The whoopie pie is definitely a regional treat, as pockets of the country from New England to Ohio are well aware of the black-and-white snack. The rest of the country, however, is only now starting to discover this cake-like cookie.
Specialty shops and high-end grocers, having recently made room for cupcakes, are starting to stock the treats. Even Williams-Sonoma has made room for the whoopie pie in its February catalog, though the name has been altered to "sweetie pies." At $49 a dozen, the heart-shaped pies are baked in Maine with butter and organic eggs. However, traditional round forms can be found in Trader Joe's and Whole Foods in Manhattan and as far away as Evanston, Ill. While such may be the traditional form, the New York Times finds dozens of variations on the shape, flavors and fillings, beyond the classic two round mounds of chocolate cake (about three inches across) with a filling of French vanilla cream.
In fact, the processed food industry already has several examples of the treat: Oreo Cakesters, Suzy Q from Hostess and a number of Little Debbie snacks.
Author: William A. Roberts, Jr.
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