THIS KID CAN

Little sis Lyla, 8, can’t wait!

THIS KID CAN BAKE!

It’s time to hop into the kitchen with this month’s featured foodie.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN M. HERR

Eleven-year-old Jordan Hadel of Westfield, NJ, got her start in the kitchen making chocolate chip cookies with her grandma at just 3 years old. Now, one of her favorite things to make is whoopie pies. “Homemade ones are just so much better than the ones you can buy,” she explains. Here, Jordan shows us how to whip up her version of these treats. (Hint: The secret ingredient is even more chocolate!)

Jordan’s Whoopie Pies

MAKES ABOUT 12 PIES

INGREDIENTS

Cakes 2 cups all-purpose flour ⅔ cup cocoa 1½ tsp. baking soda 1 stick butter (½ cup), softened 1 cup firmly packed light-brown sugar 1 large egg 1 tsp. vanilla 1 cup buttermilk Granulated sugar Filling ¾ stick unsalted butter (6 Tbs.), softened 2 cups powdered sugar 1 jar (7½ oz.) marshmallow cream, such as Marshmallow Fluff 2 tsp. vanilla 3 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder 1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 2 large baking sheets. In medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and baking soda. In large bowl, with mixer on high speed, beat together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla, and beat to combine. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture in small batches, starting and ending with flour mixture. Mix until smooth.

2. With a tablespoon, spoon mounds of batter 2 inches apart onto baking sheets. Sprinkle half with granulated sugar. Bake 15 minutes or until tops are puffed and cakes spring back when touched. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.

3. In medium bowl, with mixer on high speed, beat together butter, powdered sugar, marshmallow cream, vanilla, and cocoa powder until smooth, about 3 minutes. Makes about 1½ cups of filling.

4. Spread a rounded tablespoon of filling on flat sides of half the cakes. Top with other cakes. Roll sides in mini chocolate chips.

“I learned how to do a lot of things, like use the mixer, by watching my parents make dinner.”

“No more than six on a cookie sheet—they get really big.”

“Check the cakes with a toothpick a few minutes before the timer runs out so you don’t overbake them.”

“I added more chocolate to the filling because it’s my favorite food! I just love anything chocolate.”

“It’s cool to see how all these different things turn into something good.”