This is my contribution to this month’s #LetsLunch, a monthly virtual potluck on Twitter.  Anne Marie of Sandwich Surprise is our hostess this month, and has chosen “guilty pleasures” as the theme.  I’m in favor of the pleasure without the guilt, but I do think this is an improvement on the whoopie pies I almost never had a chance to try in my youth.  In placed of processed mystery ingredients, I’ve filled these with light, freshly whipped cream with some spritely lemon zest, and dotted it with some tart, fresh raspberries.  I made these a few years ago at my brother’s in Connecticut, where berries like these grow wild in the humid summers:

I created my version of the whoopie pie when it seemed that unfussy, classic American desserts were being remade into trendier, more glamorous and improved versions of themselves.  First it was the cupcake. Then, the donut.  And now, the Cronut.  Could the whoopie pie be next? Ian Knauer  waxed eloquent on the whoopie pie on (now-defunct and sorely missed) Gilt Taste, giving us a gourmet-ified version substituting butter and milk where lard and shortening were traditionally used, and throwing in an infusion of vanilla bean for good measure.  I’ve used Knauer’s recipe for the chocolate cakes and substituted my summery, fruity filling.  If these look familiar, it’s because they had their 15 minutes of fame on Food 52 a while back.

Whoopie pies are also appropriate because Anne Marie’s blog is all about surprising lucky friends with inventive sandwiches– I think she’d approve of this dessert sandwich.  Take a look at her blog for some really interesting and tasty sandwich creations, and imagine what fun it must be to be a recipient of a sandwich surprise.

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Dark Chocolate Whoopie Pies with Raspberries and Lemon-Scented Cream

MAKES 6

Ingredients

For the chocolate cakes:

2 cups all purpose flour

2/3 cups Dutch-process cocoa

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup well-shaken buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 stick unsalted butter

1 cup dark brown sugar

1 large egg

For the filling:

12 ounces whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 teaspoons confectioner’s sugar

1 teaspoon lemon zest (from one lemon)

6 ounces fresh red raspberries (about 30)

Technique

1.  First, prepare the cakes.  Preheat oven to 350.

2. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.

3.  In another bowl, cream together butter and sugar. When light and fluffy, add in egg.

4.  Mix in 1/2 of the flour mixture into the butter mixture.

5.  Add vanilla and buttermilk.

6.  Combine in the rest of the flour mixture with the batter.

7.  Measure out 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto two baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches around each cake. Bake for about 12 minutes, switching pan position after 6 minutes. Cakes are done when they spring back to touch. Be careful not to overbake or they’ll dry out. Cool completely on baking sheets before assembling into whoopie pies.

8.  While cakes are baking, prepare the filling. First, whip cream into soft peaks, then gently stir in sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla. Refrigerate until ready to assemble whoopie pies.

9.  Assemble whoopie pies just before serving. Mound about 2 tablespoons of prepared cream filling onto the bottom half of a cake. Then place about 5 raspberries onto cream, and top with another cake, bottom down. There will be extra cream– feel free to serve with another dollop on the side, if eating on a plate.

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Thanks for visiting! If you enjoyed this post, please comment and/or share it with your friends.  And please check back these other posts from #LetsLunch:

Annabelle‘s Figs and Ricotta With Honey at Glass of Fancy

Anne Marie‘s Breakfast Club Sammy at Sandwich Surprise

Betty Ann‘s Purple Yam Jam at Asian In America

Cheryl’s Japanese Crisp Choco Bites at A Tiger in the Kitchen

Emma‘s Homemade Biscuits & Sausage Gravy at Dreaming of Pots and Pans

Grace‘s School Cafeteria Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars at HapaMama

Linda‘s Cheesy Puffs at Free Range Cookies

Lisa G‘s Mars Bar Slice at Monday Morning Cooking Club

Lisa K‘s Nutella Cookies at The Little Good Ride

Lucy‘s Velveeta Apple Casserole at A Cook and Her Books

Margaret‘s Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes at Tea and Scones

Tammi‘s Healthy SPAM at Insatiable Munchies