Description
Gingerbread Whoopie Pies are moist, spiced cake-like cookies sandwiched with a creamy, fluffy filling. Featuring warm holiday spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, combined with a sweet cream cheese or marshmallow filling, these festive treats are perfect for holiday parties, gifting, or cozy winter dessert cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves to ensure even distribution of spices and leavening for consistent flavor and texture.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is key for incorporating air to help create a tender, moist cookie base.
- Add Eggs and Molasses: Beat in the egg one at a time, followed by the molasses and vanilla extract. Mix until fully combined into a rich, flavorful batter.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Alternately add the dry ingredient mixture and buttermilk to the wet mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix gently to avoid overmixing, which keeps the whoopie pies tender.
- Bake the Cookies: Drop tablespoon-sized dollops of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet spaced evenly apart. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the tops spring back lightly when touched. Remove and cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare the Filling: In a clean bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until the filling is smooth, fluffy, and well combined.
- Assemble the Whoopie Pies: Once the cookies are completely cooled, spread or pipe filling generously onto the flat side of one cookie. Top with a second cookie, pressing gently to sandwich and adhere the filling.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for smoother mixing and better texture.
- Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent tough, dense cookies.
- If the dough is too loose, chill for 30 minutes to help maintain shape during baking.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before filling to prevent melting.
- Ensure your oven temperature is accurate for even baking and moisture retention.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 whoopie pie
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg