All-time favorite red velvet cake in form of small handy whoopie pies with a yummy cream cheese filling. Enjoy these Red Velvet Whoopie Pies!
My husband absolutely loves burgers. I am certain it will take more than a week of 2 burger meals a day to get him only slightly tired of them.
But the other day he suddenly craved salad! Can you imagine! Well, I think when he voiced his wish, the earth went out of balance a little bit. Some dark powers were at play. Because it seemed like the whole universe had started one big game on us and salads. Let's get into it.
You should know, also, that he didn't want any salad apart from the Caesar salad from a newly opened cafe down our street.
Celebrations for Loi Krathong Holiday and a Salad Mission
Well, he probably just chose the wrong day and location to be picky about where and what to eat for supper. And I mean, the really wrong day. Celebrations for the Loi Krathong holiday had been going on the entire week already. And this particular night there was a huge parade going on right on our street.
The entire road was blocked off for the parade. Groups upon groups of young Thais dressed in traditional outfits pushed fancy lit wagons or carried decorated poles through the streets. At the same time, it seemed like every tourist in Chiang Mai and just as many locals gathered on the sidelines to watch the procession. It was totally fascinating.
And we would have done the same, if not for our salad mission.
Thailand Adventures to Find Salad and Settling for Something... Else
And we had to fight the masses to get to our salad place. Once there, we actually had a good view of the parade and weren't too bored during the wait. But eventually the procession moved on. Still no food. A travel magazine was my next source of entertainment. I finished the entire magazine and it seemed like we had waited for at least an hour. What to do, what to do...
A look at the time confirmed it was indeed an hour and 20 minutes since we ordered. Guests that came way later than us were already finishing their meals. We were fed up and REALLY starving. We just paid for our drinks and tried our luck at a vegetarian place.
They weren't far, just the other end of the street. But you guessed it, we had to fight our way through all the people AGAIN. Oh boy, you better not get in my way when I am starving. Have you heard of the term "hangry" before? It means hungry / angry. Well, that was me!
However, to our surprise, the vegetarian restaurant did not have any Western style salads at all.
Entirely frustrated, deflated, defeated, we just gave up all healthy ambition and went to ... McDonalds! It's right by our current place. Had we smartened up earlier, there would have been no need for any crowd fighting at all. But don't you think we had salads there. No, MacDonalds in Thailand only has good ol' burgers... and fried chicken...and some ridiculously spicy rice dish. A hilarious twist on the story!
We went all out and had a feast of Filet-o-Fish, Chicken Nuggets, Cheesebuger and McChicken. Come on, don't judge us. These were special circumstances and usually we love Thai food from the street markets.
Turning the Tables to Red Velvet Cake
Let me suggest something totally different to you though, not salad and not McDonalds. How about the ever popular red velvet cake in form of small and handy whoopie pies with yummy cream cheese filling.
I think Christmas (and Valentine's Day) are the perfect holidays for red velvet cake. But to be honest, I need no holiday to enjoy RVC. We had these whoopie pies at a local Starbucks in Chiang Mai after we got lured in by the bite-sized items that the baristas hand out ever so often.
As for the recipe, the following is by the uber-talented Michelle from Brown Eyed Baker. Enjoy this fantastic recipe!
Recipe
Red Velvet Whoopie Pie
Ingredients
Whoopies:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ½ cup vegetable shortening
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 teaspoons red food coloring
- 1 cup buttermilk
Filling:
- 4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 3½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Cakes:
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two cookie sheets. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
- With a mixer using the paddle attachment combine butter, shortening and both sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mix well after each addition. Add vanilla and red food coloring and mix until just blended.
- Add half of flour mix and half of buttermilk to batter and beat until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the remaining flour mix and buttermilk and mix until completely combined.
- Using a spoon or cookie scoop drop tablespoonfuls of batter onto lined cookie sheets - at least 2 inches apart. Bake one sheet at a time for 10 minutes each, or until whoopies spring back when lightly pressed. Remove cookie sheet from the oven and let whoopies cool on sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Filling:
- Using a mixer with the paddle attachment, combine cream cheese and butter on medium speed. Add powdered sugar and beat on low until combined. Add vanilla and increase the speed to medium-high; beat until creamy and smooth for about 4 minutes.
Assembly:
- Spread the filling onto the flat side of one whoopie using a knife of spoon. You may also use a pastry bag with a round tip (eg. #12 Wilton) to pipe the filling onto the cakes. Top it with another whoopie, flat-side down. Repeat with rest of cakes and filling.
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Random Questions
To prevent whoopie pies from sticking together, it's important to ensure that they are completely cooled before stacking or storing. Placing a layer of parchment paper between each pie can also help prevent sticking.
While red velvet cake has a subtle chocolate flavor, it is not purely a chocolate cake. The cocoa powder used in red velvet recipes provides a mild chocolate taste, but the cake is known for its distinctive tangy and moist flavor profile.
Red velvet cake is typically made with ingredients such as buttermilk, cocoa powder, and a small amount of red food coloring, which gives it the characteristic red hue. It is often flavored with a hint of vanilla and a touch of vinegar to achieve its unique taste.
Whoopie pies have a rich history in American cuisine, particularly in the northeastern United States, with roots in Pennsylvania Dutch and New England traditions. They are considered a beloved dessert, often associated with homemade, comforting, and nostalgic baking.
Red velvet cake is known for its unique flavor profile, characterized by a delicate balance of sweetness, subtle cocoa undertones, and a hint of tanginess. The buttermilk and vinegar used in the recipe contribute to its distinctive taste.
The name "whoopie pie" is believed to have originated from the exclamation "whoopie!" that Amish farmers and laborers would shout when finding these delightful treats in their lunch pails. The dessert is composed of two cake-like cookies sandwiched together with a creamy filling.
Whoopie pies have gained popularity due to their irresistible combination of soft, cake-like cookies and luscious creamy fillings. Their versatility, portability, and the endless possibilities for flavor combinations have contributed to their widespread appeal among dessert enthusiasts.
Red velvet cake gets its name from its characteristic deep red or reddish-brown color. This hue is traditionally achieved through the reaction of natural cocoa powder with acidic elements such as buttermilk and vinegar in the batter.
Jacquee
You had me at RVC! I love hearing about your adventures. Who knew finding a decent salad would prove so difficult.
Regina
Ahh...I am glad to hear my baking non-related stuff isn't a turn-off 😀
amy @ fearless homemaker
I'm so sorry that you weren't able to get your hands on that salad! Although the Mcdonald's visit doesn't sound too bad either. =) And these whoopie pies look just amazing!
Regina
Haha..thanks Amy! And we truly enjoyed the feast 😉