Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

/ Autumn, Dessert, Pumpkin, Recipe / 70 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of PAM Cooking Spray.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…the holiday baking season! It’s time for cookies, fudge, pies, cakes, and more.

Lots of you will be taking to your kitchens to whip up Christmas cookies and other desserts soon, and the last thing anyone wants during this season is added stress from baking flops. I’ve had the most baking disasters around holidays, when I’m rushed, don’t always have time to try out recipes beforehand, and have the added pressure of baking for family or friends. I put together some tips and tricks on how to avoid sticky baking situations:

  1. Read the entire recipe before you begin baking. Always. No matter what. I know this sounds so simple, but it’s so easy to skim a recipe and miss that you need to refrigerate the dough for several hours (always when you’re in a time crunch) or need an additional ingredient (which you of course don’t have on hand).
  2. Use tried and true recipes (or test recipes out before the big event). Sometimes you really want to try out something new, which can be worth the risk, but if you’re on a time crunch and have to serve a roomful of people, think twice or have a backup. I’ve had to run to the store on Thanksgiving morning when a new gluten-free pie crust recipe failed at the last minute.
  3. Give yourself extra time. If you’re bringing dessert to Christmas dinner, don’t wait until Christmas afternoon to bake it. If you make it ahead of time, you’ll have more time to fix any mistakes, and you won’t be rushing so it’s less likely that you’ll even make mistakes. Plus, you’ll have more time to spend with your family and enjoy the holiday.
  4. Follow directions carefully. Baking is a science. With cooking, you can play around a lot and change out ingredients, but baking ingredients and directions have to be followed or very carefully and deliberately changed.
  5. Line your baking pans with PAM Cooking Spray. It saves you time and stress over trying to pull things like cakes or brownies out of a pan with out breaking them. Plus, it makes clean up so much easier, because PAM Cooking Spray now leaves 99% less residue buildup than margarine or bargain brand-cooking sprays. (Bonus: the PAM Baking Spray smells amazing.) I also love to line baking sheets with parchment paper sprayed with PAM Baking Spray – these whoopie pies slid right off and the clean-up was so easy!

I hope you learn from my mistakes and have a smooth, stress-free baking season! To set you up for even more holiday baking success, scroll to the bottom of the post to learn how to enter my giveaway for a Le Creuset Pie Dish and PAM Cooking Spray!

While we’re talking baking, I have an incredible recipe for you. These cookies may use pumpkin, but they’re so good they transcend autumn baking and can (and should) absolutely be made for the holidays.

See, first you make pumpkin whoopie pies – soft, moist, cake-like cookies filled with pumpkin and pumpkin spice flavors.

Then you make brown butter. Have you ever had brown butter? It’s really easy to make – you just cook butter until it turns brown, but it creates a nutty, deeper flavor.

Add brown butter to cream cheese and powdered sugar to create a creamy frosting and fill the whoopie pies.

Yum. I was able to share these with lots of different people, and every single one of them raved about how good they are. Seriously, all of them. This one is a winner!

Print
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Yield: 24 whoopie pies

Ingredients

  • Pumpkin Whoopie Pies:
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 15 ounces pumpkin puree
  • Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter to make brown butter
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 4 tablespoons brown butter
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3-4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Make the whoopie pies: preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheets with PAM Baking Spray.
  2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. In a separate large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, stirring to combine after each addition. Add pumpkin and vanilla, then mix until incorporated.
  4. Add flour mixture to wet ingredients, then stir until just combined.
  5. Drop tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until cookies spring back when lightly touched.
  6. Make the frosting: heat 1/2 cup of butter in a small saucepan over medium-low until lightly browned (around 8-10 minutes). Let cool (I poured it into my cold stand mixer bowl to speed the cooling process).
  7. Add the remaining 1/2 cup butter, cream cheese, and vanilla to the bowl with cooled brown butter. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix until frosting is thick and spreadable.
  8. Assemble whoopie pies: Pair up cookies of similar shapes and sizes.
  9. Spread or pipe frosting onto one cookie and then put it’s match on top, pressing them together gently. Enjoy immediately or store covered in the fridge.

https://www.52kitchenadventures.com/2013/12/04/pumpkin-whoopie-pies/

Giveaway:

Win a gorgeous Le Creuset Pie Dish and a full size sample of PAM Cooking Spray (valued at $50)!

​Edited 12/10/13: Congratulations to giveaway winner Sandy H.!

To enter: simply leave a comment on this post telling me either what you would bake in the Le Creuset Pie Dish OR a baking tip you’d like to share.

BONUS entries: Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or Instagram. Leave a comment for each account you followed.

BONUS BONUS entries: share this post on any social media site. Leave a comment with the link to your post.

 

Giveaway ends on 12/9/13 at midnight PST. One winner will be chosen at random on 12/10/13.  All entrants must be 18 years+ and reside in the continental U.S. See full terms and conditions of this giveaway.

 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of PAM Cooking Spray.

 For more information, visit http://www.pamcookingspray.com
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70 Comments on Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

  1. Natalie J Vandenberghe
    December 4, 2013 at 10:28 pm (11 years ago)

    I would make a Biscoff Pie

    Reply
  2. Natalie J Vandenberghe
    December 4, 2013 at 10:30 pm (11 years ago)

    I like you on Facebook

    Reply
  3. Natalie J Vandenberghe
    December 4, 2013 at 10:32 pm (11 years ago)

    Following Pinterest

    Reply
  4. Natalie J Vandenberghe
    December 4, 2013 at 10:32 pm (11 years ago)

    @lexiquin follows on Twitter

    Reply
  5. Natalie J Vandenberghe
    December 4, 2013 at 10:33 pm (11 years ago)

    Instagram follow

    Reply
  7. Gond
    December 5, 2013 at 12:10 am (11 years ago)

    I would love to make an apple pie with my 3yo son.

    Reply
  8. Gond
    December 5, 2013 at 12:11 am (11 years ago)

    I follow you on Facebook

    Reply
  9. Susie
    December 5, 2013 at 3:39 am (11 years ago)

    a cute,simple way to jazzup whoppie pies…I use stencils that fit over whoopie pie and sift powdered sugar over.I had lip stencils for Valentine s day, and called them “makin Whoopie” pies…..you could do snowflakes, leaves,etc…..

    Reply
  10. Matthew Clark
    December 5, 2013 at 5:07 am (11 years ago)

    Peach or Strawberry Rhubarb pie

    Reply
  11. Beth Hicks
    December 5, 2013 at 6:23 am (11 years ago)

    I’d bake my mother-in-law’s wonderful pecan pie.

    Reply
  12. Sandy Headtke
    December 5, 2013 at 9:44 am (11 years ago)

    I would made an apple pie

    Reply
  13. Sandy Headtke
    December 5, 2013 at 9:45 am (11 years ago)

    I follow you on Pinterest

    Reply
  14. Sandy Headtke
    December 5, 2013 at 9:46 am (11 years ago)

    I like you on Facebook

    Reply
  16. Mimi
    December 5, 2013 at 2:47 pm (11 years ago)

    I spray my cookie scoop with spray to make removal of cookie dough easier!

    Reply
  18. Mimi
    December 5, 2013 at 2:48 pm (11 years ago)

    I follow you on Pinterest

    Reply
  19. Itzia
    December 5, 2013 at 3:49 pm (11 years ago)

    i would attempt to bake a pecan pie.

    Reply
  20. Itzia
    December 5, 2013 at 3:49 pm (11 years ago)

    i like you on facebook

    Reply
  22. Itzia
    December 5, 2013 at 3:51 pm (11 years ago)

    i follow on pinterest

    Reply
  23. Itzia
    December 5, 2013 at 3:51 pm (11 years ago)

    i follow on twitter

    Reply
  24. Itzia
    December 5, 2013 at 3:51 pm (11 years ago)

    i also follow on instagram

    Reply
  31. Jessie C.
    December 5, 2013 at 8:09 pm (11 years ago)

    I would bake pumpkin pies.

