Irresistible Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Recipe

Cozy Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Recipe: Fall’s Sweetest Treat

Autumn’s crisp breeze whispers promises of delectable pumpkin whoopie pies that dance between cake and cookie.

Soft, pillowy rounds of spiced pumpkin goodness sandwich a luscious cream cheese filling that melts on your tongue.

These handheld treats capture the essence of fall’s warmth and comfort in every single bite.

The fragrant blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger weaves a magical spell of seasonal delight.

Each whoopie pie becomes a small celebration of cozy moments and sweet memories.

The contrast between tender cake and silky filling creates a symphony of textures that will make your taste buds sing.

Bake a batch and watch smiles bloom across faces eager to savor this irresistible seasonal treasure.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes

Calories: 300 kcal

Servings: 25

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Ingredient Breakdown

For Base and Structure:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides sturdy foundation for whoopie pies, ensuring perfect cakey texture with smooth crumb.
  • Vegetable Oil: Delivers moistness and helps create soft, tender cookies that won't dry out quickly.
  • Eggs: Bind ingredients together, adding richness and helping cookies maintain their shape.
For Moisture and Flavor:
  • Pumpkin Puree: Brings intense autumn flavor, natural sweetness, and incredible moisture to the cookies.
For Sweetness:
  • Granulated Sugar, Dark Brown Sugar: Create depth of flavor with complementary sweet notes, balancing pumpkin's earthiness.
  • Powdered Sugar: Ensures silky smooth texture for cream cheese filling.
For Spice and Lift:
  • Pumpkin Pie Spice: Delivers warm, comforting autumn blend that enhances pumpkin's natural taste.
  • Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Help cookies rise evenly and create light, airy texture.
  • Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies overall flavor profile.
For Aromatic Enhancement:
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds subtle complexity to both cookies and filling, deepening overall taste experience.
For Filling Creaminess:
  • Unsalted Butter, Cream Cheese: Create luxuriously smooth, tangy filling with perfect spreadable consistency.
  • Maple Syrup: Introduces rich, caramel-like sweetness that complements pumpkin's natural flavor.

Tools for Baking Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Right

  • Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining dry and wet ingredients smoothly.
  • Whisk: Perfect for blending sugars, oil, and creating creamy mixtures.
  • Baking sheets: Needed for baking cookie portions evenly.
  • Parchment paper: Helps prevent cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
  • Wire cooling rack: Allows cookies to cool properly without getting soggy.
  • Electric mixer or hand mixer: Great for beating cream cheese frosting until silky.
  • Piping bag or zip-top bag: Helps spread cream cheese filling neatly between cookies.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient quantities.
  • Spatula: Useful for scraping bowl sides and folding ingredients gently.

How to Make Pumpkin Whoopie Pies from Scratch

  • Oven Preparation Kitchen Setup

Warm up your oven to a cozy temperature and line baking sheets with smooth parchment paper for perfect cookie placement.

  • Dry Ingredient Blend

Mix together flour, warm spices, and leavening agents in a bowl, creating a fragrant powder base for your delightful treats.

  • Wet Mixture Magic

Whisk sugars and oil until they transform into a silky smooth canvas, then fold in pumpkin puree with eggs and vanilla for rich depth.

  • Dough Creation

Gently combine dry and wet ingredients, stirring until a soft, pillowy dough forms without any flour streaks.

  • Cookie Crafting

Carefully drop spoonfuls of dough onto prepared sheets, leaving comfortable spaces between each potential cookie.

  • Baking Moment

Slide sheets into the oven and bake until edges turn golden and centers look perfectly set, filling your kitchen with warm autumn aromas.

  • Cooling Station

Allow cookies to rest and cool completely, developing their soft texture and rich flavor profile.

  • Creamy Filling

Blend cream cheese, butter, and sweet accents into a luxurious smooth filling that will connect your cookie layers.

  • Sandwich Assembly

Pair cookies, spread generous filling, and gently press together to create delectable sandwich treats.

  • Chill and Serve

Refrigerate your completed cookies, letting flavors meld and texture settle before enjoying your delightful autumn creation.

Tips and Filling Ideas for Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

  • Experiment with different warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom to give your pumpkin whoopie pies a unique flavor twist that matches your mood or holiday theme.
  • Prepare the cookie dough and filling up to two days in advance, storing them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator to save time and reduce day-of kitchen stress.
  • Use a cookie scoop or piping bag for uniform cookie sizes, ensuring consistent baking and a professional-looking final presentation that will impress family and friends.
  • Transform the cream cheese filling by adding crushed pecans, mini chocolate chips, or a drizzle of caramel for an extra layer of deliciousness and unexpected crunch.
  • Keep assembled whoopie pies in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, wrapping them individually in plastic wrap or storing in a sealed container to maintain their soft texture and creamy filling.

