UPDATE! Natalie has given me permission to share the recipe behind these wonderful whoopies! So the recipe as been added to this post. Just scroll down to get it and enter to win a copy of her new book Bake & Destroy if you haven’t already. We’ll be choosing the winner tomorrow – So Scoot!
I’ve been lucky enough to have traveled around the world meeting vegans* and yet in all my journeys I have yet to meet one really adorably awesome one – Natalie Slater.
Natalie isn’t just a gamer with a pro-wrestling obsession – she’s a famous vegan baker who’s been on The Food Network and Cooking Channel. She’s also been a judge on Cupcakes Wars – which you all know is one of my favorites and not just because I love Doron Petersan. We were lucky enough to get a copy of her new cookbook Bake And Destroy – Good Food for Bad Vegans to review and give away!
This book is not just full of the cutest punk rock doodles. It has some really creative and delicious recipes like Shepherd’s Pie Pizza and OCD Chips & Dip that were celebrated in our home like they were Mozart in Salzburg. Especially the whoopie pies. Now you guys know I love a good whoopie pie. Even more than cupcakes – GASP! But yeah – more than cupcakes. So that’s what we made first.
The cake part of these whoopie pies have perfect texture and included cardamon – which is a spice that I know I love with chocolate but always forget to play around with. This recipe has inspired me to explore that relationship more. Actually the hardest part about this recipe for me was sitting down long enough to shell the pistachios. Luckily the new season of Face Off ** is on to keep me company. The recipe below has been cut and pasted from Bake and Destroy: Good Food for Bad Vegan by Natalie Slater – Page Street Publishing; August 2013 and printed with permission from the publisher. I can tell you it’s easy and wonderful and everything you ever wanted in a handful of cake and frosting.
But you don’t want to hear me wax all romantic about watching the SyFy channel and chocolate. You already know those things rock. You also probably don’t want to me go on and on about how much I love this book because I love it. LOVE IT. Do you need to hear more? You want to win this book!
Keeping with the spirit of Natalie’s love of pro-wrestling and also because I read an article once that anyone who was a kid in the 80s*** can name 10 pro wrestlers in under a minute (I’ve tested it and it’s true) today’s contest is pretty simple. Leave a comment naming your favorite pro-wrestler. It must be someone we can google. No making up stuff. We will randomly choose ONE commenter from the comments below this Friday Sept 20th 2013 to win a copy of this book. Be sure that the email address you leave is valid so we can contact you when you win.
So dig deep in your memories of G.I.Joe and Jem and tell us which pro-wrestler you were cheering for on Saturday afternoons after cartoons were over!
Pistachio Whoopie Pies
Rather than using a traditional marshmallow filling, I fill these with pistachio buttercream—fancy! I felt compelled to color the filling green. Skip that step, if you prefer.
Makes 24 whoopie pies
Whoopies
1 2⁄3 cups (207 g) all-purpose flour
2⁄3 cup (79 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ cup (57 g) vegan margarine
¼ cup (57 g) unhydrogenated vegetable shortening
1 cup packed (225 g) dark brown sugar
¼ cup (60 g) blended silken tofu or vegan soy yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ¼ cups (295 ml) soy milk
¼ cup (25 g) finely ground pistachios
Filling
¼ cup (57 g) vegan margarine
¼ cup (57 g) nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening
3 cups (375 g) confectioners’ sugar
3 to 4 tablespoons (45 to 60 ml) soy milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup (50 g) finely ground pistachios
Green food coloring (optional)
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use an actual whoopie pie pan.
To make the whoopie pies: In a small bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt and cardamom.
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the margarine, shortening and brown sugar on low speed until mixed, and then beat for 3 more minutes on medium speed. (You could also do this with a handheld electric mixer.) Add the tofu and vanilla and beat for 2 more minutes.
Add half the flour mixture and half of the soy milk and beat on low speed until just incorporated. Add the remaining flour mixture and soy milk and beat until completely combined. Add the ground pistachios and stir to incorporate.
To make about two dozen 2-inch (5 cm) whoopie pies, drop the batter 1 tablespoon (15 ml) at a time onto a lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches (5 cm) apart. I use a whoopie pie pan, which makes about sixteen larger whoopie pies.
Bake for 10 minutes, or until the whoopies spring back when lightly touched. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then remove from the pans to cool completely.
To make the filling, in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the margarine and shortening just until mixed. Add the confectioners’ sugar, beat on medium for about 1 minute, until the mixture is crumbly. Add the soy milk, vanilla and salt and beat on high speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add the food coloring now, if using. Stir in the pistachios.
To assemble: When the whoopies are cool, match them up as best you can. Plop a dollop of filling on the underside of one (I use a pastry bag to do this, but you don’t have to) and sandwich it together with another whoopie.
*Yeah – Best job ever.
**If you like monsters and special effects as much as I do – please check out this show. Every time I like something it gets canceled. So the fact this show is still on – makes me nervous and happy – so many feelings.
***I know this is going to give my 30 something peers an edge but there has to benefits to being 30… this is one. But to be fair – if you’re little or have blocked out this part of your childhood – you can google ‘Cyndi Lauper Goonies’ and there are a bunch in there that might help you out.
