Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Frosting

My friend Julie made pumpkin chocolate chip whoopie pies for our whoopie pie exchange.  Of all the recipes we tried these were the favorite of my family, and they don't even like pumpkin.  Go figure.


I didn't  get Julie's recipe, so I came up with my own using a cake mix.   These came pretty close, and they are sooo easy.  I added more spice because it came closer to the taste of homemade.  But, you don't have to do that if you don't have spices on hand.

1 box spice cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter, melted
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon all spice
1 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Line to baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients, except for the chocolate chips.
Beat until well combined, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
Fold in the chocolate chips.

Using a small metal cookie scoop, or a tablespoon, drop mounds of dough about two inches apart onto the baking sheets.  

Place the sheets in the oven and bake for 9 to 11 minutes,  or until the top of the cookies spring back when lightly touched.

Remove from oven and let cool before filling.


Cream Cheese Filling:

3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 stick butter (4 tablespoons)
4 ounces cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon milk

Combine the above ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  Whip using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.

To make a whoopie pie:  Spread frosting on the bottom of one of the cookies.  Top with another cookie.

Makes about 30 pies.