RECIPE | Whoopie pies

Makes: about 24

Ingredients:

125ml (½ cup) butter, softened

185ml (⅔ cup) caster sugar

5ml (1 tsp) vanilla essence

2 extra-large eggs

180g (1½ cups) cake flour

85ml (⅓ cup) cocoa powder

5ml (1 tsp) bicarbonate of soda

2.5ml (½ tsp) baking powder

125ml (½ cup)  buttermilk 

Icing:

250g butter, softened

260g (2 cups) icing sugar, sifted

10ml (2 tsp) vanilla essence

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Grease or spray 4 baking trays and line with baking paper.
3. Beat the butter, caster sugar and vanilla till light and fluffy, using an electric beater.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, bicarb and baking powder into a bowl.
6. Add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk  to the creamed butter mixture and mix till just combined.
7. Drop spoonfuls of the batter onto the prepared trays about 5cm apart with room for spreading. Bake one tray at a time for 8-10 minutes.
8. Beat the icing ingredients together until pale and fluffy and use to sandwich the pies together.