Whoopie pies are a labor of love!
But when the BOY requested them for his birthday dessert this weekend, of course I said YES!
However…I cheated a little bit. Instead of going to my favorite Whoopie Pie book, I went to the baking aisle and bought a cake mix. A girl only has so many hours in a day and mine have been busy studying, cooking, and cuddling with my cat. So I figured a few short cuts would be just fine. The BOY wanted a chocolate peanut butter combo and thanks to Pinterest, I was able to find plenty of options.
I chose a triple chocolate cake recipe. In my haste, I totally overfilled my adorable little whoopie pie pans, but they tasted just the same. Don’t worry, I checked!
My next problem came when I tried to pipe the peanut butter frosting onto the cookies. Unfortunately, I cut my bag all wrong allowing frosting to ooze out from all angles. This led to a messier situation than I expected, and I was so covered with frosting that I couldn’t get any shots.
There may have been more frosting on my counter than made it into my sandwiches.
But despite my lack of precision, the pies turned out GREAT! I put a few aside for the BOY to enjoy on his birthday (he ate 4 the first day) and froze the rest for future consumption. Except that I did slice off just one tiny bite from the freezer section and discovered that they taste exactly like a peanut butter chocolate ice cream sandwich!
No joke! They are addicting!
Consider yourself warned!
Do you make special desserts for birthdays?
Chocolate Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies
From The Pink Flour
Makes 16 sandwiches
For the Cake Cookies
1 chocolate cake mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 375 degrees (350 degrees for convection).
Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat together the cake mix, eggs, water & vegetable for 2-3 minutes.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat (or invest in a whoopie pie pan). Scoop the batter on the baking sheet using a small ice cream scoop, approximately 1 1/2 – 2 inches in diameter.
Bake for 8 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool on baking sheet for 1 minute and then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.
For the Filling
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (crunchy would work too!)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar
In a stand mixer (or using hand mixer), beat together the cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth.
Add vanilla and powdered sugar (1 cup at a time) and beat until light a fluffy.
Fill pastry bag (or plastic bag) with frosting and snip end of the bag. Turn one cookie upside down and pipe frosting on to the cookie and then top with another cookie.
Store in airtight container or freeze!
I ALWAYS see Whoopie Pies at bakeries but never ever get one – but they look so amazing! so fluffy and SO sweet – I had no idea they were this easy to make haha so I might have to try it out!
You should definitely make them and go with the cake mix version to safe time. They are SUPER good and always a hit at the party!
Are you kidding me??!! Those look delicious!! I am requesting those for my birthday!! Who cares what they look like as long as they taste good! 🙂 Whoopie pies are tricky. Sometimes i just cut off some of the extra and put that inward toward the filling!! I don’t make them very often either and there is always “something” wrong but always good!! 🙂
I have a HUGE pan and usually just make one big one (because it is easier) but the little ones are SO cute! I will make them for your next trip to Chicago!
OHH MAN, these look so good. Wise choice for a birthday treat.
He does have good dessert taste…ha ha!