These Chocolate Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies are made from miniature chocolate cakes and peanut butter frosting. Sandwich the frosting between two cakes and you have a fun, simple, and delicious handheld dessert!
Chocolate whoopie pies with peanut butter filling
I’m a sucker for anything that combines peanut butter and chocolate. I can’t help but serve Chocolate Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies, Chocolate Donuts with Peanut Butter Frosting, or these Chocolate Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies at almost every party or celebration. These whoopie pies, in particular, are a crowd favorite and put a smile on the face of anyone who takes a bite!
I like to think of whoopie pies as the cupcake’s super cool and mature older cousin. They’re made by sandwiching frosting in between two miniature cakes, kind of like a sandwich cookie. They’re a decadent handheld dessert, way less messy, and even easy to bake.
The best part? Chocolate whoopie pies can be made in less than 20 minutes and are even freezer-friendly! Perfect for parties or the holidays, this chocolate whoopie pie recipe is sure to become a staple in your household.
What are whoopie pies?
Whoopie pies are small handheld desserts that look just like sandwich cookies but are made by sandwiching frosting or buttercream between two miniature cakes instead. They come in any flavor you can imagine, from vanilla to chocolate to pumpkin. Because they originated in New England, you can almost always find whoopie pies in their bakeries and Amish markets nearby.
What is whoopie pie filling made of?
Traditionally, whoopie pie filling is made out of marshmallow fluff; however, you can stuff them with pretty much any type of frosting you like. My recipe sandwiches a rich and decadent peanut butter frosting between two pieces of moist chocolate cake.
How to make a chocolate whoopie pie recipe
These delicious chocolate peanut butter whoopie pies are easy to make and super fun to eat. A whoopie pie pan will help your cakes bake evenly and consistently, but a cookie sheet works too. This is how it’s done:
Mix the butter, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, vanilla, and egg together in a large bowl. Once it’s smooth, add the cocoa and mix again.
Add the flour and milk and continue mixing until you have a smooth, chocolatey batter.
Use a ¼ cup measuring cup to drop dollops of cake mix onto a greased cookie sheet or whoopie pie pan.
Bake the cakes until they’re firm, then leave them on a wire rack to cool. Prepare the peanut butter frosting while you wait.
How to make peanut butter buttercream
This nutty buttercream couldn’t be easier to make:
- Whip the melted butter and peanut butter together in a bowl until it’s light and fluffy.
- Continue mixing while you slowly add the powdered sugar and milk. The resulting mixture should be thick and creamy.
- Keep whipping the frosting for 1 or 2 minutes to incorporate lots of air. The fluffier the frosting, the better.
- When the cakes are cool, spread a generous amount of your buttercream one cake half. Add another half on top and gently press them together. Serve and enjoy!
Variations:
Even though chocolate and peanut butter are the perfect combination, you could easily tweak this recipe to create pretty much any flavor of whoopie pie:
- My pumpkin whoopie pies with marshmallow filling give this classic recipe a comforting fall twist.
- For the ultimate chocolate experience, try stuffing the chocolate cakes with chocolate brownie frosting.
- Add a dollop of raspberry jam on the peanut butter frosting to create a peanut butter and jam whoopie pie.
- Looking for something sweet and kid-friendly? Try whipping up a batch of my birthday party vanilla whoopie pies.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my whoopie pies flat?
If your whoopie pies are coming out of the oven looking flat, this means that your cake batter was too thin. You can easily fix this by adding more flour or reducing the amount of milk you use in your batter.
Can you make these without a whoopie pie pan?
Absolutely! Simply drop ¼ cup of cake batter at a timeonto a greased baking sheet.
Can you make whoopie pies ahead of time?
These chocolate whoopie pies are a great make-ahead dessert. Once the cakes are baked and cooled, wrap them in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Can you freeze chocolate whoopie pies?
Yes! If you’d like to freeze the unfrosted whoopie pies, wrap the cakes in plastic and store them in the freezer for up to 4 months. When you’re ready to indulge, simply whip up a batch of frosting, assemble your pies, and enjoy!
More chocolate and peanut butter desserts to try
- Peanut Butter Cups
- Peanut Butter Granola Bars
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- Chocolate Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars with Chocolate Frosting
- Chocolate Oreo Peanut Butter Popsicles
Pin for later:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Buttercream Whoopie Pies
PrintIngredients
For the cakes
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 2 1/3 cups flour
- 1 cup milk
For the peanut butter buttercream
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups powdered confectioners sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
For the cakes
- Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Spray baking sheet or whoopie pie pan.
- In a large mixing bowl mix together butter, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and vanilla. Once mixed, add in the egg and continue beating until all smooth. Add in cocoa powder and continue mixing.
- Add flour and milk and continue beating until smooth. Make sure it's completely mixed and soft.
- Drop the cake dough by 1/4 cupfuls onto baking sheet or fill up whoopie pie pan. If using a baking pan, leave 1 inch between cakes as they will grow.
- Bake 11 to 13 minutes until firm. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
- Spread peanut butter filling on one pie, while using another pie to press it down.
- Enjoy immediately or wrap in plastic wrap to store.
For the peanut butter buttercream
- Beat melted butter and peanut butter in a bowl until mixed. Gradually mix in sugar and once thickened, add milk.
- Continue beating for about 2 minutes until buttercream is spreadable and fluffy.
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
Ha, love the video! And I’ve been dreaming about one of these showing up in front of me all day!
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says
Chocolate + Peanut Buttercream + Whoopie Pie = Heaven. So.hungry.
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
Oh my – these look delish! I am a HUGE fan of peanut butter. Wrapped in these fab chocolate whoopie pie cookies – YUM!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
What a classic and delicious combination. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t love PB and chocolate! 😀
Suzanne says
Totally yummy whoopies. You are getting good use out of your whoopie maker!!
Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com says
Haha, I’m dying over your dancing whoopie pie! If Saveur doesn’t have a “Best Use of Animated Food Gif” category in their awards, they need to add one stat. And can we talk about that thick layer of peanut butter buttercream? Yes.please.
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Girl, you have totally outdone yourself! These PB and chocolate whoopie pies are to die for. Love the dancing whoopie pie at the start…to lure us all in! My favorite food combo…in whoopie pie form. Thank you for sharing, Pamela! xo
Meghan @ Spoonful of Flour says
I love the whoopie dance! lol and these whoopie pies were made for me- so amazing!
shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com says
Oh My! Chocolate and peanut butter in whoopie pie form! Yum! Love the spinning whoopie!
Ash-foodfashionparty says
The whoopie pies are sure a beauty and I enjoy this little cushioned cookies.
Cute pictures.
sandra says
your whoopee pies are so whoopee they dance all on their own!
Mimi @ Culinary Couture says
Love that gif in the beginning! These look awesome!
Gracie says
They look so good! I’m going to have to make is this weekend. The heck with eating less sugar. how can you resist!
Amy @ Elephant Eats says
Hahaha, I totally know what you mean about eating allll that batter and frosting seeming like a good idea at the time 😉 I’ve had many a stomach ache from that. I love chocolate peanut butter (obviously) so these sound pretty darn amazing to me. Plus, they’re so cute!
Jamie@Milk 'n' Cookies says
Wow — that is a LOT of peanut butter filling. Which is just how it should be, if you ask me. And I sort of want to do the “Whoopie Pie Spin” right now, here in my office. Is that weird?
Pamela says
No, it’s beautiful – spin girl, spin!
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
I love the dancing whoopie pie!
Pam says
My kids would LOVE these!
Beth @ bethcakes says
Oh, gosh. I love how thick that peanut butter buttercream looks! Whoopie pies are just always so fun. This reminds me that I need to make whoopie pies more often. 🙂
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
I love eating the batter but my husband lectures me everytime so I usually only get in a smidge of it…not 6 tablespoons (wow)!
Anything peanut butter and chocolate and I’m sold. 🙂 These look so yummy and the cookies so soft and…yup, I’m drooling. 😉
Gorgeous pics as always. 🙂
Pamela says
Sometimes I get a little wild Tina! 😉
Monica says
The whoppie dance totally put a smile on my face today – thank you! And I’m convinced one of these would make anyone’s day. (I want to swim in that batter and filling – looks so luscious!)
Pamela says
If you open up that pool, I will show up! 🙂
Stephanie @ PlainChicken says
I love anything peanut butter and chocolate!
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life says
That PB buttercream looks divine. Chocolate and pb must be one of the all time best combos and these whoopie pies are letting them shine! Hand me a platter and I’ll be dancing right along with you!
Kelly says
These look incredible Pamela! Hehe and I love that whoopie dance – so cute! I would be shaking and smiling with joy too if I had a plate of these in front of me for breakfast 🙂
Jaclyn says
I love the spinning whoopie pie! These sound sinful.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
I’ve never made whoopie pies before but you won me at PB and chocolate so these are being added to my list!
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says
I could watch that adorable whoopie pie spin all day long. So cute! And so yummy!
Joanne says
Peanut butter buttercream food group? I’m in! I’m also in for a batch of these. All for me. 🙂
Ashley says
Ha! The whoopie dance – I love it! These look awesome – peanut butter and chocolate is suchhhh a good combination! Delicious!
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent says
Wow! These look Amazing! Really really amazing. I want to be able to magically appear to the location of these and eat them. I would definitely do the whoppie pie dance 🙂
Sarah | The Sugar Hit says
These look SO GOOD! And I love that gif! That gif alone makes me want to dance.
jennifer says
Just made this dairy free-soy free and used king authur gluten free flour. Thye came out really good.
Pamela says
Sounds delicious Jennifer, thanks for letting me know! Hope you saved one for me. 😉