    Reply
  32. Jessie C.
    December 5, 2013 at 8:09 pm (11 years ago)

    follow on pinterest

    Reply
  33. Jessie C.
    December 5, 2013 at 8:10 pm (11 years ago)

    follow on fb

    Reply
  34. Jessie C.
    December 5, 2013 at 8:10 pm (11 years ago)

    follow on twitter

    Reply
  35. Jessie C.
    December 5, 2013 at 8:11 pm (11 years ago)

    -https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/408810782571237376

    Reply
  36. Trish A
    December 6, 2013 at 3:25 am (11 years ago)

    I would bake a one crust apple with a pecan crumble topping.

    Reply
  37. Jessica To
    December 6, 2013 at 3:51 pm (11 years ago)

    I would like to make my homemade apple pie!

    Reply
  38. Kari M
    December 7, 2013 at 9:21 am (11 years ago)

    I’d make a French Silk Pie.

    Reply
  39. Linda
    December 8, 2013 at 7:48 am (11 years ago)

    I would make my favorite: Apple Pie! Thanks so much for the recipe and the giveaway!

    Reply
  42. Carmen
    December 8, 2013 at 1:38 pm (11 years ago)

    I follow @kitchadventures

    Reply
  43. Carmen
    December 8, 2013 at 1:39 pm (11 years ago)

    I follow @kitchadventures on pinterest (the previous entry was for twitter)

    Reply
  45. Natalie G.
    December 8, 2013 at 2:29 pm (11 years ago)

    I would make an apple pie!

    Reply
  46. Natalie G.
    December 8, 2013 at 2:30 pm (11 years ago)

    I follow you on FB- Natalie Swiatek Giambanco

    Reply
  47. Natalie G.
    December 8, 2013 at 2:30 pm (11 years ago)

    I follow you on Twitter- natakie16

    Reply
  48. Natalie G.
    December 8, 2013 at 2:31 pm (11 years ago)

    I follow you on Pinterest- natakie16

    Reply
  49. Debra Lee
    December 8, 2013 at 4:47 pm (11 years ago)

    I would bake my mother’s apple pie!

    Reply
  50. Debra Lee
    December 8, 2013 at 4:47 pm (11 years ago)

    Following on Facebook under Distracted Debra Lee.

    Reply
  51. Debra Lee
    December 8, 2013 at 4:48 pm (11 years ago)

    Following on Twitter @Distracteddebra

    Reply
  52. Debra Lee
    December 8, 2013 at 4:48 pm (11 years ago)

    Following on Pinterest under Debra Lee.

    Reply
  53. Debra Lee
    December 8, 2013 at 4:49 pm (11 years ago)

    Following on Instagram @ distracteddebra

    Reply
  57. Kristen
    December 9, 2013 at 8:11 am (11 years ago)

    I would try a dutch apple pie!

    Reply
  58. D SCHMIDT
    December 9, 2013 at 4:01 pm (11 years ago)

    I would bake a rhubarb crumble in it! Delicious 🙂

    Reply
  61. Lauren
    December 9, 2013 at 4:12 pm (11 years ago)

    I would bake a caramel apple pie recipe that I found on Pinterest a few weeks ago. YUM!

    Reply
  62. Lauren
    December 9, 2013 at 4:13 pm (11 years ago)

    I follow you on Twitter!

    Reply
  63. Lauren
    December 9, 2013 at 4:13 pm (11 years ago)

    I follow you on Instagram!

    Reply
  64. Lauren
    December 9, 2013 at 4:13 pm (11 years ago)

    I follow you on Pinterest! 🙂

    Reply
  65. Lauren
    December 9, 2013 at 4:13 pm (11 years ago)

    I follow you on Facebook!

    Reply
  66. Heidi
    December 9, 2013 at 10:49 pm (11 years ago)

    I would love to make a pumpkin pie with it,

    Reply
  67. Jen
    December 9, 2013 at 11:46 pm (11 years ago)

    Followed on FB

    Reply
  68. Jen
    December 9, 2013 at 11:47 pm (11 years ago)

    I’d make a chocolate tart with a peanut butter and banana caramel layer on top!

    Reply
  69. Carly @ Carly in the Kitchen
    December 10, 2013 at 3:27 am (11 years ago)

    I would try making my mom’s apple pie…but it never comes out quite the same as hers! 🙂 Maybe this pie dish is the missing link.

    Reply

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