Pumpkin Whoopie Pies are pillowy soft and made with a whole can of pumpkin and plenty of cozy pumpkin spice. They’re sandwiched around a silky brown butter cream cheese frosting and topped with a flurry of powdered sugar. Serve these pumpkin treats at a Halloween party or to switch things up at Thanksgiving!
Published: October 2018. Updated October 2023.
It’s the time of year for all things pumpkin, and I’m calling it now – these are sure to be one of your new favorite treats! They’re oh-so-easy to make, a huge crowd-pleaser, and they even use a whole can of pumpkin. Let’s dive in!
Why you’ll love these Pumpkin Whoopie Pies:
- Pillowy Soft Cakes – Pillowy soft whoopie pies are ultra moist and fluffy, and stay that way for days!
- Packed with Pumpkin – This recipe uses a whole can of pumpkin, and plenty of pumpkin spice for tons of flavor!
- Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting – A luscious brown butter cream cheese frosting with a hint of cinnamon perfectly compliments these pillowy whoopie pies! Good luck not eating it by the spoonful, hehe.
Ingredient Overview:
As always, the full recipe with measurements & directions can be found at the bottom of this post.
- All-purpose flour – Spoon your flour into the measuring cup, then level it with a flat utensil for best results, or use a scale. Scooping the measuring cup directly into your flour will lead to too much flour, and a potentially dry bake.
- Butter – I always use salted buter for the best flavor, but feel free to use unsalted butter if you prefer.
- Eggs – Use large eggs.
- Pumpkin – Be sure to use pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. This also comes in a can but has other ingredients added.
- Cream cheese – Use full fat cream cheese for best results.
- Cozy Spices – These are packed full of pumpkin pie spice – cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. The spices beautifully enhance the pumpkin flavor!
Ingredient Substitutions:
- Gluten-free – I have not tested a gluten-free version of this recipe. Let me know if you do.
- Dairy-free – Use your favorite, trusted dairy-free butter and cream cheese to make this recipe dairy-free.
How to Make this Recipe Step-by-Step:
Step 1: Brown the Butter. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Then, continue cooking it, stirring occasionally, until it’s deeply golden brown with a rich, nutty aroma. Pour into a separate bowl to to cool (this is for the frosting).
Step 2: Make the Whoopie Pie Batter. Start by whisking together your wet ingredients in a large bowl – melted butter, oil, eggs, pumpkin, and the sugars. Fold in the dry ingredients – baking powder and soda, salt, and spices. The batter will be slightly thick and a bit lumpy. Make sure you got all the flour mixture folded in by scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl with your spatula.
Step 3: Dollop Batter onto Baking Sheet. Drop two tablespoon size dollops of batter onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 4: Bake. Bake as directed in the recipe card below for best results. A toothpick inserted into the center of the whoopie pies will pull out some moist crumbs, not wet batter.
Step 5: Make the Brown Butter Cream Cheese Filling. In a medium bowl, beat together the cooled brown butter and cream cheese. The brown butter and cream cheese will look curdled at first but it will smooth out after a few minutes. Mix in the powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon. It’s the perfect creamy filling!
Step 6: Frost the Pies. Use a piping bag fitted with a round tip (I used a Wilton 1A piping tip) to pipe a swirl of frosting onto half the cakes, then pop the tops on. You can also use a ziploc bag with the tip snipped off.
Serving + Storing this Recipe:
Enjoy once frosted! Store these whoopie pies in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. They do need to be refrigerated because of the cream cheese in the frosting.
Expert Success Tips:
- Cooled Brown Butter – Be sure your brown butter is cooled to room temperature before making the frosting. If it’s warm, your frosting will be melty.
- Oven Thermometer – An oven thermometer will tell you if your oven is actually running at the temperature you set it to. Your oven may not be accurate. Accurate oven temperature is crucial for most bakes, so I leave an oven thermometer in at all times to keep an eye on my oven’s calibration.
- Kitchen Scale – A food scale is the best way to make sure your flour is at the proper weight, since amounts will vary SO widely based on how you measure it, as well as the measuring cup you use, as they are not standardized.
FAQs:
A whoopie pie is essentially a fluffy, moist piece of cake baked in the shape of a cookie. Two are sandwiched together with frosting as the filling to make a whoopie pie. They may have been invented in Maine (or at least, in New England). So, call them pumpkin cookies, pumpkin cakes, sandwich cookies, or pumpkin whoopie pies – up to you.
Yes you can! A double batch will be quite large, so make sure to use a very large mixing bowl.
Yes! Make the whoopie pies, and let them cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours before frosting and serving. You can also make the frosting up to 24 hours ahead. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge. Let come to room temperature for 10-15 minutes before using, and beat with your electric mixer to get it spreadable again.
Your butter was likely warm or you mixed things for too long, or your house just runs warm. Pop the frosting in the fridge or freezer at any time to help firm it back up to a nice spreadable consistency. It can take anywhere from 10-60 minutes to firm up, depending on how melty it got.
