Amish Whoopie Pies

I know I havn't blogged in forever, but I've been very busy and only recently returned from 6 weeks in America, but the good thing is, I have many new foodie things to blog about !!!
One of the places I got to visit was Holmes County OHIO with my dear friend Holly from West Virginia...and can you believe we actually met online about 3 years ago..at My Space. We both had a love of vintage/prim/country things and of course the Amish..and so the friendship went from there.We stayed one night at the Garden Gate Getaway B&B. Talk about total immersion in all things Amish, from Bakeries, to Cheese and gift shops etc. The B&B was right in the centre of an Amish/Mennonite community, so all day and night, the gentle clip clop of horses hooves was heard going past...it was a truly magical time. Of course I went crazy taking pics..and will upload a few later. Anyway I had always wanted to try some Amish baking and this time I did. I bought a Whoopie Pie..it was almost as large as a small side plate..deep dark chocolately spongy goodness, samwiched between a thick layer of white creamy icing...mmm..it was good. I couldn't wait to get home and re-create its deliciousness in my own kitchen, and I did that yesterday. They turned out great...but as I always do, I put a Linda twist on it, and instead of the regular white icing, I made a Mock Cream Filling, that my nana used to fill her choclate cakes with :) So heres the recipe I used for the Whoopies :)..(which is from a real Amish cookbook) .

Amish Chocolate Whoopie Pies

(Yield 17 Filled Cookies)

Ingredients:

1 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Butter

1egg

2 Cups all purpose plain flour

1/2 Cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2  teaspoon salt

1/2 Cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup hot water

Method:

Cream the butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Beat till well combined. Sift flour, cocoa and salt. Add alternatively to the butter mixture, along with the buttermilk. Beat till only just slightly combined. Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water. Add this to the mixture, beating all the time. Mix gently and well.

Drop by well rounded teaspoons onto a baking paper lined tray. Bake at 400 / 170 degreees for 8- 10 minutes.

Cool and samwhich together with the mock cream.

Mock Cream Filling

If you want a really thick filling, you will need to double this quantity.

110g butter softened

50 grams of sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

pinch of cream of tartar

1 teaspoon powdered gelatine

3 1/2  Tablespoons boiling water

Dissolve the gelatine in boiling water and chill. Cream the butter and sugar, add cream of tartar and vanilla. Add gelatine mixture and beat until creamy, all combined and thickened. It should look lighter and fluffer and increase in volume....so keep beating until this happens. Use about 2-3 teaspoons to fill each whoopie pie...now sit back with a cofee and a good magazine and enjoy !!!