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So I threw a little Halloween get-together this past weekend and I served these Pumpkin Whoopie Pies (aka Ghost Burgers) for dessert. Given the audible wave of oooo’s, ahhh’s and mmm’s that spread over the room, I’m going to have to say that they were a smash hit. Moist, rich and decadent, these cream cheese frosting filled pumpkin cookie sandwiches are spiced with a comforting blend of ginger, clove and cinnamon. So bold. So flavorful. And… so easy! The dough comes together simply with a whisk (no mixer needed) and the cookies can be made on any old baking sheet. I’ve seen many stores now selling whoopie pie pans. Don’t be fooled! You don’t need them 🙂 If you had a Halloween party this year, I would love to hear what you served for dessert. Please share below! Continue reading for the recipe.
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cloves
- 2 cups packed dark brown sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 3 cups chilled pumpkin purée
- 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two to three baking sheets with parchment paper or a slipat. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add flour, sea salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ground ginger and ground clove, whisking to combine. Set aside.
- In another large bowl, whisk together dark brown sugar and vegetable oil until well combined. Add chilled pumpkin puree, whisking again until combined. Add eggs and vanilla then whisk until well combined. Sprinkle dry mixture (flour and spices) over the wet mixture (pumpkin and oil). Whisk until fully incorporated.
- Using an ice cream scoop, drop 1 - 2 tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets (about 1 inch apart, the cookies will spread a bit). One at a time, transfer the baking sheets to the oven and bake until cookies are just starting to crack on the top. You can also use a toothpick to test doneness. Insert a toothpick into the center of the largest cookie on the sheet. If it comes out clean, the cookies are done (12 - 14 minutes). Let the cookies cool completely on the pan.
- While the cookies are cooling, prepare the frosting. Sift confectioners' sugar into a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until very smooth. Add cream cheese and beat until well combined. Add vanilla and mix for a few seconds. Add confectioners' sugar and beat just until smooth (be careful not to overmix the frosting).
- To assemble, start by lining a baking sheet or serving platter with parchment paper. (the cake is very moist and can stick to regular surfaces). When the cookies have completely cooled, place half of them cut side up on the prepared baking sheet. One at a time, spoon a heaping tablespoon of frosting on the flat side of a cookie (the measurements above make a lot of frosting, so you can be generous here). Sandwich another cookie on top of the frosting, pressing down slightly to spread the filling to the edges. Repeat with remaining cookies and frosting. Cover finished whoopie pies with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving.
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I’m Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Did you make a recipe? Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can see the how it went!
Maya says
LOVE IT! I made these for a party I had a week ago. I served them in over-sized cupcake holders to keep fingers clean and eyes happy.
Brandon Matzek says
Great idea! They can be a bit messy to eat. Well worth it though.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
When I got my donut pan at BB & Beyond last week they had whoopie pie making pans, and whoppie pie makers, i.e. like the cakepop/cakeball makers but for whoopie pies. Your method of just cookies (and no mixer, love that!) on a sheet sounds best.
And that filling. That’s all I’d really need is the filling!
Brandon Matzek says
Averie, I left the mixing bowl with frosting remnants on the counter for party guests to have a taste. They were swarming! I could eat it with a spoon. It’s not overly sweet too.
I considered buying a whoopie pie pan last year. I hadn’t attempted to make them with a regular pan at the time. Glad I resisted. If the batter is made properly, they shouldn’t spread when scooped and dropped.
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Yes please, these look amazing!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Sommer :)!
S.K. says
Delicious little treats! Made them as a precursor to the holiday baking season, and everyone’s eyes just lit up when they saw them. I added a tablespoon of freshly-ground cardamom since I love using the spice, and they were wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
Brandon Matzek says
Cardamom is wonderful. Glad to hear your guests enjoyed the pies!