Indulge in these easy-to-make Chocolate Whoopie Pies, a perfect blend of convenience and deliciousness straight from a cake mix! Ideal for quick treats, these pies promise a chocolaty, homemade taste in every bite.
These whoopie pies are delicious all on their own OR you can serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! If you don’t have an ice cream maker, try my no-churn ice cream recipe.
Why You Will Love These Cake Mix Whoopie Pies
- Simple and Convenient: A cake mix makes them perfect for those who want a quick and easy treat without the hassle of gathering a bunch of ingredients or following complex recipes.
- Deliciously Chocolatey: For chocolate lovers, these whoopie pies are a dream come true. They offer a rich, deep chocolate flavor that satisfies sweet cravings and provides a comforting, indulgent experience.
- Fun and Versatile: Chocolate whoopie pies are not only fun to make but also versatile. They can be customized with various fillings like cream cheese, marshmallow cream, or even peanut butter, allowing bakers to get creative and personalize each batch to their taste.
A whoopie pie is a delightful baked treat that originated in the United States. It’s made up of two round, soft, cake-like cookies, which come in a variety of flavors, but chocolate is the most traditional and popular. Sandwiched between these cookies is a sweet, creamy filling, often made from marshmallow fluff, buttercream, or cream cheese. The result is a handheld dessert that’s like a cross between a cookie, a cake, and a sandwich.
Each bite into these cookies releases the rich, smooth chocolate flavor of soft, cake-like cookies with a sweet, creamy filling. The chocolate is deep and satisfying, typical of a good quality cake mix, providing a balanced and indulgent chocolatey goodness. The filling, whether it’s vanilla buttercream, marshmallow, or cream cheese, adds a luscious sweetness that perfectly complements the chocolate, making each bite a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.
Chocolate Whoopie Pie ingredients
Cake mix is my secret ingredient. It makes these come together in minutes and the batter calls for minimal ingredients. The only real tip you need is to use parchment paper (affiliate) or a silicone baking mat (affiliate) because these do stick to the pan. You only need FIVE ingredients for the cookie base. Let’s break things down.
- Cake Mix: Pick your favorite. For a more rich chocolate flavor use Triple Chocolate Fudge. For a more toned down flavor, which is my favorite, opt for Chocolate Fudge. This is the base, or the dry ingredients, for this cookie recipe.
- Water, Oil, Eggs: Basically, you add all of the ingredients called for on the box. The only difference is we lower the amount of water.
- Vanilla: Just a touch for both the cookie and the frosting.
- Butter: Soft SALTED butter for the frosting. The salt paired with the marshmallow fullf (affiliate) is AMAZING.
- Marshmallow Fluff: Could you make homemade marshmallow fluff? Yep. Can you also pick up a can from the store? Yes. I opt for the second. It makes things easier and tastes the same. Alternatively, you can try a cream cheese frosting.
- Powdered Sugar: Just one cup for the filling.
How To Make Whoopie Pies
The marshmallow filling is my go-to for any chocolate cake or cookie. It’s a recipe I got from a cupcake decorating book (affiliate) years and years ago. It just wins all of the awards for creamy, rich, deliciousness.
- PREP: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking trays with parchment paper and set aside.
- BATTER: Combine the cake mix, water, oil, eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract into a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. For an extra chocolate boost, try adding 1 tablespoon of espresso powder. Mix on low speed until combined fully.
- BAKE: Spoon the cake batter onto the prepared pans in 1 tablespoon amounts. Make sure you leave at least 2-3 inches between each cookie. They will spread. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until the middles are set.
- FROSTING: Combine the butter and marshmallow creme into the bowl of an electric mixer. Whip until they come together, about 2 minutes or until fully combined. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and stir 1 minute more, or until fluffy.
- ASSEMBLE: Once the cookies have cooled, turn one cookie over and pipe or spread on frosting onto the flat side. Top and sandwich with a second cookie. Repeat with the remaining cakey chocolate cookies. I like to use a large round tip, but you can also simply add the frosting to a ziptop bag and snip the corner for a quick pipe on situation.
Helpful Tools
- Cookie Sheets: I am a big fan of my Nordic Ware pans (affiliate). I have both the half sheet and full pan sizes and they are amazingly easy to clean.
- Silicone Baking Mats: Parchment paper is king in my kitchen, but only when both of my silicone baking mats (affiliate) are dirty. They are SO great for so many things and worth the $13 for a set of 3.
- Medium Cookie Scoop: You can use a measuring spoon. However, a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop (affiliate) is so handy and makes the process extra speedy.
How To Store Leftover Whoopie Pies
Storing leftover whoopie pies is pretty straightforward to ensure they stay fresh and delicious:
- Room Temperature Storage: If you plan to consume them within 1-2 days, you can store the whoopie pies at room temperature. Place them in an airtight container to keep them moist and prevent them from drying out. Avoid direct sunlight or heat sources.
- Refrigeration for Longer Freshness: For longer storage, up to a week, refrigerate the whoopie pies. Again, use an airtight container. This is particularly important if the filling is made from cream cheese or anything that can spoil easily.
- Freezing for Long-Term Storage: Whoopie pies can be frozen for up to 3 months. Wrap each pie individually in plastic wrap and then place them in a zip-lock freezer bag or airtight container. To thaw, just leave them at room temperature for a few hours or overnight in the fridge.
- Avoiding Moisture and Stickiness: To prevent the whoopie pies from sticking together or becoming too moist, you can place a piece of parchment or wax paper between them, especially when layering in a container.
Remember, the texture and taste might change slightly after refrigeration or freezing, but they’ll still be delicious!
Recipe Notes:
The beauty about this whoopie pie with marshmallow filling is that you are not limited in flavors! Try a Devil’s food cake mix, vanilla, funfetti, lemon… The possibilities are endless.
Yes! I have so many whoopie pie recipes here on the site. One of my favorites is my pumpkin whoopie pie recipe!
Improper storage can lead to sticky whoopie pies. If the whoopie pies are stored in a sealed container or wrapped tightly while still warm, condensation can occur, resulting in a sticky surface. It’s best to allow the whoopie pies to cool completely before storing them in a container with a loose-fitting lid or covering them with a breathable wrap.
No, a whoopie pie is not a macaron.
The size of the cookie dough portion can also impact the shape. If you’re using too much dough per cookie or spreading it out too thin, the cookies may spread excessively and flatten. Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion the dough consistently, and leave enough space between the cookies on the baking sheet to allow for spreading.
More Must Try Sandwich Cookies
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Homemade Whoopie Pies
Ingredients
Cookies:
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Marshmallow Filling:
- 1/2 cup butter room temperature
- 1 7oz container marshmallow fluff
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking trays with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside for later.
- Combine the cake mix, water, oil, eggs, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla into a mixing bowl. Whisk until combined, about 1 minute.
- Drop by heaping tablespoon full onto your prepared sheets leaving at least a 2 inch space between each cookie.
- Bake 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
Marshmallow Filling:
- Combine the butter and marshmallow fluff into a mixing bowl. Mix until combined and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix an additional 1 minute, scraping the sides of the bowl halfway through.
- Spread, or pipe, 1-2 tablespoons of frosting between two cookies. Continue with remaining cookies.
Notes
Nutrition
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More Delicious Chocolate Treats To Try
- The BEST Chocolate Cake Recipe
- Chocolate Waffles
- Double Chocolate Cookies
- Easy Chocolate Mug Cake
- Baked Chocolate Cake Donuts
- Brownie Cookies with Peppermints
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