Pumpkin Whoopie Pies & Fall Crawl - Day 9

I’m so excited that it’s my day along the Fall Crawl! For those of you joining me from the Crawl, welcome!

As I’ve mentioned on my blog before, I grew up in New England and the cuisine found there has definitely made a lasting impression on me. Now that it’s fall and I no longer live in New England I tend to get nostalgic this time of year. New England, hands down, is the capital of fall: the crisp smell of leaves and apples that permeates the air, harvest festivals, apple-picking, fried dough, apple fritters, and the amazing fall colors. Yup, I miss home.

So, in honor of my New England roots I wanted to make an adaptation of a treat that originated there: the whoopie pie! Some people call them the new cupcake and I think they’re every bit as good (and cute) as the cupcake…so they may have something there! This recipe uses a lot of spices, but I think that’s what makes them so good. If you gather all the ingredients to make this recipe, you should be set for the entire fall baking season as far as spices go! Enjoy!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple Cream Cheese Filling

Ingredients:

For the pumpkin cookies:
3 C all-purpose flour
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
2 T cinnamon
1 t ground ginger
½ t ground nutmeg
1 C granulated sugar
1 C dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1 C vegetable oil
3 C chilled pumpkin puree
2 large eggs
1 t vanilla extract

For the maple cream cheese filling:
3 C powdered sugar
½ C unsalted butter, at room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
3 T maple syrup
1 t vanilla extract

Sprinkles for garnish (optional)

Directions:

To make the pumpkin cookies:

Preheat the oven to 350° F.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.  In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and spices.  Set aside.  In a separate bowl, whisk sugars and oil together.  Add the pumpkin puree and whisk to combine thoroughly.  Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk until combined.  Sprinkle the flour mixture over the pumpkin mixture and whisk until completely combined.

Use a small ice cream scoop with a release mechanism to drop the dough onto the prepared baking sheets (about 1.5-2 tablespoons.), about 1 inch apart.  Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the cookies are just starting to crack on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cookie comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the pan for about 10 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.  Repeat with remaining dough.

To make the filling:

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment beat the butter until smooth with no visible lumps.  Add the cream cheese and beat until combined.  Add the powdered sugar, maple syrup and vanilla and beat until smooth.  Be careful not to overbeat the filling or it will lose structure. If you feel the filling is too loose, simply put it in the fridge for about 30 minutes to firm up.

To assemble, turn half of the cooled cookies upside down.  Pipe filling onto the flat side of the overturned cookies.  Place another cookie, flat side down, on top of the filling.  Press down slightly so that the filling spreads to the edges of the cookie.  Repeat until all the cookies are used.  If you’re using sprinkles to garnish the cookies, hold each whoopie pie in your hand and sprinkle the garnish in the crack of the whoopie pie and turn until all the exposed frosting is covered. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm before serving.

This made about 18 large Whoopie Pies

Source: adapted from Annie’s Eats

Here’s the schedule for the rest of the crawl:

Sept 28th – Kim & Lars http://larskim.com/
Sept 29th - Deia http://loveandtangles.blogspot.com/
Sept 30th - Meli - http://melifaif.blogspot.com/
Meli's will be our Second blog hop /Linky Party

October 1st - Renee - http://renee-joyjourney.blogspot.com/

October 2nd - Rachel - http://crinklephotography.blogspot.com/

October 3rd - All Projects Linky, Giveaway & thanks to all that joined us in on the crawl!

I’m linking this post up at:
Metamorphosis Monday
Menu Plan Monday
Skip to My Lou
Tip Me Tuesday
Today’s Creative Blog