Sunday, June 26, 2011

Chocolate Whoopie Pies With Salted Caramel Buttercream


"Of all the wonders of nature, a tree in summer is perhaps the most remarkable; with the possible exception of a moose singing "Embraceable You" in spats."

- Woody Allen




Hey everybody! It's summer!  I enjoy the sun so much more when it isn't around all the time. When I lived in Southern California where it's sunny everyday, I took it for granted. I was always longing for a climate that had different seasons. Now I've got that here in Washington, and I do enjoy that difference. Summer is a season I particularly enjoy.

I've been spending my days out in the garden. I grow vegetables and herbs. We also have roses and fruit trees. I'm growing nasturtiums as well since they are easy to grow and edible. Heck we have so many things growing it's hard to keep track. We live on 10 acres, which is great, but also, work.

The pies call for buttermilk, I like to use this Bulgarian Buttermilk in mine. It's higher in fat than most buttermilk, so it makes for a rich end result.

Yes, I've been busy, but never too busy for baking. These whoopie pies are one of my favorite things in the world. A sure thing. A dessert I bring to parties when I want to please everyone. They are fun and tasty enough for children, but with a slight sophistication from the hint of salt in the buttercream, for the adults. I just love them. The cakes are soft and full of rich chocolate flavor, and the salted caramel buttercream is absolutely divine. A go to frosting of mine.


They are simple to make as well. The cake portion is quite straight forward.

The caramel buttercream also simple. A standard American buttercream essentially, with caramel mixed in.  I know, I know, most people don't consider making caramel of any kind, simple. But trust me. I've taken pictures of all the steps the caramel goes through, to make it as easy as well, pie. It doesn't even require a thermometer.



The secret to making caramel is the secret to most everything in life.

 Which is really paying attention and being present.




Some Dont's when making the caramel.

Don't walk away while it's on the stove.
Don't try to rush it.
Don't do other things while making it. (It only takes 10 minutes or so.)

If you follow these simple steps when making this recipe, you will be richly rewarded, my friend.









Chocolate Whoopie Pies with Salted Caramel Buttercream

makes 24 pies

Recipe for pies inspired by this recipe on Epicurious

Salted Caramel Buttercream recipe is my own.


Start the buttercream first. (Recipe for pies is after the buttercream recipe, below.)


Salted Caramel Buttercream

makes enough to fill 24 pies, or frost about 24 cupcakes


Ingredients

1 cup (200 g.) granulated sugar
2/3 cup (160 ml) water
1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 sticks (339 g.) unsalted butter- or if you use salted, just cut back on the salt, (below)
1-2 tsp. fine sea salt
2 cups (230 g.) powdered sugar

Instructions

First, get your mise en place ready for the caramel, it will go fast. Measure the cream in a slightly larger vessel than needed. Add the vanilla to it, and place it next to the stove.

In a saucepan where you can see the bottom, like stainless steel, (I used an off white color Le Cruset pan.)
This is important because you will make decisions based on it's color. So if you use a black pan for example, it will be harder to see the color. (I've done it, it is possible, but I don't recommend it.)

Over medium high heat, stir together the granulated sugar and the water. Stop stirring after the sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.


This is just the sugar and the water boiling at the start. It's clear now.

Pull up a chair, you're going to sit and watch this for about 6-8 minutes, till it turns light golden, (below.)
During this time, don't stir it. Right when it gets to this point, remove it from the heat. You can swirl the pan a little if you feel like you can't see the color well. You must, I repeat, you must catch it right at this point. If you let it go any longer, it will turn to black in what feels like an instant.



This is the color you want. Remove it from the heat now.



I took this picture about 5 seconds after the picture above, after I removed it from the heat, to illustrate how much darker it turned in such a short time.



As soon as you remove it from the heat, add the cream/vanilla mixture and stir. It will boil and sputter up. (is that a word?) The sugar will turn to a hard rock, basically. You will feel like you have done something wrong. You haven't.

