Whoopie Pies (easy recipe)

What are whoopie pies?

They are sweet sandwiches made of a very soft, moist cake-like batter, that is neither a cake nor a soft cookie. And they're called pies, so there's that lol.

The filling is usually cream cheese frosting, the one used in homemade carrot cake recipes but firmer. You can use others, such as ganache, buttercream, peanut butter, or dulce de leche.

If you like chocolate cake and soft, thick chocolate cookies, these might be the perfect answer.

Whoopie pies ingredients

• Cocoa powder: the better the cocoa the better the flavor of these soft cookies/cakes. Always use unsweetened like Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder, Ghirardelli Premium baking cocoa, and Scharffen Berger natural cocoa powder. And, in my experience, the dark ones are the best (this does not apply to the super dark used for making homemade oreo cookies known as dark cocoa powder).
• Brown sugar: it adds a great caramel tone and moisture.
• Oil and butter: I love to use both for extra moisture from the oil and flavor from the butter.
• Flour: all-purpose or cake flour, both work.
• Baking soda: it makes them rise a bit but not much and not be too cakey.
• Vanilla: I use pure vanilla extract or pure vanilla paste when available, but a good vanilla essence (artificially flavored) also works. 
• Coffee: use a powder like instant coffee or coffee extract, they round up the chocolate flavor wonderfully but they don't have a coffee flavor.

Cream cheese filling ingredients

The traditional one is a very thick cream cheese filling, but I also use dulce de leche. The flavor combination of the latter with the chocolate is phenomenal.

How much filling? That's up to you! I find that 2 teaspoons are enough for me, but I have friends who pile one or two tablespoons. So let your sweet tooth decide.

• Cream cheese: the regular one is still the best.
• Butter: unsalted works best, but if you like an extra kick from some salt you can use salted butter.
• Powdered sugar: this is the only choice. Don't use regular granulated sugar because the filling won't come together.

Steps to make whoopie pies

This recipe is super easy to make.

You need a large bowl and an electric mixer. The dough comes together in 5 minutes. There is a refrigeration time, so plan for that part.

Scoop portions of the chocolate dough on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Make sure there's space between them. Bake until cracked and dry but still soft.

Scoop cream cheese filling on half of the cookies. Top with the remaining cookies.

Finished chocolate whoopie pies ready to be eaten!

Dulce de leche filling

I'm a huge, raving fan of dulce de leche. Being from Argentina, that is no surprise. I make it myself and have two or three different brands at all times at home.

I already know how darn amazing the combination is, as explained in the Chocolate Meringue Birthday Cake. So, of course, my first thought was to fill the whoopie pies with it. The result is phenomenal and you should try it if you can!

You can buy it online. My favorite brands for this are dulce de leche Vacalin repostero and Veronica dulce de leche repostero.

Kitchen notes

• Organization: read the recipe first and make sure you have ingredients at the right temperatures, equipment needed, and enough workspace. This will make the process so much easier!
• Baking time: keep in mind that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look the same or very similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. Use a thermometer inside the oven (like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that the temperature is right. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust. 
• Chocolate fillings: if you're a huge fan of chocolate you can use the 5-minute chocolate frosting or the chocolate peanut butter frosting as a filling.
• Storing: the soft cookies keep for a few days in an airtight container or jar. You can also freeze them for a month, always well wrapped. Be careful not to smash them. You can also store filled whoopies but they will turn softer faster due to the moisture of the filling.