Whoopie Pie Cake


	Recipe Source: Becky's Diner Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 50 minutes Servings: 8 The Whoopie Pie was invented in Maine back in the 1920s: Like a giant, squishy Oreo cookie, it is two discs of chocolate cake sandwiching a creamy-sweet filling. One of the most popular desserts at Becky's Diner in Portland, Maine, is a cake she makes inspired by the Whoopie pie, frosted with a low-cost icing she found while browsing through a World War II era cookbook. The marshmallow-soft icing gives this cake an evocative old-fashioned character, totally unlike a modern "sinful" boutique gateau.
Ingredients: Cake: 1 cup margarine 2 cups sugar 2-1/4 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1-1/4 cups buttermilk 3 eggs 9 tablespoons cocoa powder Icing: 2 cups whole milk 3/4 cup white flour 2 cups granulated sugar 8 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon vanilla 1 cup solid vegetable shortening	Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 9" round cake pans. Beat together the margarine and sugar. Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix slowly, gradually adding buttermilk. Beat 2 full minutes. Add eggs, then gradually add cocoa, beating another 2 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape the sides of the bowl. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake about 40 minutes, until center springs back when gently pushed. Cool the cake layers 5 minutes, then remove them from pans and cool them completely on a wire rack. To make the icing, pour the milk into a stainless steel saucepan over medium heat. Gradually whisk in flour until a thick paste forms. Do not scorch! Remove from stove and cool this mixture in the refrigerator. In a separate bowl, mix the sugar, butter, vanilla, and shortening. Add the cooled paste. Whip for at least 3 minutes until creamy. This makes enough icing to generously frost a 2-layer cake.	Advertisement