Ways to Serve Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Creatively

  • Fall Festive Plating: Arrange whoopie pies on a rustic wooden board with scattered autumn leaves, cinnamon sticks, and small decorative pumpkins for a seasonal presentation that screams cozy harvest vibes.
  • Dessert Beverage Pairing: Serve alongside warm spiced apple cider or a rich pumpkin latte to complement the whoopie pies' sweet and spicy flavor profile, creating a delightful autumn treat experience.
  • Gifting Delights: Package individual whoopie pies in clear cellophane bags tied with burlap ribbons or twine, perfect for sharing with friends, neighbors, or as a homemade gift during fall gatherings and holiday celebrations.
  • Party Platter Magic: Create a stunning dessert spread by arranging whoopie pies in a circular pattern, sprinkled with powdered sugar and garnished with candied pecans or mini chocolate chips for extra visual appeal and texture.

Storing Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Without Losing Softness

  • Quick Chill Storage: Store completed whoopie pies in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 5 days, keeping them fresh and maintaining their delightful cream cheese filling texture.
  • Freezing Magic: Wrap individual whoopie pies separately in plastic wrap, then place inside a freezer-safe container. They'll stay delicious for 2-3 months, ready to enjoy whenever sweet cravings strike.
  • Make-Ahead Wonder: Prepare cookie bases and cream cheese filling separately up to 2 days before assembling. Keep cookie layers in an sealed container at room temperature and refrigerate filling until final assembly time.
  • Smart Serving Strategy: Remove whoopie pies from refrigerator 15-20 minutes before serving, allowing them to soften slightly and enhancing their melt-in-your-mouth quality. This little waiting period transforms their texture from cold to perfectly creamy.
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Irresistible Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Recipe

Irresistible Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Recipe


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4.6 from 21 reviews

  • Total Time: 32 minutes
  • Yield: 25 1x

Description

Homemade pumpkin whoopie pies blend warm autumn spices with creamy filling between two moist cake-like cookies. Sweet layers of seasonal comfort invite seasonal indulgence and delightful sharing with friends and family.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups (709 ml / 24 fl oz) all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups (680 g / 24 oz) chilled pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup (237 ml / 8 fl oz) vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup (200 g / 7 oz) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (220 g / 8 oz) dark brown sugar
  • 3 cups (340 g / 12 oz) powdered sugar
  • 2.5 tbsps (37.5 ml / 1.25 fl oz) pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tsp (5 ml / 0.17 fl oz) baking soda
  • 1 tsp (5 ml / 0.17 fl oz) baking powder
  • 1 tsp (5 ml / 0.17 fl oz) salt
  • 2 tsps (10 ml / 0.33 fl oz) vanilla extract (for cookies)
  • 1 tsp (5 ml / 0.17 fl oz) vanilla extract (for filling)
  • 0.5 cup (118 ml / 4 fl oz) unsalted butter, softened
  • 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
  • 3 tbsps (45 ml / 1.5 fl oz) maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper, ensuring complete surface coverage.
  2. Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and pumpkin pie spice together in a medium bowl to create a uniform blend.
  3. Wet Mixture: Cream granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Incorporate pumpkin puree, eggs, and vanilla extract, blending until smooth and consistent.
  4. Batter Composition: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring until no flour streaks remain, being careful to avoid overmixing.
  5. Portioning and Baking: Use a cookie scoop to drop uniform batter portions onto prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake for 11-13 minutes until edges turn golden and centers set.
  6. Cooling Process: Let cookies rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  7. Filling Preparation: Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth, then gradually mix in powdered sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until light and spreadable.
  8. Assembly: Flip half the cookies flat-side up, pipe or spread cream cheese filling, then sandwich with remaining cookies, pressing gently to distribute filling evenly.
  9. Finishing Touch: Refrigerate assembled whoopie pies for 45-60 minutes to set filling and meld flavors before serving.

Notes

  • Measure Precisely: Accuracy in ingredient measurements guarantees perfect texture and taste for whoopie pies.
  • Room Temperature Matters: Ensure eggs, butter, and cream cheese are at room temperature for smoother mixing and better incorporation.
  • Avoid Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients to prevent tough, dense cookies that lose their soft, cake-like texture.
  • Cooling is Crucial: Let cookies cool completely before filling to prevent cream cheese frosting from melting and losing structure.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 25
  • Calories: 300
  • Sugar: 22 g
  • Sodium: 200 mg
  • Fat: 14 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 40 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Sophie Reynolds

Sophie Reynolds

Co-Founder, Recipe Curator & Culinary Educator

Expertise

  • Home Cooking Innovation & Comfort Recipes
  • Flavor Development & Ingredient Pairing
  • Seasonal Produce Integration
  • Recipe Testing & Instructional Clarity
  • Culinary Education & Community Workshops

Education

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO

  • Degree: Diploma in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Hands-on training in classic and modern culinary techniques, emphasizing sustainable cooking practices, kitchen professionalism, and real-world restaurant experience through externships.

Oregon State University

  • Degree: B.S. in Nutrition and Food Management
  • Focus: In-depth study of human nutrition, food safety, meal planning, and food-service operations, with a strong foundation in public health, dietetics, and community-based nutrition programs.

Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café. 

Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.

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