important as it provides the gluten that holds the oats in the dough together. This ingredient gives the Amish Oatmeal Whoopie pie the structure required.
Brown sugar
Brown sugar sweetens the Oatmeal Whoopie Pie as well and adds a tone of nostalgic molasses flavor. You can substitute brown sugar with regular white granulated sugar but whoopie pies will lose the attractive brown color.
Butter
Butter contributes to the moisture in the whoopie pie dough. It introduces a sweet milky aroma, giving the cookies a distinct taste. You can substitute butter with vegetable oil.
Eggs
Eggs enrich the cookies nutritionally, making them rise too.
Baking powder and baking powder
These are the leavening agents within the recipe, they react with other ingredients releasing carbon dioxide. The gas released gives the whoopie a light and crunchy texture.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has a lovely woody and sweet aroma that combines with any oats-containing recipe.
Nutmeg
Adding nutmeg to the Amish Oatmeal Whoopie Pie elevates the level of deliciousness. Nutmeg has a distinct woody and earthy aroma.
Cloves
Cloves are intensely aromatic with a subtly sweet flavor. Cloves possess a bitter undertone and therefore pair well with the cinnamon and nutmeg added to the Whoopie Pie dough.
Salt
Salt seasons the Whoopie Pie dough making a notable difference in the taste.
Butter
The butter is whipped to get fluffy and creamy.
Powdered sugar
Powdered sugar sweetens the frosting.
You are free to use your favorite frosting ingredients. Some of the ingredients that replace butter and powdered sugar are marshmallows, heavy cream, and white chocolate. The traditional recipes use raw egg whites but my people cannot stand raw eggs.
EQUIPMENT
Mixing bowls: are required to mix the wet and dry ingredients.
Handheld electric mixer or Stand mixer: is needed for efficiency during mixing. If you do not have the appliance at hand, a wooden spoon will work well too.
Ice cream scoop
Is an important tool that enables you to scoop out the same size of Amish Oatmeal Whoopie Pies.
Baking tray
The whoopie pies are baked in flat shallow baking trays.
Parchment paper
The parchment paper keeps the whoopie pies from sticking on the baking tray.
Measuring spoons and cups
Measuring equipment ensures you measure ingredients accurately.
FAQ Oatmeal Whoopie Pies
How can I keep my Amish Oatmeal Whoopie Pie fresh?
The Amish Oatmeal Whoopie pies can stay fresh in the refrigerator.
Wrap the Amish Whoopie pie with plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container. This is because of the filling that could melt if the temperatures in your kitchen increase.
Can I freeze my Amish Oatmeal Whoopie pie?
Yes, these frosted delights can freeze, wrap with parchment, and placed in a freezer bag. The Amish Whoopie Pie can stay in the freezer for 2 months. Thaw them overnight on the kitchen counter to enjoy them for breakfast.
What makes my Amish Oatmeal Whoopie pie spread too much during baking?
When you bake with butter, the Amish Oatmeal Whoopie Pies tend to spread more. You can fix this issue by chilling the whoopie pie dough for about 30 minutes before baking.
Expert Tips
Since you will be pairing Oatmeal cookies, it is important to have almost the same-sized Amish Whoopie Pies. Use an ice cream to scoop the same amount of whoopie pie dough onto the baking tray.
Always measure the ingredients accurately. Use a bread knife to level out the dry ingredients after scooping them from the packet or container.
Inaccurate measurements will affect the result of the Amish Oatmeal Whoopie Pie.
Also, check out: Amish Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
How to prepare the Buttercream frosting
In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla flavor. Add a little heavy cream as you watch the consistency.
Assembling the Amish Oatmeal Whoopie Pie
- Once the whoopie pies have cooled completely, fill the piping bag with the buttercream.
- Pipe the buttercream onto the flat side of one Amish Oatmeal Whoopie Pie, and place the other Whoopie Pie on the buttercream. Repeat the process until all the whoopie pies are paired.
- Wrap the Amish Oatmeal whoopie pies with plastic wrap if you plan to transport or give them as a gift.
- Enjoy the Amish Oatmeal Whoopie Pies with a cup of coffee for breakfast or dessert on a special night.
Amish Oatmeal Whoopie Pie
Ingredients
- 2 cups Quick oats
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 ¾ cup Brown sugar
- 1 cup Sugar
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 teaspoon Baking soda
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon Cloves
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ cup Butter
- 2 cups Powdered sugar
Instructions
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper or grease with butter and lightly flour and set aside. A cookie sheet would be great as you will simply place cookie dough on the markings.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add the eggs, and vanilla extract, and mix until thoroughly combined using an electric hand mixer.
- Add flour, rolled oats, baking powder, and spices to the egg and butter mixture. Add the granulated sugar and mix with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until the wet ingredients and dry ingredients are combined. (You could use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on)
- Cover the bowl with cling film and refrigerate the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes.
- Once the dough has chilled, scoop it with a tablespoon or an ice cream scoop and form small balls.
- Place the balls on the baking tray lined with parchment paper ensuring a spacing of 1.5m apart. This will allow room for whoopie pies to spread without touching.
- Bake in an oven at 350F for 12 to 15 minutes until they are slightly golden brown.
- Remove the Oatmeal Whoopie pies from the oven and let them cool on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Move the baking tray from the cooling rack and place the cookies directly on the cooling rack.
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