Classic Whoopie Pie vs Koulourakia: Traditional Greek Butter Cookies

The Classic Whoopie Pie and Koulourakia share milk, butter and egg, but put them to very different work. The whoopie pie uses a generous pour of milk to make a soft cocoa batter, dropped by the spoonful and baked into tender rounds, then sandwiched around a fluffy, sweet filling of butter, shortening, powdered sugar and vanilla. Koulourakia rely on butter and two eggs for a pliable dough, adding milk only by the spoonful, then are twisted into ropes, brushed with an egg-yolk wash and baked until golden and firm. Vanilla scents both, while optional orange zest can add a light citrus note to the twisted cookies.