Swing! and Whoopie Pies!

Swing Dancing with 7th and 8th graders is a workout. Cam and I assisted with the middle school swing dance lessons today. So many of the kids are naturally eager and quick learners. They danced so well. We had our regular Thursday night swing practice tonight, so, we danced from 8:30 or so am to 8:15 or so pm- with a break for lunch and dinner. Life is so good! I'm off to bake for Alice in Wonderland. If I have time I'll make Whoopie Pies. These are a family favorite- somehow they always disappear.

Whoopie Pies
These delectable treats will never fail to please a crowd. Whoopie Pies are the best combination of cookie and cake. Their moist chocolaty outside wraps a rich vanilla filling. The only trick is being sure there are enough to go around. Kids and adults gobble them up as quickly as you can make them.

Ingredients:
For the
1 cup butter 2 cups sugar 2 eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla 4 cups flour(or 2+c) 3 tsp. Baking soda
1/2 tsp salt 1 cup cocoa 1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup sour cream(or mascarpone) 1 cup hot water

Preheat oven to 350.
In the bowl of an electric mixer cream together the butter and sugar.
Add the eggs one at a time and beat until combined. Add the vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa.
In a small bowl whisk together the buttermilk and sour cream.
Add the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk mixture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again.
Add the hot water slowly and mix until incorporated.
Use an ice-cream scoop if you have one handy, to drop the batter 2” apart on a parchment lined or greased baking sheet.
Bake for 10-14 minutes or until tops are springy.
Remove from the pan on the sheets of parchment to a rack.
Cool completely.
Ingredients:
For the Filling
12 Tbsp. Butter 2 1/2 c. Confectioners sugar-sifted Pinch salt
4 tsp. Pure Vanilla 2 egg whites or 2 Tbsp “just whites”
2 tsp. Fresh lemon juice
In the bowl of an electric mixer cream the butter with the confectioners sugar and salt until light and fluffy.
Add vanilla and lemon juice.
Add the egg whites one at a time. The filling will seem to break but just keep going and whisk away. It will come right back together.
Continue beating until very light and fluffy- as long as 5 minutes.
Assembly;
Take one chocolate piece. Smooth a thick layer of filling on a flat side. Top with another chocolate piece. Continue putting the Whoopie Pies together until all are assembled. Hopefully you have made an odd number of chocolate pieces- then you get to top the last one with filling and pop it into your mouth. Ah the sweet rewards.