Recipe Variations:
- Frosting – You can skip the brown butter in a pinch, although it is incredibly delicious!
- Salted Caramel – These would be extra delicious with 1/4 cup of my salted caramel sauce recipe mixed into the frosting and/or with extra caramel sauce drizzled on top. It compliments the fall flavors so well!
- Chocolate Chips – If you want to add chocolate chips to these, I think the best way would be to plop a handful on top of each of the portioned out blobs of batter.
Special Tools:
- Cookie Scoop – Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop to dollop your batter. (This one says it technically holds 4 teaspoons, but it’s the one I always use.)
- Mixing Bowls – I love my set of glass mixing bowls for all things baking!
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More Pumpkin Recipes to Love:
- Pumpkin Streusel Muffins with Maple Glaze
- Pumpkin Snickerdoodles with Rum Caramel
- Pumpkin Cupcakes with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
- Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes
- Mom’s Best Ever Pumpkin Bread
- Pumpkin Pasties with Maple Glaze
Did you make this recipe? Snap a photo and leave a comment!
Be sure to follow bluebowlrecipes on instagram and tag #bluebowlrecipes with your photo! You can also post a photo of your recipe to the bluebowlrecipes Facebook page. I’d love to see what you make!
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
For the Whoopie Pies
- 1/4 cup salted butter, melted 57 grams
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil 166 mL
- 2 cups brown sugar, packed 440 grams
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar 39 grams
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 and 3/4 cups canned pumpkin Do not use canned pumpkin pie filling
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled 260 grams
- 1 cup white whole wheat flour, spooned & leveled 130 grams (can sub 1 cup all-purpose flour here)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 and 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 and 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp salted butter 127 grams
- 6 oz cream cheese This only needs 5 mins or so at room temperature.
- 3 cups powdered sugar 360 grams
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Brown the Butter for the Frosting. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Turn the heat to medium-low and continue cooking the butter – stirring lazily. The butter will get foamy, then turn golden, then start to turn brown and develop a nutty/caramely sort of aroma. Once it reaches a deep golden color, pour into a heat safe container and pop into the fridge to cool down to room temperature. Make-Ahead Tip: This can be made up to 2 weeks ahead and stored in the fridge until ready to use.
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350℉. Line a few large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Make the Whoopie Pies: Melt the butter in a large mixing bowl. Whisk in the oil, then the sugars. Add eggs, pumpkin, and vanilla and whisk until well combined and smooth. Add the dry ingredients and fold in with a silicone spatula until just incorporated. The batter will be a tad lumpy and slightly thick. Don't over mix!
- Bake: Drop 2 tablespoons of batter onto the prepared baking sheet for each whoopie pie. Try to keep the batter in a little mound. Bake for 12-13 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center will pull out some moist crumbs when done.Let them cool on the baking sheet placed on a wire rack for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting & assembling.
- Make the Frosting: Once the butter has cooled, beat it together with the softened cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl. It will seem lumpy at first but just keep mixing until it smooths out. Mix in the powdered sugar in two additions. Add the maple syrup, milk, and cinnamon and mix until well combined. Taste and adjust as desired.
- Assemble: Use an offset spatula or a piping bag fitted with a 1A round tip (or ziploc bag with the tip snipped off) to frost your pies. Frost one whoopie pie piece and add a second one on top to assemble your whoopie pies! Dust with a little powdered sugar before serving, if desired. Tip: Don't try to use a piping tip in a plastic bag – no matter what, the pressure of squeezing the bag will always make the tip shoot out.
- Serve & Store: Enjoy immediately once frosted! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Adelaide M says
These are pretty good. I loved the brown butter cream cheese icing, but that was about it. The whoopie pies were very moist, almost too moist, like there was too much pumpkin in it. Also, it used up 1 1/2 cans of pumpkin which totally defeated the point of the “uses a whole can of pumpkin!” thing in the description. It wasn’t very flavorful- I would double if not triple the spices. It also made way more than it said unless you made them HUGE- as in bigger than your hand. I ended up just getting more smaller ones. They would be good with plenty of alterations.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks for the feedback, Adelaide!
Molly says
Are you supposed to use milk for the frosting? It is not in the ingredient list but listed in the directions.
Stephanie Simmons says
Hi Molly! My apologies, that was from an old draft of this recipe. No milk is needed. Please let me know how you like these!
Raquel Taylor says
Absolutely delicious! The cookies are soft and cake like and the brown butter frosting is sooooo good……. I’ll never make regular frosting again! I’m torn between this one and her salted butterscotch frosting! Exceptional!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much, Raquel! Glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Megan Altman says
Omg!!!! This recipe was absolutely perfect! And very easy to follow. The icing was the best part! I have never made brown butter cream cheese icing before. Definitely not doing it any other way now. Thank you for this recipe. Perfect amount of spice and pumpkin.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much, Megan! Brown butter cream cheese frosting is my absolute favorite – I use it in lots of my recipes. Happy baking! 🙂
Kaycey says
Best pumpkin whoopie pies hands down! I can’t think or a single improvement that thisbrecipe would need. The frosting really makes this recipe special and I will definitely be making these again.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much, Kaycey! I’m so glad you enjoyed these.
