Whoopie Pie Cake

Yield: enough icing to generously frost a 2-layer cake.

Ingredients

Cake

• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 3 eggs
• 9 tablespoons cocoa powder

Icing

• 2 cups whole milk
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 8 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup solid vegetable shortening

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. Cake: Beat together the butter and sugar.
3. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Mix slowly, gradually adding buttermilk. Beat for 2 full minutes.
4. Add eggs, then gradually add cocoa, beating another 2 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape the sides of the bowl.
5. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake about 40 minutes, until center springs back when gently pushed.
6. Cool the cake layers for 5 minutes, then remove them from pans and cool them completely on a wire rack.
7. Icing: Pour the milk into a stainless steel saucepan over medium heat.
8. Gradually whisk in flour until a thick paste forms. Do not scorch!
9. Remove from stove and cool this mixture in the refrigerator.
10. In a separate bowl, mix the sugar, butter, vanilla extract and shortening.
11. Add the cooled flour mixture. Whip for at least 3 minutes until creamy.

Source: Becky's Diner, Portland, Maine