So I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night…
Like I’m pretty tired.
You wanna know why? Because things seem impossibly ridiculous at 2:00 am. I mean, any issue you might be having in your life, thinking about it at 2:00 am will make it the hugest, largest, most insurmountable problem you have ever had. Ever.
So I laid awake from 2:00 am – 4:00 am thinking about the very important matter of my kid’s iPods. I had myself convinced in the wee hours that by allowing them to play their iPods frequently, I was turning their brain into liquid, damaging their vision, preventing them from ever getting into college, getting a girlfriend or getting married, which consequently lowered the possibility of me ever having grandchildren. All because they play their iPods.
I was basically a sweaty, panicked wreck.
How I got from point A to point B on that matter is far too long and nonsensical a story to tell you here and now, but I will tell you should disregard your brain-talk at 2:00 am. It exaggerates. And dramatizes…and hyperbolizes every scenario in your life.
BUT sometimes, on rare occasion, in between thoughts of Minecraft and failure to launch scenarios, accompanied by images of being an old angry woman with no grandchildren to speak of, you get a glimmer of a good idea.
Which leads me to today’s recipe.
Thanks 2:00 am brain.
Strawberry Shortcake Whoopie Pies.
You just start by making a simple vanilla batter…
Drop spoonfuls of the batter onto a parchment lined baking sheet and then flatten the batter out. It’s pretty thick, so you need to flatten it, otherwise they will be way too tall after they bake…
When they are done and cooled, spread some yummy filling on one side. I used a butter based filling. I tried using a whipped cream filling and it didn’t work. While delicious, it squished out the sides and was very un-whoopie pie-like.
Then top the filling with sliced strawberries.
Really stuff as many slices as you can mange in there!
Then eat the heck of it…
Strawberry Shortcake Whoopie Pies
Description
Makes 12 whoopie pies
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 3 eggs
- 4 1/4 cups flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 Tbsp vanilla
Filling
- 10 Tbsp butter, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 4 Tbsp heavy cream
- 2 1/2 – 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 pint strawberries, sliced thinly
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream together butter and sugar for approx 1 minute on medium speed with your mixer.
- Turn mixer to low and add in baking powder, salt and eggs. Turn mixer back up to medium and mix until smooth.
- Mix vanilla into your milk.
- With your mixer on low, alternate adding the flour and the milk/vanilla mixture, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just combined.
- Drop dough by heaping tablespoon onto prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart, flatten the dough, so it’s not so rounded.
- Bake 10-11 minutes until edges are golden and tops are set.
- Transfer to wire rack to continue cooling.
Filling
- Cream butter in mixer with vanilla about 2 minutes. Slowly add in 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar and cream, beating for 2-3 minutes more. Add more powdered sugar if you desire a thicker consistency.
Assembly
- Spread about 2 Tbsp of filling on the bottom of a cookie, top with 5-6 strawberry slices. Spread a teaspoon of filling on the bottom of the other cookie (to help stick) and press the cookie together forming a sandwich.
You just made shortcakes a hand held treat, and I love it
I am alllll too familiar with 2 am brain. We are old friends, actually.
Strawberry shortcake is one of my most favorite things ever. Love these!!
best ideas come to me as I’m lying awake at all hours of the night too! these are perfect — taking note for an upcoming shower I’m planning 🙂
I have had a few of those sleepless nights! Definitely not fun! I wish my 2 am nights resulted in whoopie pies that looked this awesome! Shelly, these are amazing!!!
haha! Thanks!
2am brain is the very reason I’m not allowed to use WebMd before bed. These cookies look fantastic!
Gah! 2am brain is the WORST!!! That’s when I lie awake and think of what a terrible parent I’ve been, every time I’ve yelled, that we only have four years until he goes to college…and, AND, that I probably have a tumor.
These whoopie pies are what I’ll be dreaming about tonight, though…and if I wake up at 2am, I may just get out of bed and make them.
Oh my goodness! I am craving these now! So gorgeous. I know my husband would love, love, love these!
These are absolutely wonderful!!! Pinned and bookmarked to definitely make!
oh those would be perfect for a BBQ, and how pretty they look too.
Beautiful whoopie pies! It’s super warm in Boston this week, so the weather is making me crave more spring/summer-like foods like strawberries… I could easily eat one of these for breakfast right now. 🙂