Whoopie Pie

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 3/4 cups shortening
• 2 large eggs*
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 large egg whites*
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 baking sheets and set aside.

To make the cookies, in a large bowl using an electric mixer, cream together the sugar and 1/2 cup of the shortening. Add eggs and mix well.

Onto a sheet of waxed paper, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk. Add 1 teaspoon of the vanilla and mix well. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake until tester comes out clean, about 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven and cool on wire racks.

To make the filling, in a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff. Add the remaining 1 1/4 cups of shortening and 1 tablespoon of vanilla, and mix well. Add the milk and sugar, and beat until smooth.

Lay half of the cookies flat on a work surface. Divide the filling among the cookies, spreading out to the edges. Top with the remaining cookies to form sandwich pies. Serve immediately, or cover tightly and refrigerate before serving.

*RAW EGG WARNING

Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs due to the slight risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.