Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies (Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Recipe) (2024)

6

By Alisa Fleming on Dairy Free Desserts, Dairy-Free Recipes

Updated in 2021! In honor of Pi Day, I thought we would revisit an old favorite, Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies. The recipe was shared with us by Rob Benes from the online magazine Kids Cuisine over a decade ago. That website has since changed over, but this sweet dairy-free recipe lives on andI’m giving it a refresh today!

Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies (Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Recipe) (1)

To give you a little history, chocolate whoopie pies can be traced back to the Pennsylvania Dutch and most of New England. The pies are two small disk-shaped cakes with a sweet creamy frosting sandwiched between. I make my filling using Marshmallow Fluff as the base ingredient.

While whoopie pie recipes vary — some call for canola oil and some call for shortening — the result is basically the same. But I prefer to use shortening. It may not be the healthiest thing to to eat, but my motto is “there’s no such thing as bad food, it’s just that people eat too much of things too often. Moderation is the key. Plus, I think the shortening gives the you a better baked product, superior taste, and longer shelf life.

Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies (Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Recipe) (2)

The traditional whoopie pie is chocolate cake with a white, vanilla-flavored filling. But, you can also take out the cocoa powder and use pumpkin, oatmeal, banana, apple, carrot or anything else for that matter that lends itself to good baking. The filling, too, can be switched to complement the cakes. For example, if the cakes are banana flavored, try a peanut butter filling; or if carrot cakes are made, try a dairy-free cream cheese filling.

Nonetheless, these classic chocolate whoopie pies are great for kids’ birthday parties. You can even make one gigantic whoopie pie and top it with candles instead of the cake. The kids will get a huge kick out of a Whoopie Pie Birthday Cake!

Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies (Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Recipe) (3)

Special Diet Notes:Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, nut-free, peanut-free, optionally soy-free (depending on the buttery spread and shortening or oil that you use), and vegetarian.

For egg-free and vegan chocolate whoopie pies, you can swap in egg replacer for the 2 eggs. Vegan marshmallow creme can be hard to find, so I would use the Alternate Vanilla Cream Filling.

We haven’t these chocolate whoopie pies gluten-free as of yet, but they may work with your favorite gluten-free flour blend.

Dairy-Free Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies

Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies (Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Recipe) (4)

Print

Prep time

Total time

These whoopie pies have two cake-like cookies sandwiching a vanilla marshmallow creme filling. We have an alternative vanilla ice recipe in the notes. We have also made a few adjustments to the original recipe (in late 2021), to help ensure optimal results!

Author: Adapted from Rob Benes

Recipe type: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Serves: about 12 servings

Ingredients

Chocolate Cakes

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup shortening (see Shortening Note below)
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 cup all-purpose flour
  • ⅔ cup cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups unsweetened or plain dairy-free milk beverage (your choice of type)

Vanilla Cream Filling

  • 1 cup Marshmallow Fluff or Creme (about ½ of a 7½-ounce jar)
  • 1 cup powdered confectioners’ sugar
  • ½ cup dairy-free buttery spread
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Topping or Dip

Instructions

Chocolate Cakes

  1. Preheat your oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. (do not grease)
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the sugar and shortening with a hand mixer or stand mixer. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat to combine.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  4. Alternately add the flour mixture and milk alternative to your mixing bowl, beating after each addition. Beat until combined.
  5. Pipe (for neater cookies) or drop the dough by the heaping tablespoon (to make 24 cakes, each about 2 to 2½ inches wide) onto your prepared cookie sheet.
  6. Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cookies just spring back when pressed in center with finger.
  7. Let cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely before filling.

Vanilla Cream Filling

  1. Place the marshmallow fluff, powdered sugar, buttery spread, and vanilla in a mixing bowl, and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. If the frosting has thinned at all (due to warmth), place the frosting in the refrigerator to set up again.
  2. Once the cakes are completely cool, spread the filling on the bottom half of one cake. Top with another cake.
  3. If desired, drizzle the pies with melted chocolate.
  4. Chocolate whoopie pies store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator and also freeze well.

Notes

Marshmallow-Free Vanilla Creme Filling: In a mixing bowl, blend 2½ cups powdered sugar, ½ cup non-hydrogenated shortening, 1 tablespoon plain or unsweetened dairy-free milk beverage, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until smooth. Start with the mixer on low until the powdered sugar is mostly incorporated to avoid a dust cloud. Blend in more milk beverage 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed to get a thick but soft icing that you can roll into balls.

Shortening Note: This recipe was created with traditional Crisco. Non-hydrogenated shortening, like Spectrum, should work well, but some natural brands might cause more spread. Substituting dairy-free butter alternative will also cause more spread.

High Altitude: We haven't tested this recipe at higher altitude. If baking above 2500 feet, particularly if in a dry climate, adjustments should be made. I would personally try cutting the leaveners (baking powder and soda) in half as a first trial.

More ChocolateCookie Recipes

Sandwich Cookies with Assorted Homemade Fillings (vegan, gluten-free & allergy-friendly)

Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies (Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Recipe) (5)

Chocolate Chunky Monkey Cookies (vegan, gluten-free & allergy-friendly)

Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies (Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Recipe) (6)

Double Chocolate Orange Cookies (vegan, gluten-free & allergy-friendly)

Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies (Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Recipe) (7)

Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies (Dairy-Free, Nut-Free Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is the filling made of in whoopie pies? ›

Ingredients for Whoopie Pie Marshmallow Cream Filling:

Marshmallow Creme or Marshmallow Fluff work here. Marshmallow creme has a slightly thinner consistency than fluff, so you may need to add a bit more powdered sugar to sufficiently stiffen it up. Butter – This helps create the creamy filling.

