Gingerbread Whoopie Pies With Lemon Cream Cheese Filling Adapted From King Arthur Flour Food

GINGERBREAD WHOOPIE PIES

Steps:

• Whisk flour, cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, salt, cloves and baking soda together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Whisk brown sugar, melted butter, molasses and crystallized ginger in separate large bowl until combined. Whisk in egg, buttermilk and vanilla until combined. Add flour mixture and stir with rubber spatula just until dough comes together. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour up to 24.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick mat. Roll dough into balls using 1 scant tablespoon. Space balls evenly on prepared sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until puffed and just set, 11-13 minutes. Let cookies cool on sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
• Using stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter and powdered sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. With mixer running, add cream cheese, 1 piece at a time, and continue to beat until smooth, about 30 seconds. Beat in vanilla extract and pinch of salt as needed.
• *Spoon or pipe 1 tablespoon frosting evenly onto bottoms (flat sides) of 24 cookies. Top with remaining 24 cookies, bottom sides down. Dust with powdered sugar. (Note, these cookies need the dusting of powdered sugar or they won't taste sweet enough).
• Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.

GINGERBREAD WHOOPIE PIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Combine flour, white sugar, molasses, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together in a large bowl. Mix in vegetable oil and egg until combined. Pour in boiling water and whisk until smooth.
• Drop dough in balls onto prepared baking sheet, about 1 inch apart, using a 1-ounce cookie scoop.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and golden, about 12 minutes. Allow to cool on the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring onto a rack to cool completely.
• Beat confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, butter, cream, and vanilla extract in the bowl of a stand mixer on low until combined. Increase speed to high and beat until light and fluffy.
• Spread about 2 teaspoons of filling onto the bottom of a cookie; top with another similarly sized cookie. Repeat with remaining cookies. Chill for 30 minutes.

LEMONY GINGERBREAD WHOOPIE PIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in molasses and egg. Combine flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours. , Preheat oven to 350°. Shape dough into 1-in. balls; roll in sugar. Place 3 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten to 1/2-in. thickness with a glass dipped in sugar. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For filling, in a small bowl, beat butter and marshmallow creme until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and extract. , Spread filling on the bottoms of half of the cookies, about 1 tablespoon on each; top with remaining cookies.