Chocolate Whoopie Pies are a fun dessert made of two layers of chocolate cake, with a creamy frosting sandwiched in between. The chocolate pie layers are made by baking dollops of a thick chocolate cake batter. These treats are easy to make and are always a crowd-pleaser!
Whoopie Pies certainly look impressive, but they’re fairly easy to make! They’re honestly no harder than making cookies, making frosting, and sandwiching the two together. Let’s walk through it.
How to make Whoopie Pie Batter:
The batter is made with the same cast of ingredients you’d need if you were making a cake. And, it’s made in the same way too! But, this batter will be a bit thicker – it’s somewhere between cake batter and cookie dough – it’s definitely not as thick as cookie dough, but it’s not so runny that it can’t hold a shape.
How to Make Whoopie Pies:
Scoop the batter into balls with a cookie scoop, and plop onto a baking sheet. That’s it! You don’t need anything special to shape these. Even the cookie scoop is optional – a spoon works too. Be sure to leave space between them, like pictured below, as they will expand as they bake.
And, here’s what the baked whoopie pies will look like! They may not be the most perfect circles ever, but that’s completely fine. Let them cool completely while you get the frosting mixed up.
Whoopie Pie Filling:
The traditional filling for whoopie pies is a buttercream frosting, but I’m not a huge fan of traditional buttercream – it hurts my teeth. I always cut my frostings with cream cheese – it adds so much silkiness and everyone always loves this type of frosting.
Spread the frosting on half the whoopie pie rounds, and then sandwich an unfrosted piece on top – and voila! There are your completed whoopie pies. Dust them with a sprinkle of powdered sugar for a polished finishing touch, and dig in!
Happy baking!
More chocolate desserts to try:
Best-Ever 5 Ingredient Brownies – These 5-Ingredient Brownies are made using only super basic pantry staples!
S’mores Donuts – Baked chocolate donuts are dipped in an incredibly delicious, silky chocolate ganache and topped with toasted mallows.
Fudgy Triple Chocolate Skillet Brownie – This Skillet Brownie is rich, gooey, and full of pools of melty chocolate. Bonus – it comes together in just 15 minutes!
Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies – These cookies are ultra fudgy, with crackly tops – and three kinds of chocolate chunks!
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Whoopie Pies
Ingredients
- FOR THE WHOOPIE PIES
- 1 stick salted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup milk see recipe note
- 1 tbsp lemon juice see recipe note
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp, cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
- FOR THE FROSTING
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 4 tbsp salted butter
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Make the pies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add the tablespoon of lemon juice and the 1 cup of milk to a drinking glass, and stir to combine. Let sit while you mix up the other ingredients (about 5 minutes). If you have buttermilk on hand you can skip this step and just use that. Soften butter in the microwave for about 20-25 seconds. Don't let it get melty! In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter with a mixer until smooth. Add the brown sugar and beat until completely combined and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla, and mix until combined. In a smaller mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda. Alternate adding the milk and the dry ingredients to the bowl with the butter/sugar mixture. I do this in thirds - I add 1/3 of the dry mixture, and then mix on low speed. I add 1/3 of the milk, and then mix on low speed. Repeat this until everything is combined. The batter will be thinner than cookie dough but a little thicker than cake batter.
- Bake: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop a cookie scoop or a heaping tablespoon full of batter onto the parchment paper, leaving about 3 inches in between each batter blob. Don't flatten them at all! You can fit about 8 batter blobs on a cookie sheet at a time. Bake one cookie sheet at a time - for 9 minutes. To check if they're done, gently poke one of the cookies with your finger - if it makes a dent, it could use another minute or two. If the cookie springs back, it's done. Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack right away, and let cool completely before frosting.
- Make the frosting: While the whoopie pie cookies are baking, make the frosting. Soften the butter and cream cheese together in the microwave for about 25-30 seconds. Mix with an electric mixer until creamed and smooth. Add 1 cup of the powdered sugar, and mix until combined, on low speed. Add the milk and vanilla, and mix. Add the remaining cup of powdered sugar and mix until smooth. We want a little bit of a thicker frosting here, but it should still be spreadable. If it's wayy too thick for some reason, add an additional tablespoon or two of milk and mix. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate while the cookies bake and cool.
- Assemble: When the cookies are completely cooled, remove the frosting from the fridge. Spread frosting on the flat side of one of the cookies, and add the second piece on top to make a whoopie pie. Try to pair the cookies up based on similar size for a neat look. Enjoy right away!
- Store: Store whoopie pies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
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Barbara Furson says
I am looking forward to making these.
Do you use unsweetened cocoa? Or hot cocoa mix?
Stephanie Simmons says
Hi Barbara! Use unsweetened cocoa powder. Enjoy the recipe! Let me know how you like them. 🙂
Julia says
These Whoopie Pies were absolutely delicious. The cream cheese filling adds such a lovely flavor and compliments the fluffy pies well. I will certainly be making these again, thank you for such a simple yet wonderful recipe.
Stephanie Simmons says
So glad you loved this dessert, Julia! Happy baking. 🙂
Meredith says
What you made with the cream cheese is the New Hampshire recipe, far superior- sorry Maine! Can’t wait to make them and relive my childhood with my kids.
