Description
Soft, spiced whoopie pies filled with apple cider buttercream and gooey caramel — a perfect cozy dessert for fall.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup apple cider, reduced to ¼ cup
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (for buttercream)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup reduced apple cider (for buttercream)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for buttercream)
- Pinch of salt (for buttercream)
- ½ cup store-bought caramel sauce (or homemade)
- Pinch of flaky sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Reduce the apple cider by simmering 1 cup in a saucepan over medium heat until it reduces to ¼ cup. Let it cool completely.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- In a separate large bowl, beat softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, and mix until combined.
- Stir in the cooled cider reduction.
- Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the wet mixture, starting and ending with the dry. Mix just until combined.
- Drop 2-tablespoon mounds of batter onto baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, until tops are set and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
- For the buttercream: beat softened butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar gradually, then cider reduction, vanilla, and salt. Beat until fluffy.
- To assemble: pair cookies by size. Pipe or spoon buttercream onto one, drizzle caramel, sprinkle sea salt if desired, and top with another cookie. Chill 20 minutes if needed for buttercream to set.
Notes
- Use parchment between layers when storing to avoid sticking.
- Freeze cookie halves unfilled for up to a month for freshness.
- Caramel filling can be omitted for a simpler version.
- For added crunch, add chopped pecans to the filling layer.
- Use homemade caramel for deeper flavor if desired.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 whoopie pie
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
