Cookbook Review: Whoopie Pies by Sarah Billingsley and Amy Treadwell

✰✰✰✰ Watch out cupcakes, here come the whoopie pies. If you've never had one before, you're in for a real taste treat. Whoopie pies are soft, cake-like cookies sandwiched together with filling. These treats are set to be the next delectable craze in dessert fashion; no utensils required.

The Introduction gets you started with all the basic information for making and storing whoopie pies. It also includes fun facts and a handy list of which flavored cakes and fillings to mix and match. There are even a few vegan and gluten free options so everyone can join in the fun. However, one drawback to the Introduction is the use of white print on chocolate brown paper which can be difficult for some to read.

The main part of the book is divided into two recipe sections: one for cakes and one for fillings. Recipes are written in paragraph format and are easy to follow. The book also includes the following: Ingredients & Sources, an Index, and a Table of Equivalents. Most of the ingredients are easy to find at your local grocer; however, a few may require a bit more searching. The photos by Antonis Achilleos are colorful and charming; I only wish more had been included.

The Bottom Line: This cookbook features both sweet and savory recipes to create the whoopie pies of your dreams. Just mix and match your favorite cakes and fillings, and the treats will be gobbled up in no time. Enthusiastically recommended for everyone looking for a new taste treat in baking. Bakers of any skill level can try these recipes although those with more experience will have better results. I've got my eye on The Happy Pilgrim and Root Beer Float whoopie pies. Additionally, the Classic Chocolate whoopie pie with matcha (green tea) butter cream filling sounds dreamy. Also, recommended for all public libraries as it fills a niche in the baking section.

Details: Whoopie Pies: Dozens of Mix'em, Match 'em, Eat 'em Up Recipes by Sarah Billinglsey and Amy Treadwell. Hardcover published by Chronicle Books in 2010. 120 p. ISBN: 978-0-8118-7454-0