The Best Whoopie Pie Recipe

There's nothing quite like biting into a perfect whoopie pie recipe - that magical moment when soft chocolate cake meets sweet, fluffy filling. This recipe has been my family's go-to treat for years, tested countless times in our kitchen until we got those tender cakes and creamy filling just right. After Emma declared these "better than store-bought" (high praise from a seven-year-old), I knew we had something special.

Finished Whoopie Pie Recipe: Chocolate whoopie pies filled with white cream and drizzled with chocolate, served on a small white plate.

Why You'll Love This Old Fashioned Whoopie Pie Recipe

From years of making these treats for family gatherings and school events, I can tell you exactly why this recipe never fails to impress. These whoopie pie recipe have that perfect balance - soft enough to bite through easily but sturdy enough to hold their shape. The filling stays creamy without being too sweet, and the chocolate cakes have just the right amount of cocoa flavor without any bitter aftertaste.What makes this recipe truly special is how forgiving it is.

Even if your cakes come out slightly different sizes, they still taste amazing. Plus, these treats actually get better after sitting for a few hours - the filling softens the cakes just enough to create that perfect texture everyone remembers from childhood. Emma loves helping make these because there's no fancy technique required, just simple mixing and assembling.The best part? They stay soft for days when stored properly, making them perfect for meal prep or surprise treats throughout the week.

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Old Fashioned Whoopie Pie Recipe
Ingredients for Whoopie Pie Recipe
How To Make Whoopie Pie Recipe Step By Step
Smart Swaps for Your Whoopie Pie Recipe
Whoopie Pie Recipe Variations
Equipment For Whoopie Pie Recipe
Storing Your Whoopie Pie Recipe
What to Serve With Whoopie Pie Recipe
Top Tip
The Recipe That Got Passed Down From My Aunt's Kitchen
FAQ
Time for Sweet Success!
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Pairing
Whoopie Pie Recipe

Ingredients for Whoopie Pie Recipe

The Chocolate Cakes:

All-purpose flour
Dutch-processed cocoa powder
Granulated sugar
Baking soda
Salt
Vegetable oil
Buttermilk
Large egg
Hot water
Vanilla extract

The Classic Filling:

Pinch of salt
Vegetable shortening
Powdered sugar
Marshmallow fluff
Vanilla extract

See recipe card for quantities.

Chocolate cake ingredients: Bowls containing cocoa powder, flour, butter, cream, sugar, oil, and vanilla on a light marble surface.

How To Make Whoopie Pie Recipe Step By Step

Prep Work:

Preheat oven to 375°F
Line baking sheets with parchment
Gather all ingredients
Let buttermilk come to room temperature

Ingredients: Assorted bowls of flour, butter, sugar, milk, and vanilla arranged on a wooden tray.

Making the Cakes:

Whisk together flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl
In another bowl, beat oil, buttermilk, egg, and vanilla until smooth
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined
Slowly stir in hot water (batter will be thin - this is normal!)
Drop rounded spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets
Bake for 8-10 minutes until cakes spring back when lightly touched

Cake batter: Thick chocolate batter in a metal bowl, with a hand whisking it.

Creating the Filling:

Beat shortening until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes)
Gradually add powdered sugar, beating well
Add marshmallow fluff, vanilla, and salt
Beat until smooth and spreadable

Filling: A mixing bowl with fluffy white cream being whipped with a whisk.

Assembly:

Let set for 30 minutes before serving
Let cakes cool completely on wire racks
Match up similar-sized cakes
Spread filling on flat side of one cake
Top with matching cake, pressing gently

Chocolate cakes: Two round chocolate cake layers with cream filling, resting on a wire cooling rack.

Smart Swaps for Your Whoopie Pie Recipe

Healthier Options:

Applesauce → Half the oil (reduce by half)
Greek yogurt → Some of the shortening in filling
Sugar-free powdered sugar → Regular powdered sugar
Whole wheat pastry flour → All-purpose flour

Dietary Needs:

Gluten-free flour blend → All-purpose flour
Dairy-free milk + vinegar → Buttermilk
Vegan shortening → Regular shortening
Coconut oil (solid) → Vegetable oil

Flavor Twists:

Pumpkin puree → Add to cakes for fall version
Red food coloring → Create red velvet whoopie pies
Peanut butter → Mix into filling
Strong coffee → Use instead of hot water

Filling Alternatives:

Cream cheese → Replace half the shortening
Butter → Use instead of shortening (softer texture)

Whoopie Pie Recipe Variations

Seasonal Specials:

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies: Add pumpkin puree and warm spices to the cake batter
Red Velvet: Use red food coloring and add cream cheese to the filling
S'mores Style: Add mini chocolate chips to cakes and marshmallow filling

Filling Variations:

Peanut Butter: Mix peanut butter into the classic filling
Cream Cheese: Replace half the shortening with cream cheese
Chocolate Ganache: For the ultimate chocolate lovers

Holiday Hits:

Mint Chocolate: Add peppermint extract to filling
Orange Creamsicle: Orange zest in cakes, vanilla filling
Strawberry: Use freeze-dried strawberries in filling

Fun Flavors:

Birthday Cake: Add sprinkles to batter and vanilla filling
Lemon: Lemon zest in cakes, lemon buttercream filling
Cookies & Cream: Crushed chocolate cookies in filling

Equipment For Whoopie Pie Recipe

Large mixing bowls
Electric hand mixer
Cookie scoop (for uniform sizes)
Baking sheets
Parchment paper
Wire cooling racks

