Banana Whoopie Pies

Ingredients: 

Banana Whoopie Pie:

• 1 lb. (about 4) bananas
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup canola oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Vanilla Buttercream:

• 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, very softened
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon milk, ONLY IF buttercream is too thick

Instructions:

Banana Whoopie Pie:

MAKES 24. Preheat oven to 350º. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 

Peel and mush bananas with a fork until there are only a few small lumps. Blend together the lemon juice and the banana with an electric mixer. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat eggs, oil, sugars, and vanilla into the banana mixture. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the banana mixture. 

Using a pastry bag or  plastic dip lock with a hole, squeeze the banana whoopee pie mixture onto the pan with a 2 inch diameter. Leave at least an in between each banana circle. Immediately put the whoopee pies into the oven for 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown and spring back when touched. Remove from oven and let cool completely. 

Vanilla Buttercream:
Cream the butter in a bowl with an electric mixer until there are no chunks. Slowly, with the mixer on a low speed add the powdered sugar, very slowly. Increase the speed of the electric mixer and add the vanilla. Once the entire mix is well combined, continue to mix the buttercream for 2 more minutes to get the light and fluffy effect. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Now if the buttercream is too thick add only 1 teaspoon of milk at a time until desired thickness is achieved. If the buttercream is too think and liquidly add more powdered sugar gradually until thickened.

Assembly:
To fill the whoopie pies turn half of them over. Using a pastry bag, pipe a good amount of Vanilla Buttercream into the center of each whoopie bottom. Top with the remaining whoopies and slightly push down.