Whoopie Pies

A Whoopie What?:

Consisting of two cookies stuffed with creamy filling, Whoopie Pies are a big deal in Maine. In fact, in 2011, the Maine State Legislature designated the whoopie pie as Maine’s official state treat. We’ve spotted them at restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, and even at two specialty bakeries. So of course we had to sample a variety! Here’s our report based on our official and highly scientific testing method*.

Cape Whoopies, Portland: My Mom and Grandma’s Favorite

Getting There: We visited Cape Whoopies on a sunny afternoon and found their location to be easily accessible. There is a parking lot to the right of the building, as well as one on the backside. Use the one on the backside for the easiest access. There is a door at the back of the building that delivers you right to the counter to order your Whoopie Pies. Cape Whoopies is located at the back of a really fun coffee shop too, so if they’re open I suggest stopping in.

The Whoopie Pies: Cape Whoopies is famous for its seasonal flavors, and they didn’t disappoint when we visited. Fall flavors were all around and it was hard for us to narrow down which flavors to try. Of note, this was the only place we found GLUTEN-FREE whoopie pies, so this is the place to hit if you need that option.

What my family really loved about these whoopies was how rich and fudgy the chocolate cookie was on the classic version, and how the filling was light and almost marshmallow-like. So it was considerably more balanced of a treat than places that use a more frosting-like filling. We can see why their tagline is “Maine’s Gourmet Whoopie Pie” because these definitely felt like an elevated dessert.

Wicked Whoopies, Freeport: My Favorite

Getting There: Getting to Wicked Whoopies is really easy, and involves going to my FAVORITE place in Maine, Freeport. Their bright and cheery building is located right on the main street, so it was easy to find and roll right in. Something else nice about this location is they have a seating area where you can sit and enjoy your whoopie pies. There are also benches out along the street, so I would suggest taking them to-go and enjoying them while you people watch.

The Whoopie Pies: Oooh I loved these whoopies! They were sweet and delicious. Once again, my favorite was the classic whoopie pie, but the mint was a very close second. My family liked the mint as well and said it wasn’t an overwhelming minty taste, which was a great balance with the chocolate cookie. They were a bit sweeter, which I loved, but not too sweet that the rest of my family couldn’t finish their treats. Something fun about Wicked Whoopies is they offer a GIANT 12″ whoopie pie for parties, and also mini-whoopies which would be a great way to try this classic treat. Overall, these had a great homemade feeling, like if someone in your family took the time to lovingly prepare these treats for you.

Grocery Whoopie Pies: Nobody’s Favorite

The Whoopies: We thought it was fun that all the grocery stores near our Airbnb had whoopie pies in the bakery sections. Some were mini-sized, some where HUGE, but as it turned out, none of them were that impressive. It probably doesn’t help that we had already tried the pies from two experts, but we ended up really disappointed by them and didn’t even finish them. So my advice would be to skip the grocery store versions and set your sights on Cape Whoopies or Wicked Whoopies.

Fun Fact!

Maine also has an official state dessert,
Blueberry Pie!

Final Notes:

Whoopie pies are a yummy treat to enjoy when you’re visiting Maine, so if you’re in Portland make sure to stop by Cape Whoopies, and if you head up to Freeport, make sure to grab a few at Wicked Whoopies. Let me know what flavors end up being your favorite!

*Scientific Method Described: So, maybe it’s not scientific. We cut them into pieces and eat them. Then discuss what we think. Yay science!