Storing Your Whoopie Pie Recipe

Counter Storage (3-4 days):

Store in airtight container
Layer between wax paper
Keep at room temperature
Away from heat and sunlight

Refrigerator (1 week):

Airtight container essential
Bring to room temperature before serving
Filling stays fresh longer when chilled
Great for summer storage

Freezer Magic (2-3 months):

Wrap individually in plastic wrap
Place in freezer bags
Label with date
Thaw at room temperature for 2 hours

Make-Ahead Tips:

Filled pies keep well for several days
Bake cakes up to 2 days ahead
Store unfilled cakes in airtight container
Fill just before serving for best texture

What to Serve With Whoopie Pie Recipe

These sweet treats pair beautifully with beverages that complement their rich chocolate and creamy filling. Cold milk remains the classic choice - it cuts through the sweetness perfectly and brings back those childhood memories. Hot coffee or black tea work wonderfully for adults, while kids love chocolate milk for double the chocolate indulgence. During warmer months, iced tea or lemonade provides a refreshing contrast to the dense, sweet cakes.

For a more complete dessert experience, serve whoopie pies alongside fresh berries like strawberries or raspberries - their natural tartness balances the sweetness beautifully. Vanilla ice cream makes these treats feel extra special for celebrations, while a simple fruit salad adds freshness to rich dessert platters. When hosting parties, arrange them on tiered stands with other handheld sweets, or include them on cookie exchange tables where their impressive size and flavor always make them crowd favorites.

Top Tip

The secret to bakery-quality whoopie pies lies in getting the batter consistency just right - it should be thin enough to pour easily but thick enough to hold its shape when scooped. Many home bakers struggle with this balance, but here's the fix: if your batter seems too thick after mixing, add hot water one tablespoon at a time until it flows smoothly off your spoon. If it's too thin and spreads too much on the baking sheet, gradually mix in flour until it holds its shape better.

This balance creates those perfectly tender, cake-like cookies that make homemade whoopie pies so much better than store-bought versions. The thin batter allows steam to create that soft, fluffy texture inside, while still being substantial enough to support the filling without falling apart. Don't worry if it takes a batch or two to get the feel for it - once you know what the right consistency looks like, you'll nail it every time. Remember, slightly underbaked is better than overbaked when it comes to keeping these treats soft and chewy.

The Recipe That Got Passed Down From My Aunt's Kitchen

My aunt had a way with whoopie pies that nobody else in the family could match. Every summer when we'd visit her farmhouse, she'd have a batch cooling on the kitchen counter, and we kids would hover around like bees to honey. What made hers special wasn't just the recipe - it was her little trick of adding a tablespoon of strong black coffee to the chocolate batter. "It don't make 'em taste like coffee," she'd explain, "it just makes the chocolate sing louder."

Her other secret was patience with the filling. While everyone else rushed to beat the marshmallow fluff mixture, my aunt would whip it for a full five minutes until it was so light and airy it practically floated off the spoon. She'd test it by lifting the beaters - if the filling held stiff peaks that didn't fall, it was ready. Now when I make this whoopie pie recipe, I always think of her standing at that old yellow mixer, humming while she worked. That extra coffee and the perfectly whipped filling turn good whoopie pies into unforgettable ones that people talk about years later.

FAQ

What is the filling made of in Whoopie Pie Recipe?

Traditional Whoopie Pie Recipe filling combines vegetable shortening, powdered sugar, and marshmallow fluff with vanilla extract. This creates a sweet, fluffy texture that's lighter than buttercream but holds its shape between the cakes. Some regional variations use butter or cream cheese, but the classic marshmallow version is most popular.

What is a Whoopie Pie Recipe in English?

A Whoopie Pie Recipe is an American dessert consisting of two soft, cake-like chocolate cookies sandwiched together with sweet filling. Despite the name, it's not actually a pie but rather a handheld cake sandwich. The treats are popular in New England and Pennsylvania, with each region claiming to be the origin.

What is the difference between Maine whoopie pies and Pennsylvania whoopie pies?

Maine Whoopie Pie Recipe traditionally use marshmallow fluff filling and tend to be larger and more cake-like. Pennsylvania versions often feature buttercream or cream cheese filling and may be smaller. Both regions passionately defend their version as the "original," but both styles are delicious with slight texture and sweetness differences.

Is a whoopie pie a pastry?

Whoopie Pie Recipe aren't technically pastries since they don't contain pastry dough. They're classified as sandwich cookies or cake sandwiches, made with a soft cake batter rather than pastry dough. The texture is more like soft cupcakes than cookies, making them unique in the dessert world and perfect for handheld enjoyment.

Time for Sweet Success!

Now you have all the secrets behind perfect whoopie pies - from the right cocoa powder to my aunt's coffee trick and perfectly whipped filling. These soft, sweet treats bring smiles to every gathering, whether it's a school event or family movie night. The best part? Once you master this recipe, you'll never want store-bought whoopie pies again.

Craving more sweet treats that bring back childhood memories? Try our Delicious Lemon Brownies Recipe that combines the best of brownies with bright citrus flavor. For something exotic and special, our Delicious Gulab Jamun Recipe creates those melt-in-your-mouth Indian sweets that are perfect for celebrations. Need a cake that everyone can enjoy? Our Easy Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake Recipe proves that dietary restrictions don't mean sacrificing flavor or texture!