Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

I will apologize in advance for the pictures during this recipe. This recipe turned into a family event and Isabella, the hubby and I were all jammed into the kitchen making them together :) There were a few times when I should have taken a picture but I didn't. We had a great time making them and all I can say is WOW...so easy and sinfully delicious.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil ( I used 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce)
• 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1/2 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cloves

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets or spray with cooking spray that is designated for baking (it has flour in it). Combine the oil (and applesauce if using it) and brown sugar mix until smooth. Mix in the pumpkin and eggs and beat over medium speed. Add in the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Beat until incorporated.

Drop dough on cookie sheets evenly. I used a 2 tablespoon ice cream scoop and leveled it off with a butter knife to ensure that the cookies will end up similar in size (we are making sandwich cookies so we want them as close as possible).

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until the bottoms have a light golden color and they are just set. I would recommend that you start to check them at about 8 minutes to see how they are doing. Every oven and cookie sheet is different.

Let the cookies cool completely before putting the frosting on them.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 16oz cream cheese softened
• 1 stick of butter softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups confectioner sugar sifted

Beat the cream cheese and butter until soft and creamy. Add the vanilla and then gradually add the confectioners sugar.

Once the cookies have cooled, line them up on wax paper. Spread some of the filling on the flat side of the cookie and then top with another cookie.

The recipe for the whoopie pies can be found here. I substituted half of the oil for applesauce. I did not use their filling recipe. Instead, I used this cream cheese frosting recipe.