Tricks are for Kids - Bring on the Treats!

Happy Halloween!! I hope everyone is in store for some fun today and will be able to spend the rest of the weekend on a nice sugar-induced high. I just wanted to quickly share with you these pumpkin whoopie pies that I made to bring to a Halloween party tonight. 

These are two fluffy pumpkin cookies, sandwiched together with a huge smear of cream cheese frosting. The cookies are very moist and have more of a muffin texture than a cookie. And the frosting, well I'm a sucker for anything with cream cheese, so it was a total hit for me. Plus they are so cute and as easy to eat as cupcakes. I think they would also be an appropriate treat for the whole next month as we begin gearing up for the big turkey day. I made a double batch for the party, which made 24 big sandwiches, but the recipe below only produces 12.

After a healthy breakfast of one of these whoopie pies and a mini-snickers, I'm off to prepare for the big night. I'm going to be Minnie Mouse and the hubby is going as a tourist (am I a Floridian or what!). What are you going to be?

Happy Halloween!!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Adapted from EveryDay with Rachel Ray

Cookies:

1 stick unsalted butter, melted

1 cup light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 2/3 cups flour

• Preheat oven to 350 F.
• Whisk together the sugar and butter until smooth.
• Whisk in all remaining ingredients, except the flour, until combined.
• Fold flour into the mixture.
• Drop 24 generous mounds of the mixture onto two baking sheets (about the size of a heaping tablespoon).
• Bake until cookies feel slightly springy, or for about 10 minutes.
• Place cookies on wire racks to cool.

Frosting:

1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened

4 ounces cream cheese, chilled

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 pinches of salt

1 cup confectioners' sugar

• Cream together the butter and cream cheese using an electric mixture.
• Mix in the remaining ingredients on a low speed until combined.
• Beat for 2 minutes on a high speed, or until the frosting is fluffy.

To Assemble:

• Allow the cookies to cool completely, the spread the flat side of half the cookies with a generous portion of the frosting.
• Top with the flat side of an unfrosted cookie.