If you are like me, then you are not from New Hampshire, which means you also didn’t grow up knowing what a whoopie pie is, (Whoopi Goldberg? Yes. Whoopie Pies? What?) In fact, you may be wondering, what actually is a whoopie pie? It’s not cake, not quite a cupcake, it’s definitely not a pie… it’s almost like an ice cream sandwich minus the ice cream part. Traditional whoopie pies come from the New England region of the United States and are made by stuffing two dense chocolate cakes with fluffy marshmallow frosting. JL Cakes, a small business located in New Hampshire has their own version of the OG Whoopie pie--along with more than 25 other unique and tempting flavors. After trying NINE different flavors of JL Cake’s whoopie pies, I can now confirm that the dessert is just as fun and whimsical as its name suggests.
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JL Cakes prides themselves on being a small family business, (seriously small--just two people) and is located in Berlin, New Hampshire. While whoopie pies may feel a bit niche, JL Cakes owners Jody and Lisa are on a mission to bring whoopie pies to the world. As a midwesterner, I love this idea--why should New Englanders get to have all of the fun?

​After ordering and choosing my flavors, my box of pies arrived within just a few days. The box clearly designated that the pies were perishable, and even had specific instructions on how to keep the pies fresh. Each pie was wrapped individually with a cute sticker on the front with the brand name and flavor. I loved the personalization of the delivery--you could tell by the packaging and specificity alone that JL Cakes is a business that cares about each and every one of their deliveries.

I picked a wide range of flavors, (admittedly some funky ones) from maple creme to mint chip to Baklava. I sampled them with my parents, because eating nine whoopie pies is easier said than done, and we had so much fun reviewing them and choosing our favorite flavors. The base for all of the pies is the same--a thick, almost brownie-like chocolate cake--while the flavor difference comes from the frosting inside. If you enjoy an Amaretto sour, I’d highly recommend their Amaretto flavor. It was nutty and tasted just like the real stuff. If you’re looking for something more classic, I’d also suggest trying out the Mint Chip or Snickers flavors. I would love to sample these again at a party of some sort--there is certainly a flavor for everyone and the pies themselves are such a fun way to try out a new kind of dessert.
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Growing up in the midwest, I had never had a whoopie pie, (I even worked at a bakery for over 5 years, and yeah, still nothing), but luckily JL Cakes didn’t disappoint. As a dessert-enthusiast and someone who is always willing to try something new, I’d definitely buy from JL Cakes again. Next time, I’d love to try the Peanut Butter Lover and Mexican Hot Chocolate Whoopie. If you find yourself bored of cookies, cakes, and cupcakes, and are itching to try something new, whoopie pies are unique, tasty, and fun to try. Check them out!

What do I recommend?
These treats are worth every bite as they are soft to chew, but the flavor lays heavy on your tongue. Make sure you head over to (link) and get ourselves a package today. If you wonder which flavor to start with, I say get the Mint Chocolate Chip first and the churros as a strong second. The Hot Cocoa is my third, but that is seasonal. If you don’t see it, you can’t go wrong with black raspberry.  ​

​I have always had a sweet tooth. As a native of the South, I grew up on moon pies and always looked forward to the seasonal flavors that come during Mardi Gras. When I first heard of Whoopie Pies, a moon pie was the first thing that came to mind. They may both have “pie” in the name, but they are completely different. Whoopie Pies are more comparable to what I imagine a soft baked Oreo would be like, but larger and yummier, if you ask me. I can see this rendering of the Whoopie Pie going well beyond being a New England staple to the entire United States. They are that good.

Whoopie Pies are a regional New England treat, but as I stated before, I don’t think they will remain confined to one region for long. With over 25 flavors, Jody and Lisa have put their own spin on this fantastic dessert. They whip them up at home, in their own commercially licensed kitchen. This is a huge reason for why these delectable treats are so fresh. That, combined with the fact that they only use the necessary ingredients, is the reason they are so fresh and delicious. With just the two of them producing this magical product, it will only be a matter of time before they will have to expand. Their already successful business has no where to go but up from here and will require more manpower once word about their Whoopie Pies spreads.

