Description
At its core, a whoopie pie is a sandwich made from two soft cookies, often filled with a sweet and creamy filling. The gingerbread variety takes inspiration from the classic gingerbread cookie, packed with warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. This is then paired with a luscious cream cheese filling that brings a cool, tangy contrast to the spiced cookies, creating the perfect flavor profile.
Ingredients
For the Gingerbread Cookies
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2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
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1 tsp baking soda
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2 tsp ground ginger
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1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
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¼ tsp ground cloves
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¼ tsp nutmeg
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½ tsp salt
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½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
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½ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
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¼ cup molasses
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1 large egg
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1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Filling
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4 oz (½ block) cream cheese, softened
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¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, softened
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1 ½ cups powdered sugar
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½ tsp vanilla extract
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Pinch of salt
Instructions
🧁 1. Make the Gingerbread Cookie Batter
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
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In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar together until creamy (about 2 minutes).
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Mix in molasses, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
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Gradually add the dry ingredients and beat until just combined. The dough will be soft but not sticky.
🍥 2. Bake
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Scoop about 1 ½ tablespoons of dough per cookie onto prepared sheets (leave 2 inches apart).
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Bake for 9–11 minutes, until puffed and set at the edges.
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Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
🧈 3. Make the Cream Cheese Filling
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Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth and fluffy.
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Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, then beat until light and creamy.
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If too soft, chill for 15–20 minutes before assembling.
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🍪 4. Assemble
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Match cookies by size.
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Spread or pipe about 1–2 tablespoons of filling onto the flat side of one cookie.
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Top with another cookie and gently press to sandwich.
Notes
For an extra festive touch, dust the whoopie pies with powdered sugar or drizzle a bit of white chocolate on top. You can also chill them for 30 minutes before serving for a firmer texture and even richer flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 whoopie pie
- Calories: 290
Keywords: Gingerbread Cookies, Whoopie Pies, Holiday Whoopie Pies, Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies