Whoopee For Whoopie Pies! Recipe

This past Sunday, my Mom invited my family to dinner.  When I asked what I could bring, she said to bring dessert.  She also added that I should be creative.  Hmmmm, is that because she was in the mood for something special or because my desserts are usually boring?  LOL  Whatever the reason, I took it as a challenge and began my search to find something interesting and different, but that I had the ingredients for already since I didn't feel like going to the store.   I found a box of Devil's Food cake mix in the pantry and headed to Betty Crocker.com to find something that would inspire me.  As soon as I saw the Red Velvet Whoopie Pie recipe I knew I had a winner.  My husband's favorite is Red Velvet cake and....who doesn't love a Whoopie Pie?  Even saying the name makes me smile.  Click HERE for the recipe they provide.  Or, just follow the recipe below which is similar, but "tweaked" to fit the ingredients I had on hand. Warning!  This is not a low-cal dessert. 

 Red Velvet Whoopie Pies 

Cookies

1 box Betty Crocker Devil's Food Cake Mix

3/4 cup water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

2 Tbsp red food coloring (leave this out if you are sensitive to this since it doesn't effect the flavor)

1 box (4 serving size) chocolate pudding instant pudding mix

Filling

1 Cup butter or margarine, softened

4 Cups mini marshmallows, melted and cooled

1 1/2 Cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Heat oven to 350.  Lightly grease cookie sheet.  Beat cookie mix together. Drop by large spoonfuls onto cookie sheet.  I used my large cookie scooper from Pampered Chef and it made the perfect size.  The website recipe says to use 1/4 amount but I felt that made them way too big.

Bake 12-17 minutes.  Do not overbake.  They should be soft but cooked through.  Remove from cookie sheet and cool completely.

Now for the filling. Yum!  Beat it all together until fluffy.  I put mine in the fridge for about 15 minutes just to help it firm up a bit.  Spread onto the flat side of one cookie.  Be generous!  Then sandwich with another cookie.  Don't press too hard.  Just put them together enough to stay.  Store them in a sealed container.  I kept them in the fridge.  You an also freeze them and they are DEE-LISH!

Alternative Ideas:

~ Don't have marshmallows or marshmallow creme?  Use vanilla frosting or Cool Whip!  Using light or fat free Cool Whip will reduce the calories significantly.

~ Place mini chocolate chips in the filling or roll the whoopie pie into the chips or chocolate shavings after filling them to get some along the edges.

~ Make smaller, bite size pies for a little treat.

Results

What a hit!  Everyone loved them!  Here is a quote from my 11 year old son.....

"Mommy, you know how we talk about going to heaven and all the great stuff we'll see?"

"Yes, Matthew"

"Well, I think these Whoopie Pies will be there"

Out of the mouths of babes!  So, try them out!  Come back and tell me how it goes and share any other Whoopie ideas you might have.