Junk Food Nation, after yesterday’s tasting of Turkey Hill’s Limited Edition Baked Apple Dumpling Ice Cream resulted in a “meh” review, I was told in the comments, by Facebookers, and by Turkey Hill themselves to try their Limited Edition Whoopie Pie Ice Cream.  Alrighty then.  Challenge extended…and accepted.

Today’s junk food: Turkey Hill Limited Edition Whoopie Pie Ice Cream!

The Whoopie Shot

Now, JFN, I do have a history with whoopee pies.  And by history, I just mean I’ve had them before. They were introduced to me by my friend Mike, a Maine loyalist.  When I went back home with him once, he introduced me to the first Whoopie Pie I’d ever had.  Essentially, a whoopee pie is two layers of a chocolatey cake, and in between was a big layer of white frosting/marshmallow cream/cream filling.  It was very reminiscent of an Oreo Cakester. (Yes, I know Whoopie Pies came first…fine, the Oreo Cakester is reminiscent of a Whoopie Pie.  Geez, intent-history-grammar police.)

Little Whoopie

Here’s my buddy Mike eating a Whoopie Pie while we were in Maine.  Notice the two handed grab and the gigantic bite into a hamburger-sized Whoopie Pie.  I don’t think he knew I took this picture.  Nice.

Big Whoopie

And here’s Mike eating a small-deep-dish-pizza-sized Whoopie Pie. These people from Maine, I swear to god – love their Whoopie Pies, love their LL Bean, love their lighthouses and lobsters…it’s like, we get it. Maine has a lot to offer. Always with the flaunting, Maine.  Always with the flaunting.

Whoopie Goldberg

Turkey Hill Limited Edition Whoopie Pie Ice Cream highlights a small controversy over the origin of Whoopie Pies, however.  And by controversy, I mean no one really cares.  BUT it’s funny to talk about! Apparently, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and Maine BOTH fight over who invented the Whoopie Pie FIRST. The previously linked article actually has some great quotes (“So I’m saying, let’s claim our rightful heritage before another state makes the whoopie their state dessert.” “How dare they?” “The whoopie pie, all it does is promote obesity”)

MMMmmmmm….delicious obesity.  Anyways, here’s how it went down according to Wiki: the Maine State Legislature considered naming the whoopie pie the official state dessert. The Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau and other observers in Lancaster County, PA, note that the whoopie pie comes from the area’s Amish and Pennsylvania German culture – origins that are unlikely to leave an official paper trail – and has been handed down through generations. Maine residents assert that Labadie’s in Lewiston, Maine has been making the confectionery since 1925.  So what happened? The Maine Legislature eventually decided to declare the whoopie pie the official state treat, and chose blueberry pie (made with wild Maine blueberries) as the official state dessert. Way to cave, Maine.

Makin' whoopie

So yeah, Turkey Hill Limited Edition Whoopie Pie Ice Cream indicates Lancaster County as home to the original Whoopie Pie.  So be it – as you can see the carton is covered with pictures of Whoopie Pies of all sizes.  As previously described, it is just two chocolatey cakes with a creamy filling.  I was really curious how an ice cream of this flavor would taste.

Whoopie cushion

Ok, so this description sounds really good, especially in its simplicity.  No deconstruction necessary – this is just chocolate ice cream mixed with Whoopie Pie pieces.

Now THAT'S a good description

Unlike the Baked Apple dumpling label, this label discusses quite nicely what goes into this frozen treat.  I do want the ultimate whoopee pie experience, I do!  Although I’m not sure what this has to do with me being an explorer, but I’m too hungry to argue.

Whoopie cough? Ok, enough puns

MMmmmmmmm chocolate ice cream.  Hell, even just chocolate ice cream is good enough for me.  But let’s dig deeper…

Like a good mashup, mix-in, blend-in...

There we go.  Like a good mashup of ice cream and topping, this Turkey Hill Limited Edition Whoopie Pie Ice Cream is loaded with Whoopie Pie pieces, and you can see that creamy/marshmallowey/frosting swirl in there right away.  Time for a taste!

Gooey

Gooey

Gumdrops

ZOMG. Turkey Hill Limited Edition Whoopie Pie Ice Cream, yes. YES. YES.  Um, yes.

Turkey Hill, this blows the Baked Apple Dumpling ice cream out of the water.  First, the chocolate ice cream was standard but as such very satisfying – not overly ice-y, and just the right level of creamy and chocolatey flavor.  Then the Whoopie Pie itself – Turkey Hill didn’t skimp on the pie pieces, because it was almost impossible to get a spoonful of this ice cream without getting a few chocolatey cake pieces inside.

The cake pieces were rich and chocolatey and loaded with flavor, complementing the ice cream nicely.  If you like ice cream and cake (which I do), this was a very satisfying ratio of cake-to-ice cream.  Finally, the creamy swirl was awesome – great flavor of marshmalloey/frosting flavor, which accented the cake pieces just right and blended well with the smoothness of the ice cream.

In essence, I felt like this was just chocolate ice cream mixed with chunks of Whoopie Pie, and that was EXACTLY what I was seeking – it didn’t taste processed or contrived or fake.  It tasted like what I would get from a local Maine/Pennsylvania ice cream shop specializing in blends.  A REALLY good ice cream, Turkey Hill.  DEFINITELY a keeper…not limited edition. KEEPER.

Thoughts?  Tell me in the comments below or hit me on Twitter @junkfoodguy or on my Facebook Page.

Sincerely, Junk Food Guy