After adding the cream and vanilla, the sugar turns into a hard ball. It's o.k. it will dissolve.

Continue stirring until the sugar dissolves and becomes homogeneous with the cream. If you feel like it's not happening fast enough, go ahead and put the pan on low heat to help it along.


After stirring for a few moments, it's on it's way to becoming homogeneous.



Here it is when it's finished, it just need to cool.



But wait, it's not quite done. Strain it first to make sure you don't have any bits of sugar that didn't dissolve.

Using a fine mesh strainer placed over a heat proof bowl, pour in the caramel to remove any bits of sugar remaining.

Set it aside to cool while you start on the pies.

Set the caramel aside until it's cool to the touch. About 1 1/2- 2 hours. You can also make this part the night before, and let it cool overnight.

While it's cooling, start making the pies. (recipe below.)



In the bowl of a stand mixer, (or a large bowl with a handheld) mix the butter and salt (start with 1 tsp., add more later when finished to taste) on medium high speed until very light and fluffy. About 4 minutes.

Add the caramel. Beat well. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Then mix again. Add the powdered sugar and mix very well, until very light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Taste it and see if it needs more salt for your taste. 

At this point it should be a good consistency for the whoopie pies. If you are piping the buttercream onto cupcakes, you may want it a bit firmer. If you do, just refrigerate it for 30 minutes to an hour and proceed.


For The Pies

Ingredients

4 cups (601 g.) all-purpose flour
1 cup (114 g.) Dutch-process or natural cocoa powder (my favorite cocoa is natural high fat cocoa from Penzeys, it gives these cakes a rich chocolate flavor)
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoon salt
2 cups (480 ml) well-shaken buttermilk
3 teaspoons vanilla
2 sticks (1 cup) (227 g.) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups (300 g.) packed brown sugar
2 large eggs

Directions

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, 180 degrees Celsius, or Gas Mark 4.

Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl until combined. Stir together buttermilk and vanilla in a small bowl.

Beat together butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer or 5 minutes with a handheld, then add eggs, beating until combined well. Reduce speed to low and alternately mix in flour mixture and buttermilk in batches, beginning and ending with flour, scraping down side of bowl occasionally, and mixing until smooth.

With a 2 Tablespoon size disher, scoop batter onto parchment lined or Silpat lined baking sheets, leaving 2 inches of space between each cookie. Put your clean hand under the faucet and get it wet. Gently pat the mounds down a little to prevent them from being too round on top.


Bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, for about 10 minutes. They are done when tops are puffed and cakes spring back when touched. Don't overbake.


Transfer with a metal spatula to a rack to cool completely.

When cool add about a Tablespoon of buttercream to the middle of one of the cookies, and place another on top to make a sandwich. If not serving them right away, place them in an airtight container.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

These look absolutely amazing. I will admit to being intimidated by the caramel. I may try them tomorrow anyways!

Amanda said...

Oh my goodness, YUM!!! I'm def. going to make that frosting sometime.

Veronica said...

Just a mo...while I wipe my keyboard from drooling! This is next weekend's treat for sure!!! Totally yum and your pics are amazing! Thanks for this...into the archives it goes for all to use!

Veronica
www.tasselsandtwigs.blogspot.com

Amy said...

So yummy! What a great recipe. I can't wait to make some too!

Amy
www.mystylishnest.blogspot.com

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

No wonder you want to take this to a picnic! It sounds wonderful. I live in the Whoopie Pie Capital of the world, Lancaster Co. Pa, but I must say the thought of Salted Caramel Buttercream want me to give you a culinary bow!!!! I know this recipe is a real winner. The combinations of salty/sweet and chocolate/caramel put it in a class all of it's own!
YUMMY!
Thank you for participating in ON THE MENU MODAY and bringing a dish that would make us the most popular person at a picnic!
Yvonne

Barbara F. said...

Visiting from Stone Gable's What's on the Menu Monday. These look so delicious. I love whoopie pies but haven't had one in years. These are over the top. Do you have mail order? :) xo,

Miz Helen said...

