A Whoopie Sweet Controversy
What Are Whoopie Pies & Why Are They Controversial?
On our group tour to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, one of the highlights is the hands-on whoopie pie cooking class. Also known as moon pies, big fat Oreos, black-and-whites, and gobs what most folks don’t know is that there is a controversy about where this flavorful treat originated.
Whoopie Pies combine two cookie-shaped chocolate cakes sandwiched between a creamy filling and vanilla-flavored frosting. This confection has been traced back to medieval Germany by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Heritage Preservation Commission. It is believed that this cake-like pastry with its’ creamy filling was brought to America by various German groups like the Amish or German Brethern.
Maine and Pennsylvania both lay claim to being the state where the whoopie pie originated. The story that we like the best is from Pennsylvania, where whoopie pies have the longest place of pride in their culinary culture. It is believed that the whoopie pie recipe has been passed down from generation to generation by the Amish for many decades. Some say that Amish wives invented the whoopie pie to avoid wasting ingredients by molding leftover cake batter into smaller cookie-like shapes and baking them. Then, they would take two of the cookie shapes and sandwich them together with a creamy frosting.
The name whoopie pie is also thought to have originated with the Amish of Pennsylvania. One story goes that when Amish men found this delicious dessert in their lunch pail, they exclaimed “Whoopee.” Another rendition of this tale claims that when Amish children found this treat in their lunch boxes, they yelled “Whoopee!” Whatever story you choose to believe, the name whoopie pie is as fun as it is fitting!
Maine claims to have invented the whoopie pie in the 1920s which conflicts with Pennsylvania’s claim. Maine believes that the first whoopie pies were sold at Labadie’s Bakery in Lewiston in 1925. Unfortunately, there is no documented proof of this because all of the bakery’s early files were destroyed by fire. Located in the same place since its founding, folks can visit this bakery today and purchase a whoopie pie that uses the same recipe used in 1925! Maine is so enamored with the whoopie pie, that in 2011, the Maine State Legislature made the Whoopie Pie the official state dessert.
We may never know whether the whoopie pie originated in Maine or Pennsylvania, but as long as they are available in both states, there is cause to shout “Whoopee!”