Who’s ready to make whoopie?
I shouldn’t have been allowed to watch The Newlywed Game growing up; those euphemisms were not hard for a 6 year old to figure out. Also The Match Game; you don’t have to tell me where Alice told Frank to stick his blank.
I got side-tracked. I meant to tell you a different childhood memory.
My grandmother-in-law(I’m not sure if that’s a real thing but that’s basically what she was) always made the best whoopie pies for celebrations. She also made the best molasses cookies, peanut butter cookies, and soft butter taffy specially for Christmas, but let’s start with whoopie pies. Between losing her and finding out I can’t eat gluten, I haven’t had a whoopie pie in probably 6 years. That’s too long.
I tried making these last December but didn’t get the recipe right and ended up making fudge pies instead. This time the cookies held their shape and tasted as well as they photographed. While the thought of making them scared me before, it won’t ever again.
This recipe uses xanthan gum, a hyper-powerful fiber that simulates the support of gluten in baked goods. I generally try to avoid using such a specialty item but every recipe for gluten-free whoopie pies I looked up stressed this ingredient and the last time I tried making these without it the cookies fell flat. It really is an essential ingredient in this recipe.
Gluten-Free Whoopie Pies(adapted from this recipe)
For the cookies:
- 2 1/2 cups gluten-free flour blend
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
For the filling:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 4oz butter, room temperature
- 2 egg whites, cold
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Line baking trays with parchment paper.
- Sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and xanthan gum and mix until emulsified.
- Add in the coconut milk, egg, egg yolk, and scant 1/4 cup of water and mix it into the dough. The dough should be heavy and stick to itself.
- Roll chunks of dough into 1-inch balls and put a few inches apart on the baking trays. Bake for 15 minutes until the top is firm.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely before filling.
- In a bowl(chilled is best), beat on high the sugar, butter, egg whites, and vanilla together for 4-5 minutes until light and airy.
- Scoop 1/2 tablespoon onto one cookie and press another down on top.
- Repeat until all of the cookies are used.
It’s always a good sign when all the desserts are eaten, and these are long gone. I was more interested in this cake but if whoopie pies are your cup of tea and you’re gluten-free, let this be a treat for you.
Haha yes, let’s make some whoopie 😉
I somewhat recently eliminated gluten from my diet and still trying to get a handle on the whole lifestyle. These whoopie pies look like a delicious treat! I’ve never used xanthan gum and it somewhat worries me (just cause I don’t know much about it) but it does seem like an ingredient in a lot of gluten free items.
Thanks for sharing!
I think whoopie is on the brain lately because I just made some the other day while I was trying out some cookie ideas for a contest. I made angel food cake whoopies with a peach cream in the center. They were so good, but nut what I was looking for at the time. These look delicious!
Ha…the old school 70’s Newlywed Game is SO raunchy.
I love you for The Match game reference.
I love the meringue based filling. Also. Fact: If you spill xanthan gum on your floor, it will be the most disgusting kitchen cleaning task ever.
they look great but sad to hear you didnt like the filling. ugh. Filling and frosting should be the best part of anything! 🙂
Xanthan gum definitely makes a huge difference with gf baking. Those sound so good–definitely an American thing, but I might have to try something like that. Hope you find a better filling–bummer when that part’s bad.
How can you have a grandmother-in-law if you’re not married? Step-grandmother?
Aunt’s husband’s mother.
I’ve never ever had a whoopie pie! For some reason they make me think of pac-man, although considering that again, it really doesn’t make sense.
You said that Xanthan Gum is a fiber. Does it add to the fiber content?
There’s only about 1 1/2g in the entire recipe, so it doesn’t contribute much to the individual nutritional content, but it’s so strong that that’s all you need.
You had me at Whoopie. Can’t wait to try these tonight!
Another good take on a dessert but with a gluten-free take. I only know one person in my life with a gluten problem and he’s in Florida so it isn’t much of an issue here but I appreciate the ideas.