Stephanie Simmons says
I did not know it was the New Hampshire version, thanks for alerting me, haha! 🙂 Either way, hope you enjoy them! Happy baking.
Lorena Conti says
I’m born and raised in Maine and have always loved my moms Whoopie pies but was looking for a smoother filling. I love cream cheese in any filling so can’t wait to try these! I won’t tell my family it’s the NH version!! 😂
Stephanie Simmons says
Hope you love these, Lorena! 🙂 Cream cheese is my favorite too. Happy baking!
Jessie says
Are the woopie pies bite size or regular size. I am looking for them to be bite size. So I need to know if I need to make them smaller or not.
Stephanie Simmons says
Hi Jessie! They are not bite sized. You could definitely just scoop smaller amounts to make them bite size – you’ll just end up with a larger yield of total whoopie pies! Oh, and reduce the bake time to 4-5 mins and add another minute or so, as needed, until done. Hope that helps! ? let me know how they turn out ❤️
Rhiana P says
I know this is almost a year after your post, but I just ant want to say this recipe is amazing! Your recipe was used for a baking class for my daughter. They looked so delicious. We took them to a birthday luncheon afterwards and everyone loved them! So much so, they were requested for our huge Easter Gathering! Can’t wait to get making them again!
Stephanie Simmons says
Rhiana, you made my day! So glad you loved them! They’re one of my favorite desserts to make ❤️ Happy Easter!
camila says
These Whoopie pies are so gorgeous! Beautiful photography! as always!!
And Happy Anniversary to you guys! Wish you a lot of happiness!! Honeymoon in Maine, yay! I love Maine, love lobster! lol
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much Camila!! Maine is amazing! I can’t wait to visit again ?
April says
Happy belated anniversary! Love the photos. You look BEAUTIFUL! I am loving these whoopie pies. I don’t know why whoopie pies always look so intimidating. I think I have the guts to make them now since you make them look so easy!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thank you so much April!! Haha I hope you do try them! Its just like making cookies with a more wet batter and then frosting them! ??❤️
Heather says
Gorgeous pics and WOW! … those whoopie pies are amazing! Homemade whoopie pies are the best and I think your recipe is perfect!!!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thank you Heather! Hope you love them! ?
Samantha H. says
Yeesss, these look SO. GOOD. Like seriously, I could use a whoopee pie right now. I will have to make them when I get home from vacation. Happy anniversary!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much Samantha!
Gloria says
First HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! Love the story…and your wedding photos are beautiful. Sounds like these whoopie pies hold a special place in your heart. ENJOY!!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much Gloria!
Meeta says
Happy Anniversary! You know I have never made whoopie pies?!! I know – I saw the craze explode a while back but somehow never got to it. But now I think I need to …
danielle wolter says
Happy Anniversary! You know I have never made whoopie pies?!! I know – I saw the craze explode a while back but somehow never got to it. But now I think I need to …
danielle wolter says
These are so cute and look absolutely amazing! Happy anniversary too 🙂
Emily says
Happy anniversary, your dress is gorgeous! Loving the look of these whoopie pies, yum!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much Emily!
Stine Mari says
You guys are just the cutest! Congratulations on your anniversary, and these whoopie pies are just perfect for the big day!
Natalie says
Happy Anniversary! These whoopie pies look so delicious! It’s been so long since I made whoopie pies and your recipe really makes me wanna get into the kitchen right now!
Tammy says
Wow your whoopie pies look so beautiful! Such a perfect treat to celebrate with! Happy Anniversary ^_^ Pinning these for later…cannot wait to try!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks Tammy!! Hope you love them! They are so addicting ?❤️
Marisa Franca says
Such beautiful photos!!! Happy Anniversary! And I’ve never eaten whoopie pies but they look like they’d be quite tasty. I’m going to have to save the recipe. And when Hubby asks what I’m doing I can say that I’m making whoopie.
Stephanie Simmons says
HAHAHA! I just laughed out loud at that one! ?❤️
Vladka says
I love your wedding Whoopie Pies! Can’t wait to try your recipe so I can share them with my family. Beautiful couple, by the way.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks for your kind words Vladka!! Hope the whoopie pies are a hit with your family!
Ruchi says
Happy anniversary! Whoopie pies are amazingly delicious and kids love them. Never had them with cream cheese frosting yet but would love to try!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thank you Ruchi! They are universally loved by kids and adults and me! Haha ?
Casey Rodweller says
Happy Anniversary! You were an absolutely stunning bride! I absolutely adore whoopie pies, and these look absolutely delicious! Definitely going to make these at some point!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thank you so much Casey! ❤️ It’s fun to look back through the pictures. Let me know how they turn out!!
Veena Azmanov says
Happy Anniversary! Such a pretty dress, lovely pictures and such a gorgeous bride I Love whoopie pies and my favorite is cream cheese frosting. Have to try this soon. Saving for later.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thank you so much Veena! ❤️❤️ These are my new favorite dessert!! ?
Pavani says
Belated Wedding Anniversary wishes to you!!
Whoopie pies look very very inviting!! Love that cream cheese frosting too – I prefer that over buttercream anytime.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thank you Pavani!! Yay! Cream cheese is the best ?
Madi says
I love homemade whoopie pies! They always disappear so quickly at my house, I can’t wait to try making your version!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thank you Madi!! Hope you love these ones too ❤️