Why do my whoopie pies come out flat? ›

If the whoopie pies are refrigerated, we recommend removing them from the fridge and letting them sit for at least 15 minutes before enjoying. 2.) Why are my whoopie pies flat? Answer: Overmixing the batter when adding the dry ingredients can result in a flatter whoopie.

How long do homemade whoopie pies last? ›

therefore must be kept refrigerated or frozen until use. – Best enjoyed at room temperature. – The Whoopie stays fresh refrigerated for ten days and up to two months frozen. Must be kept in an airtight container.

What is the difference between whoopie pie Maine and Pennsylvania? ›

Experts agree that the biggest difference between a Maine whoopie pie and a Pennsylvania gob is the use of commercial marshmallow Fluff in the Maine version, versus homemade marshmallow fluff in the Amish version.

What is the original whoopie pie? ›

As we mentioned above, whoopie pies are believed to originally been made from leftover cake batter. The Maine legend paints the picture of a house wife putting the batter on a cookie sheet and shouting “Whoopie!!” when she realized that baking it up worked.

What is funeral pie made of? ›

Vintage Funeral Pie Recipe is an old-fashioned dessert that is made from raisins, spices, and walnuts. It was traditionally made by the Amish, but this sugary pie fits right into a Southern cook's recipe box.

Should you refrigerate whoopie pies? ›

Store the finished whoopie pies in an airtight container. I usually keep them in the fridge (see previous bullet), but many filling/cake combos would be fine at room temperature. I find that after 3 to 5 days they've usually dried out a bit, but they generally keep pretty well.

What is the difference between a whoopie pie and a moon pie? ›

Compared to MoonPies, Whoopie Pies are softer, larger, and much more cake-like. According to What's Cooking America, the Whoopie Pies in Maine are about the size of a hamburger, created by taking two large, soft cookies and sandwiching them around fluffy, white marshmallow fluff or creme.

How long do packaged whoopie pies last? ›

Q: What is the shelf life? A: They are good for 7-10 days not refrigerated, 14 days refrigerated, and may be frozen for up to a year.

What is the difference between a gob and a whoopie pie? ›

There is no difference between a Gob and a Whoopie Pie, different regions simply refer to them by different names. In fact, several different states claim that the Whoopie Pie originated from them (both Maine and Pennsylvania make strong cases, and as a PA resident guess who I'm siding with).

What is another name for a whoopie pie? ›

The whoopie pie, alternatively called a black moon, gob (Pittsburgh area), black-and-white, bob, or BFO (for Big Fat Oreo), is an American baked confection that may be considered either a cookie, pie, sandwich, or cake.

Can I freeze whoopie pies? ›

You can freeze them, both with and without filling and then defrost in the fridge before eating. Can you freeze pumpkin whoopie pies? You can absolutely freeze the cookies after being baked individually or even with the filling.

What is the number 1 pie in America? ›

Apple Pie. Apple pie is arguably one of the most popular pie flavors. A symbol of America, the apple pie was actually invented by the British. Apple pie is simply made with sliced apples on double-crusted pastry dough.

Who made the original whoopie pie? ›

These delightful treats have been enjoyed for generations, and their origin story is as rich and sweet as the dessert itself. The exact origins of the whoopie pie are shrouded in mystery, but it's believed that they were first created by Amish or Pennsylvania Dutch bakers in the early 1900s.

What is the most popular pie sold in America? ›

The clear winner for the United States as a whole was (not surprisingly) apple pie with more than 27% of sales going to the traditional flavor.

What is cream pie filling made of? ›

A cream pie, crème pie, or creme pie is a type of pie filled with a rich custard or pudding that is made from milk, cream, sugar, wheat flour, and eggs and typically topped with whipped cream.

What is in pie filling enhancer? ›

Pie Filling Enhancer thickens fruit pie fillings the same way Instant ClearJel does. Its advantage is added ascorbic acid (which adds a bright, tart note), and superfine sugar, which prevents it from clumping. Pie Filling Enhancer is about half sugar, so you'll want to reduce the sugar in your recipe accordingly.

What types of ingredients are used to thicken pie fillings? ›

Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency. Tapioca starch is preferable for products that will be frozen because it will not break down when thawed. We like tapioca in blueberry, cherry or peach pies.

What is the difference between cobbler filling and pie filling? ›

pie. Cobbler is sometimes described as a kind of fruit pie, but strictly speaking, the two are different. Pies are made from pastry, rather than biscuit batter, and they are fully encased, with a crust at the top and the bottom, while cobblers typically only have a topping.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dong Thiel

Last Updated:

Views: 5977

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dong Thiel

Birthday: 2001-07-14

Address: 2865 Kasha Unions, West Corrinne, AK 05708-1071

Phone: +3512198379449

Job: Design Planner

Hobby: Graffiti, Foreign language learning, Gambling, Metalworking, Rowing, Sculling, Sewing

Introduction: My name is Dong Thiel, I am a brainy, happy, tasty, lively, splendid, talented, cooperative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.