When I was growing up macho man randy savage was always my favorite!
I’m embarrassed to admit it now, but I was a super huge fan of Jake the Snake Roberts. Huge.
Mick Foley!
The Ultimate Warrior. I mean, who else could pull off 80’s butt-rock hair AND rock the neon war-paint face-bird?! No one that’s who! He was hot (despite being not so talented) and let us not forget that he was once part of the Sting-Warrior tag team. Good times in the 80’s WWF (<- that's World Wrestling Federation NOT World Wildlife Fund for all you youngsters) 🙂
The whoopie pies look awesome! My favorite wrestler is The Rock who also happens to look awesome! 🙂
I always watched Chiller Theater, or whatever the Saturday scaries were called WAY back then.
Your cookbook looks awesome! YUM!
CM Punk!
I guess my favorite is Hulk Hogan – does he count? I was born in the 80’s but wouldn’t say I was a kid in the 80’s!
I was never much into wresting, though some of my friends and family were. I do remember “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, so I’ll say he was my favorite. Would love to win this book. Love Natalie!
Absolutely, hands-down Shawn Michaels!
Stone Cold Steve Austin. Can I get a hell yeah!
Rowdy Roddy Piper. It’s all about the kilt!!!!
I going with two: Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and the Fabulous Moola!
I’m with Erica on this one. Ultimate Warrior! He was legitimately insane, but in a good way! His character was obviously his true self – in face paint. Plus, he legally changed his name to Warrior. I LOVE HIM!
I know all my friends loved Hulk Hogan! Too bad his life fell apart after reality TV!
Hulk Hogan any man that can rock a feather boa with long blonde hair and a deep fake tan and still look bad a$$ he won my vote but also Capt Lou Albano with the face bands, loud shirts and Cyndi Lauper on his arm that is epic 80’s hands down and another winner if even as honorary mention!
Koko B. Ware! He was so jazzy and I loved that bird.
I once shared a plane with Hulk Hogan. So… there’s that.
My little brother and I are both children of the 80s, and he was a big wrestling fan, so, yeah, I could TOTALLY do that ten wrestlers in under a minute thing! I embarrassedly admit that I too liked Jake the Snake (ugh, that greasy hair!!), and, dear lord, I can’t believe I’m about to type this, I had a thing for the Texas Tornado. I used to say (sweet baby Jesus) “Texy is Sexy!!” I’m gonna go die of shame now.
It has to be my late father’s fave…Jesse the Body Ventura! He loved WWF wrestling which was so funny if you knew my dad.
CM Punk is my favorite wrestler because he is genuine, straightedge, has some K.A. tattoos, and is…The Best In The World!!!!
I’m a child of the 90s, so it has to be Hulk Hogan!
The Undertaker. I guess I was about 9 or 10 when I first started watching wrestling and being an avid horror movie fan already I was instantly drawn to him as a character. And since everyone else loved Randy Savage I just had to be the odd gal out 🙂
Well that one vegan wrestler dude: (looking his name up on Google, ha!) Bryan Danielson.
I’m not a fan of wrestling, but if he can get the word out, that’s great! 🙂
Am i allowed to say Scott Voss from Here Comes the Boom? It wasn’t exactly wrestling and he wasn’t exactly pro, but it was UFC….
I was never much of a wrestling fan. So the only one that comes to mind is Hulk Hogan!
Dudes….Hulk Hogan all the way!
Rowdy Roddy Piper was good, and Macho Man was too. But no one will ever top Hulk Hogan…except for maybe Mr. T.
Wait! I forgot about Andre the Giant! How did I forget him?!
Hulk Hogan.
The cover of the book is so cute!
The last time I watched wrestling was in the ’80s and the only person who ever really stood out to me was Hulk Hogan!
I’m gonna go for Mad Dog Vashon. I don’t really know how to spell that last name. It was really my little brother’s thing to watch, but I have to admit I was in the room and made fun of it 🙂
Do I have to choose just one?!?! I guess it would be Rowdy Roddy Piper. Any man that can rock a kilt and still be a bad a$$ is just awesome in my book!
The Undertaker! Although he creeped me out hardcore as a kid.
Jesse the Body Ventura – brains and brawn!
Andre the Giant. How could you not want to watch a fairy-tale giant allowing a loss to a more buff Hulk Hogan?
I would have to go with my husband’s all time favorite – Rowdy Roddy Piper.
Stone Cold Steve Austin all the way!!!
Back in “the day” it was Hulk Hogan,lol.
Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka. The man is 70 years old and still wrestling, barefoot!
Hi. Great website! I loved watching wrestling back in the day. So many good names have been mentioned already. I’ll throw in Rick “The Nature Boy” Flair (great outfits), Dusty “The American Dream” Rhodes (fun name) and Bret “Hitman” Hart (good hair). Ah, the memories…
My favorite wrestler would have to be George “The Animal” Steel!!!!
Andre the Giant! Who wouldn’t love a pro wrestler who also starred in Princess Bride?!
Agreed – best job ever!
