Grandma Pearl's Whoopie Pies From Scratch are two soft, pillowy chocolate cookies filled with a "miracle frosting" that's a New England classic made from Grandma's tried and true recipe!
Guys. I have Valentine's Day treat for you, today, Grandma Pearl's Whoopie Pies From Scratch! A tried and true recipe from a Grandma passed down from generation to generation, but they're not from my grandma, they're from my best friend Holly's Grandma Pearl who was a 7th generation Vermonter who grew up on a dairy farm. Now if that doesn't prove these are the best of the best when it comes to this New England classic, I don't know what will! I was sooooo honored that Holly wanted to share her Grandma Pearl's Whoopie Pies recipe with you all! These delicious pies of soft pillowy sweet chocolate cookies of New England heaven are super easy to make and so so soooooo delicious! Even better, guests of the Sinclair Inn in Jericho, Vermont may get these as a sweet check-in treat!
Ingredients Needed
- Flour - All purpose is the best for these. Because let's be honest, back when Grandma Pearl was around, they didn't have gluten-free flour.
- Unsweetened Cocoa - We prefer a dutched cocoa for this recipe because it tends to have a stronger "chocolately" flavor. But a natural non-dutch cocoa will work too.
- Sugar - Just good ol' granulated sugar. And plenty of it!
- Butter AND Crisco - Yup, this classic Grandma recipe has both! And plenty of it!
- Egg - Just one for the pie part of the whoopies.
- Vanilla Extract - Some for the pie and the Miracle Frosting.
- Baking Soda - Just a little for just a little leavening.
Miracle Frosting
The first step to Grandma Pearl's incredible New England classic is the Miracle Frosting. What makes it a miracle? The fact that it has so much butter and Crisco in it. This frosting is unlike any other of our standard frostings because it starts with heating and thickening some milk and flour together in a pan and then letting it cool in the fridge.
Then there's a lot of blending with a hand mixer. Truly, you don't want to do this without one, or at least with a stand mixer and the paddle attachment.
Make the Pies
For the pies, it's more Crisco (surprise!), and a mixture of the dry ingredients with some egg.
All mixed together to create a super chocolately pie batter for the "pie" of the whoopie!
Baked and Stuffed
Baked for just a few minutes and then you have soft pillowy round pies to stuff that Miracle Frosting in between for Grandma Pearl's Whoopie Pies From Scratch!
See that chocolate cookie? It's super soft and just subtly sweet. But that frosting - that Miracle Frosting - ooh my goodness it is pure sweet deliciousness and the perfect balance for the chocolate!
Together, heaven. They're soft and have just the right amount of sweetness. And soooo New England. As Holly says, you know you're in Vermont when they're selling Green Mountain Coffee and Whoopie Pies at the gas station.
Happy Valentine's Day, friends! Or if that's not your thing, happy late Galentine's Day or (my favorite) Happy Early Super Duper Cheap Chocolate at the Grocery Store Day! 😉
Don't forget to share your photos and comments with me when on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest when you make these classic whoopie pies! I love to hear about it - and even more importantly, I'd love to share it with Holly and her family to make Grandma Pearl proud!
Grandma Pearl's Whoopie Pies From Scratch
Equipment
Ingredients
Whoopie Pies
- 6 tablespoons crisco
- 1 cup sugar 200 grams
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk 1% or 2%
- 2 cups all purpose flour 250 grams
- 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 30 grams
- 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 7 grams
Miracle Frosting
- 4 tablespoons flour 31 grams
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup crisco
- 1 cup sugar 200 grams
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease 2 large baking sheets and set aside.
To Make Miracle Frosting
- Mix flour and milk together in a medium sauce pan and heat slowly, stirring constantly until it begins to thicken. Thicken until it's the consistency of heavy cream.
- Put immediately in the fridge to cool.
- With a hand mixer, in a large bowl whip butter for 4 minutes.
- Add Crisco and whip for 4 minutes.
- Add sugar and whip for 4 minutes.
- Once the flour and mix mixture has cooled, add the Crisco and sugar mixture and and whip it all together for 4 minutes.
To Make Pies
- In a large bowl cream together Crisco and sugar. Add egg, vanilla, and milk and mix together until well combined.
- In a separate medium sized bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, baking soda.
- Mix dry ingredients into bowl with creamed ingredients.
- Scoop 1/4 cup of batter onto greased baking sheets, leaving plenty of room - 2 -3 inches between each scoop. The batter will spread!
- Bake for 8 - 10 minutes. Then remove from sheet and let cool.
- Assemble the pies by spreading a thick layer of frosting on one pie and then topping with a second.
- Enjoy!!
Traci
How cute are these?! Whoopie pies are a dessert I've never made, but this recipe makes them so easy and fun! Thanks for sharing another winner, Tracy 🙂
Tracy
Thanks, Traci!
Dana
I can't even believe these take 30 minutes to make! They're adorable and absolutely delicious. I mean, any recipe from a Grandmother is legit. There's no contest.
So glad you've got your BFF so close by again! Gosh. My childhood BFF is living in Australia. I can dream… lol.
Tracy
Sounds like a great excuse to head to Australia! 😉
Annemarie
How can you go wrong with Miracle frosting? Or a recipe by grandma (even someone else's grandma 🙂 )? I'm a New England girl, so whoopie pies are near and dear to my heart, and I love these! Now I just need some Green Mountain coffee...
Tracy
Thank you from one New England girl to another, Annemarie! 😉
Charity
Holly is obviously a great friend! How sweet of her to share her grandma's recipe with you and by extension, all of us! I bought a whoopie pie pan at the Williams-Sonoma outlet and haven't used it yet. Now I have an heirloom recipe to try. Thanks for sharing!
Tracy
She is!! Wait whaaaaa Willams-Sonoma has a whoopie pie PAN!?! I'm immediately googling it and buying it!!
Debra
Where to begin? Vanilla extract from scratch, who knew? Grandmas special recipe? I'm in. Chocolate and whipped gooey insides? Wow. You're hitting on all cylinders.
Tracy
Thanks, Debra!
Helen of Fuss Free Flavours
Traditional recipes, even from other people's Grandmothers are wonderful. I love that these age old recipes get passed on and appreciated by the next generation. This is a great recipe, perfect for any time to just enjoy a sweet treat, and ideal for sharing.
Julie Menghini
Family recipes are the best! I grew up adoring Whoopie pies but they were a special treat that we didn't get very often and they were never homemade. I can't wait to make these little pies with my granddaughter. Kitchen times make the best memories especially when chocolate and frosting are included. Now I need to jump over and get that extract recipe!
Tracy
They absolutely are, Julie! Oh how fun they'll be to make with your granddaughter - memories she'll treasure forever! <3
Tanza Erlambang
delicious...love it
Gloria
Well, you can never go wrong with a recipe from "grandma". They knew a thing or two about cooking. These look delicious and totally addictive too. I know they would be a hit here, and not last long at all.
Beth
Wow! Those look so good! And the Miracle frosting is so very interesting! I can't wait to try your recipe!