The whoopie pie, also known as the bob, gob, black moon, or “BFO” (Big Fat Oreo), is an American baked product that shouldn’t be confused with the Moon Pie, which has many different ingredients. Additionally, the Moon Pie doesn’t have the surprisingly controversial history that the whoopie pie does.
Virginia, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania all claim to be the birthplace of the whoopie pie. Each of them has evidence to support their claim. But, the claim by Pennsylvania is perhaps the strongest as it’s likely that the first whoopie pie came from the local Amish and Pennsylvania German culture and was handed down through generations. However, there is no paper trail of this. Maine is considered the other most likely place of origin as local bakeries have been making it since 1925.
Wherever they truly originated, what’s not in doubt is how delicious they are! One of the things I love the most about them is the variety you can find. The most common is the chocolate whoopie pie. However, you can also find pies with a peanut butter or pumpkin puree filling. If you’re feeling especially decadent you can also buy or make red velvet whoopie pie.
You can buy whoopie pies in-store or make them at home using your favorite whoopie pie recipe. But, if you baked or bought too many what can you do? Can you freeze whoopie pies? Yes! You can freeze leftover whoopie pie to extend its shelf life.
Do Whoopie Pies Go Bad?
Yes, whoopie pies can go bad eventually. However, considering the ingredients they’re made with, they can last a surprisingly long time.
Many people worry about the term of consumption of these cookies because the recipe includes a butter-based filling and eggs, which can easily spoil. Depending on the recipe used, your whoopie pies might also contain a cream cheese filling – another ingredient that you might be worried about the storage of.
Store-Bought
If properly kept, you shouldn’t have to worry about leftover store-bought whoopie pie going bad within the expiry date on the packaging. That said, you may notice changes in both taste and texture before they spoil. The older they are, the more likely they will become harder, dryer, and less flavorful.
Whilst whoopie pies are unlikely to be harmful after the ‘best by’ date’ consuming before then is recommended for the finest quality whoopie pies.
So, if you have store-bought whoopie pies, make sure to eat them or freeze them by the “best by” date for the best results. Otherwise, they will much less enjoyable.
Homemade
When it comes to homemade whoopie pies, you don’t have the date on the package to go off of. So, it’s important that you are careful in the storage and the amount of time you have them. Of course, they’re best when they’re eaten fresh. But it’s not always possible, particularly if you made a large batch.
If you can’t eat them all fresh, they should be stored in the fridge as soon as possible due to the buttercream in the whoopie pie filling. They could spoil otherwise. When stored in the fridge, homemade whoopie pies can last for about five to ten days.
How to Tell if Whoopie Pies Have Spoiled
You can check to see if they’re still okay to eat by the sight, smell, and taste. If they’re hard, very dry, or look “off” then they should be discarded.
Additionally, you can smell them, and if they have a bad smell they should also be thrown away.
Finally, if they taste bad, then they should be tossed into the bin. You shouldn’t risk eating potentially spoiled whoopie pies.
Do Whoopie Pies Freeze Well?
Yes, whoopie pies freeze well. With most other foods, fresh is best, but when it comes to whoopie pies, they still taste delicious after they’ve been frozen. Some people (like myself) like to sometimes eat them when they’re still a little bit frozen, sort of like an ice cream sandwich. It’s a great treat for a hot summer day!
However, the weakest link when it comes to freezing whoopie pies can be the creamy filling since sometimes creamy foods don’t freeze particularly well. So, you may find that some fillings freeze better than others. But, this only gives you the excuse to try out a variety of different whoopie recipes. That seems like a win-win, am I right?
But, before you decide on freezing your whoopie pies, let’s get into some of the pros and cons of doing it so you can make the most informed decision possible.
Pros of Freezing Whoopie Pies
First, here are some of the pros of freezing whoopie pies:
- You may freeze them in batches for when you need to offer a treat or individually for your own.
- Freezing usually has no effect on the quality.
- Eating them cooled or frozen may make them less messy to eat.
- They taste great when cold.
- They’re simple to freeze and need little to no additional effort.
- They keep nicely in the freezer for several months.
- Large batches can be made and stored separately.
- When you have a sweet craving, you can just pluck one out.
Cons of Freezing Whoopie Pies
Unfortunately, like life in general usually, there are some downsides. However, the downsides of freezing whoopie pies are pretty minor.
- Not all filling recipes freeze equally – some freeze better than others
- You want to eat more than one at a time
- When you warm them up after they’ve been frozen, they become overly sticky or crumbly compared to when they’re freshly baked.
- You become severely addicted to frozen whoopie pies and always need to eat them because they’re so delicious.
As you can see, when it comes to the actual quality of them after they’ve been frozen, there are really only two downsides to freezing them. The others only serve to warn you how tasty whoopie pies are, but you probably already know that.
How Long Do Whoopie Pies Last in the Freezer?
Whoopie pies can last quite a while in the freezer if stored properly – between three to six months. While they’ll be safe to eat pretty much indefinitely when they’re frozen, their quality will suffer after this three to six-month period. But, this is much better when compared to how long they last when left at room temperature or in the fridge.
Ideally, they should be left at room temperature only so they can cool down after baking. However, you can store them up to one day max at room temperature, but I would recommend storing them in the fridge before that. Once they’ve been put into the fridge they can be stored there for between five to ten days.
How to Freeze Whoopie Pies
Now that you have a decent understanding of not only the intriguing background of whoopie pies, as well as the pros and cons, and how well they freeze, let’s get into how you actually freeze them. It’s super easy!
- First, you should decide how you want to freeze them. You can freeze them in a batch or conversely you can freeze them individually. I personally prefer freezing them individually wrapped and stored as you aren’t obligated to defrost more than what you plan on eating. Also, they’re less likely to stick together if they’re wrapped individually.
- Next, prepare them for freezing.For the individual method, wrap each whoopie pie in plastic wrap. If you want to store them together in a bag without the wrapping, place them on a cookie sheet and allow them to freeze. If you don’t like using so much plastic wrap then this is a good option as well.
- Then, take the wrapped or individually frozen whoopie pies and place them into a freezer-safe bag or container.
- Label the bag or container and then place them in the freezer.
- Use within three to six months for the best quality whoopie pies.
How to Defrost Whoopie Pies
Before going into how to defrost whoopie pies, I want to say that you actually don’t even have to defrost them if you don’t want to. A frozen whoopie pie is a tasty, cold treat that you should definitely try. However, if that isn’t for you, here are a couple of ways that you can defrost them.
In the Fridge
This is always my go-to method when defrosting things, that is when I have the time. I like it because it’s easy and allows me to not worry about having to remember how long something has been sitting out.
To defrost whoopie pies this way you simply take however many you want out of the freezer and place them on a plate in the freezer and leave them there overnight.
The next morning they should be defrosted and ready to eat. You don’t have to eat them right away either – you can keep them in the fridge for a few days if you’ve thawed too many.
On the Countertop
This method is also pretty hands-off but as I mentioned, you need to remember how long they’ve been sitting out. This is because due to the ingredients in the cake and cream filling, whoopie pies shouldn’t be left out for too long as they could spoil or they become stale.
To defrost whoopie pies on the countertop simply take them out of the freezer and place them on a plate on the countertop at room temperature. They should be defrosted within one or two hours. Try to eat them promptly or put them in the fridge if you won’t eat them immediately.
How to Use Whoopie Pies After Freezing
The warmer a whoopie pie is, the messier it will be. This is because the cake part will become soft again and the cream filling will become gooier and thus messier. This is another reason I prefer eating them frozen. However, after whoopie pies have been frozen you can go ahead and use them just like you would when they’re fresh.