One of the most memorable pro-wrestlers for me is Andre The Giant (more because of his role as Fezzik in The Princess Bride than wrestling). All this talk about pistachios got me thinking about peanuts… My very favorite line is when he and Inigo Montoya are on the ship in this conversation:
Inigo: “No more rhymes now and I mean it!”
Fezzik: “Anybody want a peanut?”
Kimbo Slice!!! Wooooooooooooooo (I hope he counts)
p.s. – love how you managed to fit in a Star Wars video in the description <333 Star Wars
Hillbilly Jim!
I’m dating myself, but for my 23rd birthday, my husband gave me a life sized autographed poster of The Executioner and one of Sweet Daddy Siki – both were my favorites and I never missed one of their televised matches.
Mick Foley, Also named Cactus Jack, Mankind, and Dude Love! Also can not forget Mr. Socko!!
Rick Flair, The Nature Boy!
My favorite were The Rockers – Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty. Went to see them and even had a rad purple shirt with their cartoon likenesses.
Oh man, it has GOT to be The Undertaker!!8
I used to love watching wrestling with my dad when I was little! So many good memories! But my favorite that stands out till this day would be Andre the Giant! <3
I grew up watching the fabulous freebirds
As a kid it was Hulk Hogan but now it’s Ric Flair cuz all the footage of him on YouTube is absolutely hilarious!
George ‘the animal’ Steel!
I was never much into wrestling, but I do remember watching G.L.O.W as a child.
I was terrified/in love with Ninotchka!!
I was afraid she would call our house threatening to beat me up!
Hulk Hogan was my favourite, hands down! I’m really excited about this book…
Jesse Ventura…that’s one, right?
When I was little I loved the Undertaker. I thought he was so scary.
Dean Ambrose!
Superstar Billy Graham without a doubt !
Hulk Hogan was always my favorite when I was little. All I needed was to have him kicking butt on TV and all the marshmallows in a bowl of Lucky Charms to have a great morning at grandma’s! ^_^
I feel so boring… but hulk hogan comes to mind! man, remember those toy versions? the miniature wrestling rings and tiny wrestlers? 😀
I grew up watching wrestling and my favorites were the Ultimate Warrior, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake.
I also LOVE watching Face Off, it’s such and awesome show!
P.S. Those cookies look AMAZING, I just love anything with pistachios!
Being from MN, I have to say Jesse Ventura. He’s a legend 😛
Growing up my older brothers watched a lot of WWF (see, way before it became WWE!) and I loved Superfly Jimmy Snuka, Hulk Hogan, and Macho Man Randy Savage. Classic wrestlers right there.
Daniel Bryan is my current favorite. I have a soft spot for Mick Foley. 🙂
I have fond memories of summer visits to my Uncle and Aunt where we got to stay up late and watch Krusher Kowalski.
Want to say Daniel Bryan (or “the American Dragon” to the Japanese). Apparently he’s vegan now..?
My favorite was always Tito Santana.
Heh. Boy… brings back memories.
The undertaker was always my favorite.
I always enjoyed Rowdy Roddy Piper and his kilt/T-shirt combo.
I think it would have to be the Hulk. Who else could get away with wearing boas in such a manly sport?? 🙂
Andre the Giant. I remember seeing him wrestle when I was a child–my grandmother LOVED wrestling, which was strange to me. But what sealed the deal as favorite wrestler was his part in the Princess Bride, though I didn’t fully appreciate him in that role until I was a teenager.
Bill Goldberg….Goldberg is an animal welfare advocate and an American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) spokesman, and has addressed the United States Congress in order to raise awareness of illegal animal fighting.
I used to work at steakhouse eons ago and made Hulk Hogan a steak. So um, Hulk Hogan?
The Fabulous Moolah! A fierce woman…
I liked a few. Rowdy Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan and Mil Máscaras (Man of A Thousand Masks) were some favorites. 😀
The Rock!!!
Mad dog Vashon! Wasn’t there a whole family of them??? Not sure I got the spelling right tho…
The 80’s kid wrestling thing is totally true! How funny. I could think of a few but Andre’ the Giant and Rowdy Roddy Piper with the kilt were my faves. Looking forward to trying the recipe, Thanks to Natalie for sharing!
The British Bulldog!! Love a guy who can rock cornrows in the 80’s =)
Do you think it would be possible to make these gluten-free? I’m new to gluten-free baking–anyone have a suggestion for a type of gf flour that would work here?
It has to be Andre the Giant… I mean, he was even in The Princess Bride. Can’t get any better than that!
Hillbilly Jim. Now and forever!
Bruno Sammartino
Definitely Captain Lou Albano! He inspired Kimya Dawson to be a totally kick ass babe, and he played Mario on TV!
I have to go with Andre the Giant. Loved him in The Princess Bride *and* he was a character in that wonderful 80s cartoon Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling!
i def suffered from hulkamania when i was a wee girl…
Hulk Hogan. How can you pick anything else. I mean, he ripped his shirt off! Also, I love pistachio. Very excited to get this recipe and put it to use.
I never liked wrestling – but I’m sure I will like this cookbook!
These whoopie pies look great! Thanks!