malted whoopie pies with milk chocolate

the flu- (n.) feeling like death for an extended period even after recovery; hell; the worst thing ever

I've been absolutely feeling like hell for about a week and a half now. Barely sleeping, coughing like a maniac and absolutely dying. ach. For a girl who never gets sick, it was just the worst.

But alas, I've survived.

and I made whoopie pies so obviously I'm healed. I sat on foodgawker wishing I was in the kitchen when I was moping at home whilst sick. Piles of recipes were collecting but I was really itching to use some of my Australian goodies.

So I sat down with my trusty old chocolate whoopie pie recipe and turned it into Milo chocolate whoopie pies, and what else to fill them with than the ultimate milk chocolate buttercream.

 It's one of my new favorite frostings and it just sorta happened. Baking, making the frosting and filling all happen in under 30 minutes so I still had time for homework.. shit. But thirty minutes? you can't beat it.
A slightly malted, lightly chocolate whoopie pies

Malted Milo Whoopie Pies makes about 12 pies total.
Ingredients-
1/2 cup of Milo Malt Powder (maybe subsitute something like Ovaltine.)
1/2 cup of milk
1 egg (room temperature)
2.5 TBSP shortening (soft)
2 TBSP butter (soft)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 TBSP brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup + 2 TBSP flour
3/4 + 1/8 tsp baking soda

Directions-
Mix together your Milo and milk to dissolve the Milo. It could take a bit but no stress. Just stir occasionally.
Preheat the oven to 375 and line baking sheets with parchment.
Meanwhile, beat the shortening, butter, sugars and vanilla together until super light and fluffy. 
Beat the egg in a separate bowl and pour half into the butter and sugar mixture. Toss the rest. (or double the recipe...) Beat again until whipped. 
Add in the Milo milk mixture and beat till combined. Sift in the flour and baking soda and gently stir to combine.
Spoon heaping tablespoons of batter onto the baking sheet, spaced an inch apart. Bake for 10 minutes or til lightly springy to the touch, like cake.
Let cool on a wire rack. Frost and serve.

Milk Chocolate Buttercream
Ingredients
1 stick of butter, at room temp
2 oz cream cheese, at room temp
1 cup confectioners sugar
3 oz chocolate, half bittersweet, half unsweetened chocolate. chopped.

Directions-
Melt the chocolate over a double boiler until smooth, set aside to cool.
Beat the butter and cream cheese until fluffy and creamy. Add the confectioners sugar and beat until fluffy and creamy. again..
Add in the cooled chocolate and whip til creamy and perfect. Frost the whoopie pies and devour.