PILGRIM WHOOPIE PIE

Steps:

• Special equipment: a kitchen torch, optional, a stand mixer with paddle and whisk attachments, donut molds, piping bags with number 3 or 4 large round tips and a number 0 round tip, a candy thermometer, Silpat or silicone baking mat
• For the whoopie pie: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Paddle the butter in stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment at medium speed until soft, light and the consistency of mayonnaise. Use a kitchen torch to gently warm the bowl if necessary.
• Add the sugar and paddle at medium speed until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl often, about 5 minutes. Add the cocoa powder and continue to paddle at medium speed until completely incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl 3 or 4 times to ensure all the cocoa powder is well mixed in, another 5 minutes.
• Add the eggs one at a time and mix at medium speed until well incorporated. Scrape down the bowl and paddle after each addition.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and espresso powder in a medium bowl. With the mixture on the lowest speed, alternate adding the dry ingredients and water, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Scrape well.
• Paddle at top speed until smooth and slightly glossy, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Place the cake batter in a piping bag. Spray the donut molds with cooking spray. Pipe a thin layer of cake batter into each donut mold, enough to just cover the bottom, about 1/2 inch thick.
• Bake until the cake has set and a tester comes out clean, 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool completely on a rack. Repeast to make 48 donut cakes total.
• For the marshmallow: Bloom the sheets of gelatin in some ice water. Combine the 1 1/4 cups sugar, corn syrup and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan and cook on medium-high heat until a candy thermometer reads 238 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, when the sugar reaches 218 degrees F, begin to whip the egg whites, salt and lemon juice with a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment at medium speed. When egg whites become frothy, gradually add 2 teaspoons granulated sugar. Continue to whip the egg whites to soft peaks. Time this well so egg whites are at soft peaks when the sugar mixture reaches 238 degrees F.
• Squeeze the excess water from the bloomed gelatin and add to the hot sugar mixture. Swirl the pot to melt the gelatin; do not stir. Remove from the heat.
• With the stand mixer on medium-low speed, slowly pour the hot sugar mixture into the whipping meringue, being careful not to let the sugar hit the whisk and splatter.
• When all the hot sugar mixture has been poured in, increase the mixer speed to high. Add a splash of vanilla extract and whip the marshmallow until the bowl is cool to the touch and the marshmallow holds its shape, but is still loose and glossy, about 8 minutes. Place the marshmallow in a piping bag with number 3 or 4 large round tip. Makes about 3 cups
• For the hippen tuile: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Paddle the butter in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment at medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar and paddle at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl often. Slowly add the egg whites and continue to paddle at medium speed until completely combined.
• Reduce the speed of the mixer to the lowest setting, add the flour and vanilla extract and mix until combined. The batter will resemble cake batter.
• Scoop tuile batter into a pastry bag fitted with a number 0 tip. Chill the batter until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Pipe the chilled batter into desired shapes (small rectangles to resemble buckles) on a baking sheet lined with a Silpat or silicone baking mat. The batter will be stiff; loosen it slightly by the kneading pasty bag with your hands. Chill the piped tuile cookies until the batter is firm, about 10 minutes. This is a very important step so that the cookies maintain their shapes.
• Bake the tuiles until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool completely before taking the cookies off the baking sheet. The tuiles will crisp as they cool.
• To assemble: Pipe a ring of marshmallow onto the bottom of a cake ring. Top with another cake ring, pressing down gently to distribute the marshmallow. Attach a buckle cookie to the marshmallow filling on the side. Repeat with the remaining whoopee pie pieces, marshmallows and tuiles. Enjoy!