Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. Today I’m excited to report that the release date for the second book in my Amish of Hope’s Haven series, Her Amish Springtime Miracle, is almost here! It will hit the shelves on May 24th. This book features the youngest of the three Eicher sisters, Hannah, who happens to work in a bakery.
One of her specialties is Whoopie Pies. And it turns out they are the hero’s favorite treat. However he’ll only eat the chocolate ones with white filling and the heroine makes it a mission of sorts to try to get the hero to try one of her other flavors.
Since the whoopie pies play a role in this book, I thought it would be fun to share a bit of trivia about these yummy pastries.
But first of all, for the uninitiated, a traditional whoopie pie is a delicious dessert sandwich made by taking a fluffy white marshmallow-y filling and placing it between two domed chocolate bun-sized cakes.
Now, on to the trivia:
- The whoopie pie goes by several other names. Among them are a gob, a bob, a black and white, and “BFO,” which stands for Big Fat Oreo or Big Fluffy Oreo.
- You can actually buy whoopie pie baking pans.
- The record for the world’s largest whoopie pie is one that weighed in at 1,062 pounds. It was made on March 26, 2011 in South Portland, Maine. The record setting pastry was cut in pieces which were sold and the proceeds helped send pies to soldiers serving overseas.
- There are 5 states that lay claim to have been thee birthplace of the whoopie pie:
- Pennsylvania – they claim the whoopie pie recipe comes from the Pennsylvania German culture and that it has been handed down through many generations
- Maine – Labadie’s Bakery in Lewiston, Maine has been making them since 1925
- Massachusetts – Berwick Cake Company of Roxbury, Massachusetts, which is sadly no longer in business, had them on the menu in the 1920s
- There have also been claims from Virginia and New Hampshire but I couldn’t find any info on what these claims were based on
- There are two theories on where the name whoopie pie came from
- The first, put forth by those who support the Pennsylvania claim, is that Amish housewives would bake these and put them in her family’s lunch pails. And when the lucky farmer or schoolkid would find them they would yell “Whopee!”
- The second, put forth by those who support other claims, is that it came from the 1928 Gus Kahn song, “Makin’ Whoopie.”
- Maine has declared the third Saturday in June to be the state’s official Whoopie Pie Day. There is also a Whoopie Pie Festival in September that is held in Piscataquis County
- There have been two whoopie pie inspired ice creams by national brands. Ben & Jerry created Makin’ Whoopie Pie in 2002 (it has since been discontinued) and Turkey Hill has a limited edition version.
Back to my book – some of the flavors Hannah tried tto tempt Mike with were
- chocolate whoopie pies with a special mixed- berry filling
- chocolate whoopie pies with strawberry cream filling
- lemon whoopie pie with cream cheese filling
If you could develop your own flavor for a whoopie pie, what would it be?
Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for an advanced copy of Her Amish Springtime Miracle.
An orphaned baby brings together an unlikely couple who learn the true meaning of family.
When Hannah Eicher discovered sweet baby Grace in her barn last spring, the adorable infant seemed like the answer to her prayers. The young Amish baker has always wanted a familye of her own and now that she’s fostered Grace for nearly a year, her adoption application is almost certain to be approved. But an unexpected visitor to Hope’s Haven could change everything . . .
Englischer paramedic Mike Colder is only returning to his childhood hometown to locate and adopt his late sister’s baby. But when the trail leads to Hannah and Grace, Mike’s determination falters. With Hannah, the simple life he left behind suddenly seems appealing. Despite their wildly different worlds, can Mike and Hannah give each other—and Grace—the greatest gift of all: a life together?
You can preorder HERE
Winnie Griggs is the author of Historical (and occasionally Contemporary) romances that focus on Small Towns, Big Hearts, Amazing Grace. She is also a list maker, a lover of dragonflies and holds an advanced degree in the art of procrastination.
Three of Winnie’s books have been nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and one of those nominations resulted in a win.
Winnie loves to hear from readers. You can connect with her on facebook at www.facebook.com/WinnieGriggs.Author or email her at winnie@winniegriggs.com.
A Black Forest Whoopie Pie with cherry filling.
Oh yum! That sounds fabulous.
I’m a traditionalist and prefer the chocolate Whoopie Pies. But, I’ve eaten chocolate with peanut butter filling, lemon with cream filling, lime with cream filling, red velvet with cream filling, and pumpkin with cream filling.
The competing fillings are buttercream and a marshmallow cream. Lancaster County leans toward buttercream and New England leans toward marshmallow cream-based.
Lancaster County has an annual festival.
You don’t need a special pan to make them–they come out fine without it.
Lancaster County has the best Whoopie Pies!
The Turkey Hill ice cream is yummy and made in Lancaster County!
Wow! Sounds like you know quite a bit on the subject.
I have had a lot of experience eating them since childhood.
(I, too, have written a blog post about them for a friend’s lifestyle blog. 😉 )
Orange whoopie pie with pineapple filling
Sounds very tropical. 🙂
I would like red velvet with cream cheese filling.
Yes! And I’ve seen recipes for those.
Winnie, what fun! I love Whoopie Pies. Had to cut back in recent years for health concerns, but they are great when I’m in the mood to indulge.
I tend to go with the Maine theory, but that’s probably because I’m from New England and I’ve heard the Maine theory all my life. Massachusetts lays claim to the chocolate-chip cookie.
Best wishes on your new release.
Thanks for the well wishes and I consider them an indulgence as well!
peanut butter with grape jelly
Interesting combo. I’m more of a pb and chocolate person myself 🙂
Chocolate with buttercream filling
Classic!
red velvet or carrot cake with cream cheese filling!
A proven pairing!
I’d go with chocolate and a peanut butter filling. You can’t go wrong with peanut butter!
I agree!
I guess I’d like the traditional Whoopie pie the best! However, I love the sound of an orange sherbet with pineapple filling…yummy!! I sure do wish to win a copy of this fabulous sounding book! I want to read it so badly! ??????
And that’s why it’s a number one favorite 🙂
How about cinnamon cake with chai spice filling?
Ooooh, that does sound good
I’m not much for chocolate but I do like it with peanut butter!
You can definitely find something like that out there
Chocolate chip cookie dough.
Agree!
Chocolate with buttercream filling or Chocolate with peach filling. Her Amish Springtime Miracle sounds wonderful.
Ohhhh, I’ve never heard of peach filling before – that sounds very decadent!
I guess I would have to go with a vanilla with a blueberry filling.
Another new combo! It has a very breakfasty vibe 🙂
I would like to see a spice cake version with a light cream cheese frosting filling.
Ooooh, that does sound yummy!!
I love chocolate. I would go with some sort of chocolate cream filling.
How about double chocolate – chocolate cake with chocolate cream 🙂
Sounds really good.
Chocolate with a cookies and cream filling.
Yummy!!
I would love vanilla cake with a cinnamon sugar cream filling. It reminds me of a snickerdoodle.
Ooooh snickerdoodle whoopie pie – great mash up!
As I Love Blueberry I think Blueberry Cheesecake would be amazing in a Whoopie Pie! Thank you Winnie for this amazing post!
That does sound yummy!