What great Whoopie Pies, I just love the filling. Great recipe! Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day!
Miz Helen

Normgrhm said...

I've heard of whoopie cushions but never whoopie pie.
Your pics make them look very appetizing.
Excellent recipe description too.

Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy said...

I think I drooled on the keyboard. I would love it if you would link up to my Tuesday Confessional link party going on now: http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/06/tuesday-confessional-link-party.html
~Macy from Confessions of a SAHM

Lisa said...

oh wow...whoopie pies are the best! I've never had them with caramel buttercream though...sounds delicious!

Cindy said...

I have yet to get on the Whoopie Pie bandwagon...but this one could do it. Looks delicious, the salted caramel, wow!

Jessica said...

These look so delicious! Yum buttercream! Thanks for sharing :)

Rustown Mom said...

I think I need one of these with my morning cuppa. Looks divine. (:

Leslie said...

That just sounds.so.good. (pinning now!)

FeltByRae said...

They look so good - I want some! Love the way you have made your instuctions simple enough even for me, thank you for that as I shall be making these one day pretty soon :)

Unknown said...

oh wow, yummmmm! How come I've never seen these at our parties? When will you be down again? If it's soon I think I will use the birthday trump card and request some, pretty please! lol :)

Emily Thompson said...

looks amazing!!! Thanks for linking up this week to Tasty Tuesday! Hope to see you back next week! http://nap-timecreations.blogspot.com/

Katie @ This Chick Cooks said...

Those whoopie pies sound so good. I love your pictures!

Whit said...

Um hello these look amazing! I pinned them so I dont forget to make them thank you so much for sharing. I found your recipe idea through the Paisley passions linky party and just had to stop by. I am your newest follower and cant wait to check more of your blog out. Come and visit me and say hi and please follow back :)

A mommy's life...with a touch of YELLOW
tyandwhitneyulrich.blogspot.com

Kirsten @ Mushki Loves said...

YUM!!! I wanted to just grab it off the screen! I am your newest follower! I would love it if you stopped by and check mine out and become my newest follower!

Miz Helen said...

Hold on a second while I clean my screen off, I was trying to get that wonderful Whoopie Pie out of that box! Great recipe! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and come back soon.I am you newest follower. Have a great week end!
Miz Helen

Erin said...

Salted Caramel Butter cream??? Oh my heck! YUM!!!

keatseatsblog said...

mmmm, this looks amazing. I'd have never thought to make salted caramel buttercream! I'd love for you to link up to my sweet treats party this weekend. It runs through Sunday night. Hope to see you there :)
Ashton
www.somethingswanky.com

Chaya said...

I love whoopee pies and these with the salted caramel buttercream must be heavenly.Thanks for linking this to My Meatless Mondays.

I would be thrilled if you would link this to Bake with Bizzy.

http://bizzybakesb.blogspot.com/2011/07/bake-with-bizzy-7.html

Kim McCallie said...

These look and sound amazing! I would love to taste the salted caramel filling. Yummy! Thanks for sharing on A Well-Seasoned Life's Sweet Indulgences Sunday.

Jenn said...

I LOVE your blog. You always have the yummiest recipes! I'm your newest follower, check out my blog if you're interested http://eatcakefordinner.blogspot.com/

Lisa said...

That buttercream sounds to die for. Thanks for linking up to Sweets for a Saturday.

Jenn Erickson said...

You rock! Anyone who can start a post with a perfect Woody Allen quip and end with a divinely choreographed recipe for a salted sweet is blog royalty in my book!

Thank you so much for linking up to last week's "A Little Birdie Told Me...". My apologies for the belated vist -- with July 4 falling on a Monday, it threw my whole schedule off, and I'm just now making the rounds to visit the party-goers from that week. Best, Jenn

P.S. I'm featuring your post on my FB page.

The Alchemist said...

Jenn- Thank you so much for putting me on your FB page, I appreciate it so much!