What is a Whoopie Pie?

Our Whoopies & The Whoopie Pie Tradition

Although our Whoopies look a lot like a macaron, they are larger - more like the size of a donut. Some Whoopies are a cookie-like texture but ours are made of our own unique sponge cake recipe.

We offer a delicious range of classic and creative flavours to suit every taste. Each Whoopie has either a handmade marshmallow or white chocolate cheesecake filling, and a little something special in the centre. Each individual Whoopie is hand-decorated with passion and attention-to-detail. We don't use any pre-made mixes or artificial flavourings; everything we do is handmade for you with the best ingredients we can source, and we buy locally in Yorkshire where possible.

When designing our concept, we thought long and hard about whether we would just make a basic Whoopie Pie, or try creating something more unique and special. We went with the latter because we wanted to create an exciting, fresh and unique product that would really stand out in the UK gift market. Created with flare and artistry, we're certain you'll agree that we've elevated them from a simple Whoopie Pie to Whoopies with Wow Factor.

Although Whoopie Pies have been a relatively unknown product in the UK (until now!!), they've been popular in parts of America for around 100 years.

The History of Whoopie Pies

According to reports, they appeared most likely in Pennysylvania in the 1920s and remain popular in many states on the American East Coast today.

But the history of this unusual little dessert is a bone of much contention, with many competing claims to their invention, and many variants of the tradition. Some are more cookie than cake, and while creamy or buttercream fillings are preferred in some states, in others a marshmallow filling is a time-honoured tradition.

Pennysylvania history claims the whoopie pie was invented by Amish women, who used left-over cake batter to make these mini cake-like treats. Accounts suggest that they made little mounds of cake and sandwiched them together with a creamy frosting. The story goes that it was the Amish men and children who then named them, exclaiming ‘Whoopie!’ through their excitement at finding them in their lunch boxes.

Whoopie pies share links with the creation of the marshmallow fluff brand; the main difference between New England and Amish whoopie pie recipes is the use of Marshmallow Fluff in the New England version. What’s Cooking America cites a recipe for an "Amish Whoopie Pie" in a 1930s cookbook called Yummy Book by the Durkee Mower Company who are the manufacturers of Marshmallow Fluff (based in the state of Massachusettes, in the New England region), with the recipe using their product as the filling.

More Claims on Whoopie Pies

Some sources suggest that the Berwick Cake Company of Roxbury, Massachussetts was also selling whoopie pies but by another name in the 1920s. Food Historian William Weaver claims they became known as ‘Whoopee Pies’ following a stunt in which actors in the Broadway show ‘Makin’ Whoopee’ threw the baked goods into the audience.

In Maine, the whoopie pie is the official state treat, owing to the claim that the first known commercially produced whoopie pies were sold by Labadie’s Bakery in Lewiston sometime around 1925. The Labadie’s Bakery remains in the same location today, and they proudly promote the fact that their whoopie pie recipe has not changed since 1925.

We've never had the chance to travel along the US East Coast and try some native whoopies, but it's certainly high up on our bucket list! Keep buying our Whoopies and hopefully we'll get the chance!!

If you're from the US or Canada, and you'd like to tell us more about whoopies or perhaps correct us on something, we'd absolutely love to hear from you!!