Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Thanks for the comments, everyone. One thing that I don't know if I made clear in the writeup is that this construction for a pie is ideal for crust-lovers: you can get a full side of crust in addition to the bottom and the back!

Jennywren: I think that each of these pie fillings can stand on its own if you prefer to have three separate pies, but I think that some weird reaction happened when they baked together, and each got a little aromatic infusion from the other flavors which was actually quite nice!

BigGirlPhoebz: Whoa, that looks amazing!

Thanks for sharing, Carol! I also just had a friend who made it and didn't have cloves so she omitted them, and it tasted fine like that too!

I am so sorry about that, @brunswickstew -- you are right, I mis-typed. I am so terribly sorry - I did mean teaspoon. Would love to make it up to you by swapping pie recipes! Feel free to email!

Haha! I think AmyRuth put it well: To those who choose not to partake in the madness, DON'T!

I should add a note about the recipe here too. If you make this, if you've used candies that are more firm in texture, be sure to slice the pie while it is still warm as it will harden a bit once it cools. You can warm slices up in the microwave for about 15 seconds before serving.

I know it's traditional to used plastic wrap to cover whoopie pies--it is said that it's not a "true" whoopie pie unless half of the cookie pulls off with the plastic wrap-- but in my opinion they should be individually wrapped in waxed paper. As for saving the ones you've got, I'd go with leaving them out in the open, either uncovered or under a cake dome, so that they can dry out a little and lose a bit of that saturation.

Beckyleeprice: Generally the paste food colorings are super concentrated, so you would want to add a lot less. I don't have much experience with them but it's worth a shot. I would just add a very little bit at a time.

Thanks all! Yes, I instantly fell in love with these. I am so glad that I have come across them, even if I have to lament all those childhood years spent without them!

@wheatfoot: I love the idea of the butterscotch chips with chocolate chips for the topping. Thanks for the tip!

@greenbean and @heartofglass: Oh yeah--you've got to have a big plate of these nearby and take a big bite the next time one of those Special K diet commercials come on!

Hey Wayward daughter: I'd go at it with a fork (or, even better, a spoon, to scoop out all the cakey bits from inside of the orange).

Ed: Thanks for so politely avoiding the fact that this recipe is basically the antithesis of your Serious Diet and offering such sweet words of welcome!

Dcarl: It is one of those things that skirts the line between awesome and awful--it's true!

Trilby: I can see how those "purees" might turn you off to...well, many sorts of liquid foods! ha!

Interesting to see how that gap was bridged. Thank you Smbetz! Also speaking to the confusion about the name, I have heard that "jumble" as a cookie actually precedes "jumble" used as a state of confusion. I'm going to have to check out the books you mentioned, they may shed some light on that too!

OK, so you'd rather eat a whoopie pie (stupid name and all!). But it's got me wondering about how we might prove which dessert is truly the strongest in this epic battle for the public's affections. Perhaps there are more scientific ways to prove which is the strongest dessert-- seeing which one fares better when dropped off of a 10 story building...or which one looks better after being run over by a car? Watch out, I've got my cake science hat on.

Alas, my biggest triumph and worst disaster occurred on the same day. I get teary thinking of the gorgeous black and white cake (like a b/w cookie, but huge) that I helped my mom make...and just as it was about to be served to the birthday boy (my dad) she dripped and dropped it, frosting-side down. This cake was a goner. Oh my god, I think I am going to cry just thinking about it. Winning this book would definitely help.