Lancaster County Whoopie Pies and Sweet Bakeries

Lancaster County whoopie pies are two soft, round, cake-like cookies with a sweet cream filling between them, a Pennsylvania Dutch favorite sold in bakeries, farm stands and market stalls across the county. The classic is chocolate with vanilla cream, though flavors range from pumpkin to red velvet. Look for a soft cake, a thick filling and a counter with a line, and taste before you commit.

What are Lancaster County whoopie pies?

A whoopie pie is a handheld dessert that sits somewhere between a cake and a sandwich cookie. Two soft mounds of dark chocolate cake surround a thick layer of cream, which can be made with shortening and sugar, marshmallow or buttercream. The result is rich, soft and a little messy. They are usually sold individually, wrapped in plastic, and sometimes in boxes of six or twelve.

Several states claim the whoopie pie, including Maine and Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania Dutch bakers say it is their own. The origin is a friendly argument that nobody in the county is going to settle.

Why do people associate the Amish whoopie pie with Lancaster County?

Because Plain-community bakers in the county made them a staple of farm stands and markets. The Amish whoopie pie is often larger and sold at roadside stands and at the markets in the city. Bakers here use recipes handed down in families, and each has a signature in the cake or the cream. The tradition feels local and homemade.

Please remember that Plain communities live and work here. Be a polite customer, ask before photographing anyone and respect the Sunday closing that many stands observe.

How do you choose a whoopie pie?

Look at the cake. It should be soft but hold its shape, with a glossy top and no dry edges. Look at the filling: it should be thick, not runny, and fill the space from edge to edge. Choose a pie that is fresh and sells quickly, which a busy counter shows. If a stand offers a taste, take it. A good whoopie pie is better a day or two old than a bad one is fresh.

Eat it with a napkin and a glass of cold milk. Size matters less than freshness, and a smaller pie from a baker who made it that morning beats a giant one that has sat in a case. Some stands sell mini versions, which are good for sharing. Fillings vary: marshmallow cream is light and sweet, buttercream is richer, and cream cheese gives pumpkin and red velvet pies a tang. If you cannot decide, buy a pair of different flavors and cut them in half.

What else belongs in a Lancaster sweet haul?

Shoofly pie, a molasses and brown sugar pie, is the classic. Sticky buns, fruit pies, cinnamon rolls, cookies, fudge and jars of jam, pickles and chow-chow fill the shelves. Root beer and fresh cider are the drinks. A box of mixed sweets from a bakery makes a good gift, and a small selection is easier to enjoy than a mountain.

The Pennsylvania Dutch regional foods guide explains the shoofly pie and chow-chow.

Where can you find a Lancaster bakery?

In the city, in the small towns around it and at the weekly markets. Bakeries range from large, tourist-friendly shops to a table at the edge of a farm. The Lancaster city restaurants guide covers the central streets, and the roadside stands guide covers the farm tables. Opening days vary, and many stands close on Sundays.

Go early on a Saturday. The best items sell out. Ask the baker what is made fresh that day and whether the pies are baked on site. A baker who is proud of the cake will usually say so, and a sign that lists the ingredients, including the type of fat used in the filling, is a good sign of care.

How should you store and carry sweets?

Keep whoopie pies in a cool place, wrapped, and eat within a few days. Refrigerate cream-filled items in warm weather. If you are traveling, pack them flat in a box and keep them out of the sun. Pies and cakes travel better than anything with cream. Carry cash, because many stands do not take cards.

Check what you can take on a plane before you buy a whole pie.

How do tags and ratings help?

In the Mosey app, you can rate a place with stars and add a dish, such as a whoopie pie, with its own rating. Tags such as Bakery, Farm Producer and Market Stall describe the place, and a diner can look for them in the Find sheet. A tag is a note from someone who was there, so confirm days and hours with the seller. If friends shared the box, tag them, and they can add their own rating.

Where next in Lancaster County?

The Lititz pretzel guide covers a salty snack, and the Central Market guide covers the city's market. The US food guides hold the rest of the country.

For the rest of the state, start at the Food in Pennsylvania page.

After the sugar rush, open the Mosey app, rate your favorite whoopie pie by the dish and share a list of Lancaster sweets with whoever asked you to bring something home.