Pie Pilgrimage - Whoopie Pies

I have not been blogging much lately.

I have not been feeling very creative.

Or like I have anything to share.

I've been feeling a bit lazy too.

There.

Excuses, reasons, explanations.  All out there for you to judge and "tsk tsk" over.

I just haven't been feelin' it and that's all there is to it.

Today is the first day of my kids' spring break from school.  I've come to terms with the fact that the weather is going to pretty much STINK while they are out of school.  Today was a beautiful day, but a bit more chilly than I would prefer considering it felt like late June weather about a month ago!

This morning was heaven.  No alarm clock going off at 5:30 in the morning commanding me to get my lazy butt out of bed and go work out.  Instead, I slept until I woke up, which was 7:30 and I felt so rested and peaceful.  Everyday should begin this way.  (Can't wait until summer!)  Then I had a nice, long workout - didn't worry about what time it was or what I should be doing or where I needed to be.  Pure bliss.  Breakfast, shower, load of laundry in the washer, off to Kroger's with Owen, Starbucks fix, home, groceries put away, lunch and then....THEN...

Jenna and I had the afternoon off (NO BOYS!) to go shopping.  We were both in need of new shoes before Easter and she needed a new sweater to keep her shoulders warm from what will be a chilly Easter morning.  There was no rush.  There was no race.  She had her Starbucks fix for the day as well.  If it weren't for the typical chaos at dinner, today would have been, dare I say, perfect!

Today's recipe share is an oldy but a goody.  I've been making these Whoopie Pies for about five years now.  From an October issue of Everyday Food, my "friend" Martha showed me how to make "healthy" Whoopie Pies using applesauce to keep them so moist you will just about die when you eat one. 

Please make these!

They are heaven in your mouth.  The first time I made these, my kids just about kissed my feet - they were so thankful.  Then I made them again when Jenna was in first grade as the snack for their Halloween or Valentine party.  Then my friend Jen wanted to kiss my feet because she was at the party and got to taste one.  Now the rule is:  If I make Whoopie Pies, I have to save back just one for Jen.  One time I made them and no one in my family got to have one (not even me!), but Jen got one.  See what kind of friend I am?!

Whoopie Pies

Here's What You Need:

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, at room temp.

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup powdered sugar

Here's What You Do:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  In a bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the egg and beat until smooth.  Turn the mixer on low and add some flour mixture and then apples sauce.  Alternate adding flour mixture and applesauce.  Be sure to end with the flour.  Careful not to over mix.  You'll have tough whoopies! 

I use my cookie dough scooper to scoop out the dough onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  This helps all of the "pie halves" to be uniform in size.  I'm fussy about things like this.  They spread a bit, so be sure to leave plenty of room on the baking sheet.  Bake for 10 minutes or so.  Remove to a cooling rack right away to cool.

To make the filling, beat the vanilla and 1/2 cup butter until fluffy.  Add the powdered sugar and turn the mixer on low so you don't get a huge poof of powdered sugar in the air!  Turn the mixer up to high after it's all mixed together and whip for a short time until all of the filling ingredients are properly mixed.  Spread the bottom of a half "cookie" with 1 tablespoon of filling and top with another "cookie."  Let rest 15 minutes to set. 

This recipe only makes about one dozen Whoopie Pies, so I always make a double batch whenever I make these.