Whoopie pies — an American original – also dubbed as moon pies, gobs, bobs, black-and-whites, and big fat Oreos, these tantalizing treats are said to have originated from at least four states including Pennsylvania and Maine, and some even say they were invented by Amish wives.
Whoopie pies can be made at home, and are also available at your local cake and grocery stores by different brands.
Just like most deserts, consumers ask do whoopie pies need to be refrigerated.
So, without further ado, here’s the lowdown on whether whoopie pies need to be refrigerated, and if so, how to go about it!
What is Whoopie Pie? How it is made?
Whoopie pies were originally sold at Labadie’s Bakery in Lewiston, Maine, but today are available across the United States and in an array of flavors.
Whoopie pies are basically a mini chocolate cake sandwich, but in a cookie form.
Further, Whoopie pies are a combination of two things — two soft cookies and filling, which can be traditional such as chocolate and vanilla and marshmallow, or widely used buttercream filling.
All ingredients used in the making Whoopie pies are certified vegan, gluten free, non-GMO, kosher, and free of many food allergens.
The process begins with making of the chocolate cakes with the first ingredient — water, followed by apple cider vinegar.
Then either canola or sunflower oil is added, and then mixed together in a large bowl.
Next, dry ingredients are added to the large bowl, starting with tapioca starch, bean flour and sorghum — a gluten free grain.
Further, they mix it in cocoa powder, granulated caned sugar and brown sugar.
The mixer is then run at a very high speed to incorporate air in the batter.
This makes the cake lighter and fluffier.
After roughly four minutes of mixing, the batter is ready, and a sample is tested using a viscometer — a device that measures the thickness.
The batter is then pumped into a hopper into a multi-head depositor, which lays out the batter onto a baking sheet.
These sheets of batter are loaded into an oven, where the sheets rotate for fifteen minutes at 75-degrees Fahrenheit to evenly bake the cakes.
Shortening is the main ingredient for the filling, which is mixed well to make it light and fluffy.
Powdered cake sugar is added to the mix along with organic rice milk, which is a dairy-free substitute that makes the frosting creamy.
The frosting is then dropped on the baking sheets in the same configuration as the batter, and then the final pies are assembled.
The assembled Whoopie pies are then rolled into a cooler, and left to chill for approximately fifteen minutes to harden them, so that they don’t get squished during packaging.
Can You Freeze Whoopie Pies? And How?
The short answer is “Yes” — just like any other desert, you can freeze Whoopie pies.
Take for example, Cape Whoopies — a specialist Whoopie pie maker in Maine ships their orders by 2-day FedEx on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in an Indestructo shipping box.
However, the company freezes its Whoopie pies prior to shipping, so that the individually wrapped pieces stay fresh throughout their journey until they arrive at your home.
But the downside is that Whoopie pies may get soft and gooey if they’re left out in the heat, but on a brighter note, they’ll still stay fresh.
In fact, Whoopie pies are perfectly fresh on the shelf for up to 21 days at room temperature, and up to a year in the freezer.
Freezing Whoopie pies is pretty easy, where you first have to ensure they’re at room temperature, and thawed in the refrigerator overnight before consumption.
If you bake Whoopie pies at home, you can freeze them for up to three months, and store bought Whoopie pies can be frozen for up to a year in the freezer.
How to Store Whoopie Pies?
When speaking about how to store Whoopie pies, it’s worth noting that these deserts are best enjoyed freshly made, so the less time you store them, the more enjoyable they will be.
Since Whoopie pies have a cream filling, they can get spoiled when not stored properly.
The best way to store Whoopie pies is in your fridge or freezer or you can also store them in your pantry at room temperature, but this also depends on the type of filling/cake combination used.
To avoid the guesswork, it is best to store Whoopie pies in your fridge or freezer, and in airtight containers.
Do Whoopie Pies Go Bad?
As mentioned earlier, Whoopie pies do go bad, if not stored properly.
These treats are made from buttercream, so it’s important to store them in a refrigerator for ten days or better yet in the freezer for up to one year.
There are several ways to determine if your Whoopie pies have gone bad, and it all starts with the shells.
When the pies go bad, the filling begins to lose water, which is then quickly absorbed by the shells that eventually become soggy.
And remember, there are certain health risks associated with spoilt Whoopie pies or any other deserts and foods, so it’s best not to consume them if you sense they’re not right to indulge in.
Do Whoopie Pies Need to be Refrigerated?
Whether you have store bough Whoopie pies or made a delicious batch at home, refrigeration is key for long time freshness.
You should refrigerate your Whoopie pies especially if you don’t plan on consuming them over the next few days.
But if you’re going to be using them after a week or so, then your best bet is to freeze the Whoopie pies.
How to Refrigerate Homemade and Store Bought Whoopie Pies?
The process to refrigerate homemade and store bought Whoopie pies is basically the same.
You can ideally use any container when refrigerating Whoopie pies, but using air tight containers simply extends their freshness, and shelf life.
To store both store-bought and homemade Whoopie pies in the refrigerator:
- Depending on the brand, some Whoopie pies may already come in some sort of airtight packaging.
If so, you don’t have to use air tight containers, but it may help with organizing the treats better in your fridge.
- Remove the Whoopie pies from the box, and place them in air tight containers, preferably one Whoopie pie in a separate container.
- Set the containers in an area in your refrigerator that is not likely to tip the containers.
How Long Do Whoopie Pies Last in the Refrigerator?
Always store Whoopie pies in an airtight container when storing them in the refrigerator.
Doing this will allow you to enjoy sheer goodness for up to 4 days, but could be longer depending on the filling/cake combos used.
Homemade Whoopie pies may last longer in your refrigerator, as they’re baked right in your home, and not at the bakery a few days ago, so they’re as fresh as they come!
However, one of the downsides of freezing Whoopie pies is that the taste may deteriorate, as they aren’t really fresh out of the oven.
Final Thoughts
Whoopie pies are delicious deserts for young and old, and everyone in between.
To keep them fresh, Whoopie pies can be kept out at room temperature, but just for a day or so.
For long term freshness, and to maintain the flavors of the filling and shells, it’s best to store Whoopie pies in the refrigerator or freezer in air tight containers.
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