Janelle says
Oh my god, the perfect pumpkin to cream cheese flavor. They are so festive and definitely kid friendly!
Stephanie Simmons says
Glad you enjoyed these, Janelle! 🙂
B says
So yummy! Easy to make for a beginner/ enthusiast like me. I followed the recipe exactly and they came out beautifully! The batter smells like Autumn in a bowl and the pies taste divine. I can’t wait to make more of these.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much, B! 🙂
Lizzie says
LOVE THESE! Made them a few years ago and they have become my go-to holiday cookies. They’re INSANELY good. Everyone who tries them freaks out!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much for the rave review, Lizzie! 🙂
Rachel says
My pumpkin was watery (it didn’t come from a can) so the whole thing fell apart on me… I ended up making a cake instead ????…. but it is so good! I hope I can make actual whoopis pies next time, because this recipe is firrrrre!
Stephanie Simmons says
Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that happened Rachel! What type of pumpkin did you use if not canned? I’m glad the recipe tasted good regardless of what it looked like in the end. 🙂 Next time I’d recommend using Libby’s canned pumpkin – I find it the best of all the canned pumpkin varieties and it’s not watery at all. Happy baking!
Katie Andrew says
AMAZING! This recipe is a huge favorite with my family and friends! Super simple and Stephanie does a great job of walking you through what you need to know to make it correctly!
Stephanie Simmons says
So glad to hear that, Katie! And love hearing that the recipe directions were helpful for you. 🙂
Vicky says
I think I’m confused. This recipe has 3 cups of flour total, right? I dont have whole wheat so will just use all All Purpose.
Stephanie Simmons says
Yes, it’s 3 cups flour total. 🙂 So sorry that I’m just seeing this – the site stopped notifying me of new comments for some reason
Cheryl says
These were amazing, and my whole family loved them!! Great way to start off the fall baking this year!!
Stephanie Simmons says
So glad to hear that Cheryl! These are always a favorite with my family too ?
Erin says
They were so easy to make and the brown butter made them extra delicious. I will be making these again for Thanksgiving.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, Erin! So glad to hear you enjoyed these ❤️ They’re one of my favorite fall treats!
Venus says
These look amazing! Is it possible to make the batter and frosting beforehand and assemble them next day?
Stephanie Simmons says
Hi Venus! I wouldn’t recommend making the batter ahead without baking it right away – but you could bake the whoopie pies and store them in tupperware, make the frosting and store it covered in the fridge, and assemble the next day. The frosting will need to sit out at room temp to re soften a bit before using. Hope that helps!
Cindy says
These whoopie pies are so pretty, the colors I love it. I will be making these to take to my sons for turkey day. I bet they will be a big hit, Thanks for a new recipe
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks Cindy! ❤️
April says
I do have a few dishes that are addictive and I have a feeling this one will become one of them! The pies looks so yum that I don’t think I have seen anything similar before. Great recipe!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks April!
Chef Mireille says
OMG – that frosting has me drooling – I love pumpkin in all sorts of savory and sweet dishes so this is definitely right up my alley!
Kari Heron | Chef and Steward says
To be fair, I am all “pumpkinned” out, but let me hasten to say, that this is a recipe that I would make an exception for. Those pies look so moist in the crumb! This would be great with coffee. Officially drooling.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much! ❤️
Mirlene says
I can see why these are addicting! Tbey look delicious. I like the fact you used real pumpkin to make these cookies. I have pinned it to try later. Great recipe!
Adriana Lopez Martin says
You always have the best recipes, this whoopie pies look so yummy and the perfect fall treat. I enjoy anything pumpkin so this is a must try in my list.
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much Adriana! ❤️
Kelly Anthony says
My husband loves a good whoopie pie and the addition of the pumpkin will only make him more excited. Can’t wait to make these for my family.
Jess says
These look amazing! I love Whoopie pies! I just pinned this so I can try it later this week!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks Jess! ❤️
Jacqueline Debono says
These pumpkin whoopie pies look fabulous. I love all the ingredients and the fact that they don’t seem difficult to make! Going to pin for later!
Amanda says
I love all things brown butter and pumpkin spice, so these whoopie pies sound perfect! I’m definitely adding these to my baking list for the fall. Thanks for sharing!
Jakub says
What a great post! The recipe looks fabulous, the photography is great, and you’re funny! Thanks for sharing!
Stephanie Simmons says
Thanks so much!! ?
Gloria says
These look so delicious. I am a pumpkin fanatic…and I know I would devour these for sure. My grandson loves pumpkin pie, so these cute little “pie cookies” would be the perfect after-school treat.
Stine Mari says
I’ve never tried a whoopie pie before, but they are so cute! And I agree 100% – brown butter is THE butter! These look heavenly, I just love pumpkin, spices and brown butter together.