Introduction

Whoopie pies are a delightful Halloween treat combining soft, rich chocolate sandwich cookies with a fluffy marshmallow cream filling. These festive treats are fun to decorate and perfect for parties or trick-or-treating. Their moist texture and spooky decorations make them a hit with kids and adults alike.

Three chocolate whoopie pies sit stacked on a white plate, each made of two thick, dark brown, soft-looking cake layers. In between the cake layers is a thick, bright orange frosting layer with a creamy texture, generously sprinkled with small, shiny black sprinkles. The edges of the frosting slightly peek out from the cakes, creating a vibrant contrast between the dark brown and orange colors. The plate rests on a white marbled surface, with soft lighting enhancing the rich textures of the cakes and frosting. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the devil’s food cake mix, water, vegetable oil, eggs, and chocolate fudge instant pudding mix. Beat on medium speed until the batter is smooth and free of lumps.

Step 2: Line baking sheets with Silpat or parchment paper. Using a scoop or spoon, drop even portions of batter onto the sheets in round shapes—make 18 rounds for larger whoopie pies or 36 for smaller ones. Bake for 7-10 minutes until the cakes are set and spring back lightly when touched. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 3: While the cakes cool, place the vanilla cake icing in a bowl. Add orange gel food coloring and mix until fully blended to your desired orange shade. Add color gradually for a bright, festive look.

Step 4: Pair the cooled cake rounds by size. Pipe or spread the orange icing onto the flat side of one cake in each pair, then sandwich with the other cake. Avoid overfilling to prevent oozing.

Step 5: Decorate the assembled whoopie pies by sprinkling edible black glitter. Create spider legs with black licorice and attach candy eyes with a small dab of icing. You can also stencil designs with confectioners’ sugar using a sieve.

Tips & Variations

Use any chocolate cake mix if devil’s food is unavailable, though devil’s food offers the richest flavor and color.

Swap vegetable oil with melted butter for a richer taste or with 1/4 cup applesauce for a lighter version.

Cream cheese frosting or homemade buttercream can substitute vanilla cake icing if preferred, just ensure it’s thick enough.

Use liquid food coloring if gel is unavailable, but add gradually to achieve bright orange.

Decorate with chocolate sticks, pretzel sticks, or black fondant instead of licorice if desired.

Be careful not to overbake the cakes to keep them soft and moist; 8-10 minutes is usually perfect.

Allow cakes to cool fully before filling to prevent melting the icing.

Storage

Store whoopie pies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to keep them soft. If your kitchen is warm, refrigerate them between parchment layers to avoid sticking. For longer storage, wrap each whoopie pie individually in plastic wrap, place in a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen pies at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving for the best texture and flavor.

FAQs

Can I use a different cake mix instead of devil’s food?

Yes, any chocolate cake mix will work fine, though devil’s food cake gives the richest cocoa flavor and darkest color perfect for Halloween.

How can I make the filling orange?

Mix orange gel food coloring into vanilla cake icing gradually until you reach the desired shade. Gel food coloring is best for bright, vibrant orange, but liquid food color can also be used with careful addition.