Dover-Foxcrofts Whoopie Pie Festival

I have been honored with receiving an invitation to judge for the second year Maine's Whoopie Pie Festival in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. I have also been asked to judge at this years Moxie Festival in Lisbon, Maine as well, and I must say, these are the two festivals I wouldn't miss for the world. Both scream Maine and who better to judge Maine cuisine than the master of Maine cuisine, The Yankee Chef(yeah, it may seem as though my head is getting big, but I promise it isn't). I just honestly believe there is no more knowledgeable chef when it comes to New England, especially Maine, food and the history of food than I am. I have lived, eaten and breathed it since a young teen, as my father and his father.
so with that said, let me give you the ultimate Whoopie Pie Recipe, Bubbly Chocolate Whoopie Pies. Now if I named it with the word Moxie in the title, I have a feeling my taste testing audience would shrink dramatically, so I won't tell you there is Moxie in it. Enjoy!!



Now this recipe has an initial step that MUST be done for a great Moxie flavor to be noticeable. Pour 12 ounces Moxie into a saucepan, over high heat, and boil until reduced to a half cup. It should take about 6 minutes and be syrupy when ready. Cool to room temperature before using in the following recipe.



2 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
½ c. cocoa
1/2 c. whole milk
1/2 c. Moxie*
1 stick (½ c.)butter or margarine
1 c. brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1 egg
Filling, recipe below

Preheat your oven to 350° F. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa until well mixed. In another small bowl, mix the milk and Moxie. Using an electric mixer at high speed, beat together the butter, brown sugar and grated orange rind until fluffy and light colored. Next, add an egg and mix until it's mixed in evenly. Lower the speed on your electric mixer and alternate between adding in a bit of the flour mixture and a bit of milk until it is all mixed. On two large, greased baking sheets, place ¼ c. mounds of batter about two inches apart. Place in the upper portion of your oven. Bake about 11-13 minutes or until it bounces back. Remove from oven and cool on a rack or let stand for 5 minutes and remove to platter to cool thoroughly. Scoop filling onto one half of the Whoopie Pie cake and close with the other half.

Filling:
1 ¼ c. confectioners sugar
1 stick (½ c.) butter or margarine, softened
1 t. vanilla
2 c. marshmallow cream

In a bowl, beat together your confectioners sugar, butter, vanilla and marshmallow using an electric mixer on the medium setting. You should mix until the filling is nice and smooth.

*The taste of Moxie is truly unequaled, but if you can't find this soft drink in "your neck of the woods", try a very good root beer.