I ordered the Whoopie Pies online and they arrived very fast. The box even had freezing instructions and freshness recommendations. That is a good thing because my first impression was of how big they were and how long they were going to last me! They are the perfect dessert size but sharable as well. Me and my wife found ourselves splitting them so we could both try all the flavors that we received. I got 9 flavors plus one chocolate snowball and a vanilla one as well. (I should mention that snowballs have always been a favorite of mine and that these did not disappoint.) The second impression I had was of the texture. They were both dense and light. That really lent to a richness without being so heavy that they were too much to finish. Perfectly decadent. All the pies are chocolate with various fillings that give them different flavors. I can say without a doubt that the fillings and icings are my favorite parts of any dessert and these did not disappoint. The filling was sweet (but not too sweet) and very fresh. The strawberry one really stuck out to me because it blended so well with the chocolate cake. The espresso and coconut were also some of my favorites. Another thing that I love about the filling is that it isn’t greasy. It makes for a prefect dessert for any part of the year, but summer especially. 

​As a lifelong sugar addict, I can see myself ordering more of these sweet confections in the near future. At least until I inevitably stumble onto them in a grocery store in my area. Hopefully, that will happen sooner rather than later as Jody and Lisa have knocked this out of the park. I made a great choice ordering from them and I can’t imagine having a better introduction into the delicious world of Whoopie Pies!

​Don’t call it a moon pie! These New England delicacies are far from their crunchy bakery counterpart. JL Cakes is looking to bring the Whoopie Pie to a national stage with its innovative flavors and convenient delivery. But how does this dessert hold up to a native New England pallet, and does it indeed live up to its namesake standard to make you say “Whoopie!”? Let’s find out!
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The first impression is the packaging which most certainly does the job. The classic packaging of clean plastic wrap and deli-style stickers invokes the idea that you are getting the real deal. Since the whoopie pie is such a substantial cake, it stands up to a cross-country shipping method of delivery, and all of the cakes were wonderfully intact.

​Good packaging is great, but what really matters is the taste test, and boy, does this New Hampshire whoopie pie not disappoint. When I first tried the whoopie pie with classic flavor filling, the first thing that jumped out to me was the excellent cake. It was skillfully balanced in a way that left it not sickeningly sweet and not overly rich. What is left is a delicious cake that can act as a perfect vehicle for whichever flavor is paired with it. This whoopie pie recipe should be the envy of New England.
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As for the flavor of the filling in this classic flavored whoopie pie, what’s not to love? The sweet filling pleases but doesn’t overstay its welcome and mixes perfectly with the deliciously baked cake. It might even remind you of your favorite childhood memories as it did me. The classic flavor does this New England treat justice, one that could be found in the best of Maine bakeries.

​The bevy of flavors that JL Cakes provide is another exciting point as they come across as both delicious and intriguing. Take the Mexican hot chocolate flavor filling, for example. It’s an incredibly interesting and culturally exciting direction. The taste of this filling is done an enormous amount of justice by the cake, which I could have sworn was explicitly crafted for this cultural flavor. The chili is warm and subtle and perfect for the consumer that wants to experience this without the intimidation that might come from trying new cultural treats. Throw in the churro and baklava flavor, and you have a serious collection of worldly flavors. It doesn’t stop there; they also have other great flavors such as snickers and strawberry that knock it out of the park as well.
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All in all, JL Cakes does a great job of taking a traditional New England staple and modernizing it for the modern age and also successfully preparing it for a national stage. As far as whoopie pies go, you would be pretty hard-pressed to find a better one than those from this New Hampshire bakery. Be warned, however, to order enough, as you will find yourself not wanting to share after your very first bite. Get your little taste of New England at JL Cakes today!

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