Ready to learn how to make old-fashioned chocolate whoopie pies? If you haven’t heard of whoopie pies, or if you simply haven’t tried baking them yet, don’t waste any more time! We’ll teach you how to create these delicious cake-like cookies at home.
What are whoopie pies?
Hailing from the Northeast, whoopie pies are like the best-ever sandwich cookie. Here, the cookies are soft and cakey, and they’re sandwiched together with a frosting-like filling. Chocolate whoopie pies with vanilla filling are the most iconic iteration of this American treat, but there are lots of tasty variations, including pumpkin whoopie pies and red velvet whoopie pies.
Ingredients for Whoopie Pies
For the batter:
- Cocoa
- Hot water
- Shortening
- Sugar
- Large eggs, room temperature
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Buttermilk
For the filling:
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Milk
- Shortening
- Confectioners’ sugar
- Vanilla extract
Directions
Step 1: Bloom the cocoa
To really bring out the chocolate flavor in these whoopie pies, start by blooming the cocoa. Simply whisk together hot water and cocoa, and set aside for five minutes to cool.
Editor’s Tip: For this recipe, you’ll want to use natural cocoa (rather than Dutch-processed cocoa). This is the most common type of cocoa you can find, and it has the acidity needed to react with the other ingredients in this recipe.
Step 2: Make the batter
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. This should take five to seven minutes, so don’t rush it. Creaming these ingredients properly dissolves the sugar for a smooth batter, and it adds air so you get fluffy whoopie pies (which you want!).
Once creamed, add in the eggs, vanilla extract and cocoa mixture, and beat until well blended.
Then, in another bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients for the batter: flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the dry mixture to the wet batter, a little at a time, alternating with the buttermilk. Beat the mixture as you combine everything. The result should be more like cake batter than cookie dough.
Editor’s Tip: Buying a pint of buttermilk is well worth it for this recipe. The flavor of buttermilk makes baked goods taste richer, and its acidity helps create extra-tender cake. If you don’t have any on hand, you can try these buttermilk substitutes.
Step 3: Scoop and bake
Scoop 2 teaspoons of whoopie pie batter using a cookie scoop or spoon, and drop the batter onto a greased cookie sheet or parchment-lined baking sheet. Leave about 2 inches between each cookie because they will spread slightly in the oven.
Bake the cookies at 350ºF until they feel firm, 10 to 12 minutes. Then, remove the cookie sheet from the oven, and place the whoopie pies on a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 4: Start the frosting
To make the whoopie pie filling, combine the flour and salt in a saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat until thickened, five to seven minutes, continuing to whisk as it thickens. Once the filling is thickened, cover it and refrigerate until completely cool. You can even make the filling a day in advance and let it sit in the fridge overnight.
Editor’s Tip: A cooked frosting might seem unusual if you’re used to whipping up an easy buttercream, but this is just the right filling for whoopie pies. It’s sweet, fluffy and sturdy enough to hold up when squished between two cakey cookies.
Step 5: Finish the frosting
In a bowl, cream together the shortening, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy, three to four minutes. Then, add the cooled milk mixture you made in the previous step, and beat for an additional seven minutes. The end result should be a very fluffy frosting.
Editor’s Tip: Our Test Kitchen recommends using shortening in this frosting recipe, not butter. The shortening ensures that when you refrigerate these pies (which you will if you’re storing them), the frosting won’t firm up in the fridge. It should stay creamy and soft.
Step 6: Assemble the whoopie pies
All that’s left to do is to put the whoopie pies together. Use an offset spatula to cover the flat side of one cookie with some of the frosting, and sandwich it with the flat side of another cookie. Repeat until you’ve used up all the cookies and frosting—then enjoy your homemade whoopie pies!
How to Store Whoopie Pies
These whoopie pies should be stored in the fridge and are best enjoyed within five days. You can also freeze them in an airtight container for up to three months.
Whoopie Pie Recipe Variations
- Decorate the edges: The easiest way to add color, flavor and texture to whoopie pies is to roll the edges of the frosted pies in edible cake decorations. Try sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, toasted nuts, crushed cookies, candies—any fun extras you have in the pantry.
- Switch up the extracts: This classic recipe calls for vanilla extract, but you could easily sub in almond, mint or even orange extract (we love a chocolate orange dessert recipe.)
- Add a pop of fruit: Add jam or freeze-dried fruit to the frosting to give the filling more flavor and color. See how great it looks with these chocolate-raspberry whoopie pies!
- Stir up a boozy filling: Taste of Home food stylist Josh Rink recommends adding a splash of your favorite liqueur to this frosting recipe for an adults-only treat. Irish cream, Kahlua or amaretto would all work well in this whoopie pie recipe.
