Classic American Chocolate Whoopie Pies

Whoopie pies are a classic American treat from the 1920s. Picture / Supplied

This cake-like chocolate sandwich cookie started showing up in bakeries and lunchboxes in the 1920s, and both Maine and Pennsylvania claim it as their own. It gets its name from the reception it gets when it is served. A whoopie pie can be as big as a hamburger. Be sure to serve with a glass of cold milk.

This is an edited extract from America: The Cookbook by Gabrielle Langholtz, published by Phaidon $70, available now.