Whoopie Piesare giant bakery style chocolate cookies with a delicious, light, and fluffy icing in the center. Every bite is a party in your mouth! These chocolate cookies are soft and tender, almost cake like but with a bit more structure. The filling is incredibly light, sweet, and fluffy. The combination of the two is a match made in heaven.

A close up side view of whoopie pies on a teal speckled tray.

I love how whoopie pies were named. This dessert hails from New England. It is rumored that when working men opened up their lunch box and discovered one of these cookies they would exclaim, “Whoopie!” Trust me- you will say the same thing when you devour these decadent little numbers.

Whoopie pies make for a delicious dessert, a fun after school treat, or something extra special for a holiday. This recipe only makes 6 giant cookies. They are over the top and so fun! Add these whoopie pies as a sweet treat to a lunchbox and you’ll have a very happy loved one.

A close up of a whoopie pie with a bite taken out of it on a white plate.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This recipe is a classic that will remind you of your childhood
They are decadently chocolatey while still light and fluffy
While the recipe offers a delicious base, you can easily customize it and add a twist! Sprinkle some chopped nuts or chocolate chips into the batter, or even experiment with different flavored extracts for the filling.
No need for a fancy pantry! This recipe uses common baking ingredients that you might already have on hand.

Recipe Ingredients

Flour –All-purpose
Cocoa powder– I used dutch-processed cocoa
Butter –I like unsalted for this sweet recipe
Buttermilk –Click here to make your own buttermilk
Sugar– You will need brown and confectioners’ sugar
Marshmallow creme
Egg
Salt
Baking soda
Vanilla extract

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

How to Make Whoopie Pies

Step 1.Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, cream softened butter and sugar, then beat in egg and vanilla.

Step 2.Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients alternately with buttermilk. Scoop batter onto baking sheets and bake.

Step 3.Beat butter and sugar, then mix in vanilla, salt and marshmallow creme. Chill for 30 minutes.

Step 4.Spread filling on half the cookies, top with remaining cookies, and press gently. Eat or store in the fridge.

Recipe FAQs

What is a whoopie pie?

A whoopie pie is basically a chocolate cake sandwich with frosting in the middle. But it’s next level and better than just cake and icing!

How do you keep whoopie pies from spreading?

To avoid the cookies from spreading too much when baked, try refrigerating the dough for about 20 minutes. This should help!

Can I make these Whoopie Pies smaller?

Absolutely! You can make around 24 whoopie pies that are the size of a traditional cookie by placing 1 rounded tablespoon of batter on your prepared sheets and baking the cookies for around 10 minutes.

I don’t have buttermilk. Is there a substitute?

No problem! To make your own buttermilk substitute, simply add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using in the recipe. Click here to view my buttermilk recipe.

Do I have to use a stand mixer?

While a stand mixer can make things easier, you can definitely mix the batter and filling by hand with a whisk and some elbow grease!

A top view of a teal spotted tray of 6 whoope pies.

Expert Tips

Forperfectly textured cookies, make sure all youringredients are at room temperature. This allows the butter to cream properly, leading to fluffy cakes.
Once you’ve combined the dry and wet ingredients,resist the urge to over-mix!Over-mixing can lead to tough cookies. Mix until just incorporated.
The marshmallow cremefilling can get soft at room temperature. To make it easier to spread and prevent it from squishing out the sides,chill the filling for at least 30 minutes before assemblingyour whoopie pies.
For anextra fancy touch,considerusing a piping bag to spread the filling.This will give you clean, even lines of filling and a professional look.

A close up of a hand holding a whoopie pie cut in half.

How to Store and Serve Whoopie Pies

A cold glass of milk is a quintessential pairing for whoopie pies. Since they are relatively large treats, consider serving them on individual plates or wrapping them in small cellophane bags for a grab-and-go treat. Add them to a lunch box with one of my mysix quick and easy hummus lunch boxes,6 easy pinwheel recipes for lunch boxes, my6 simple salad in a jar recipes.

These cookies will stay fresh when stored in an airtight container. Avoid stacking them because they tend to stick together. Whoopie pies also freeze nicely for a treat that can be enjoyed later.