Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pies Recipes

Steps:

• For the cookies: Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Sift into another large bowl.
• Beat the granulated sugar and butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and beat until incorporated. Beat in the vanilla. Alternate adding the dry mixture and the milk, beginning and ending with the dry mixture. Mix until just incorporated. Refrigerate the dough until chilled, about 1 hour.
• Adjust the oven racks to the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment and lightly coat with cooking spray.
• Drop tablespoonfuls of batter about 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets (about 6 cookies per baking sheet). Keep the remaining batter chilled while working.
• Bake until the cookies puff up and the tops are no longer glossy, about 7 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour. Let the baking sheets cool, then reline with parchment, lightly coat with cooking spray and bake the remaining batter in batches (cool, reline and spray the baking sheets each time).
• For the filling: Beat the confectioners' sugar and shortening in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Add the marshmallow creme, milk and peppermint extract and beat until light and airy, about 5 minutes.
• Spread a heaping tablespoon of the filling on half of the cookies. Sandwich with the remaining halves, pushing down slightly to move the filling to the edge. Put the crushed candy canes on a plate and roll the sides of the whoopie pies in the candy.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Make the cakes: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and espresso powder, if using.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar with an electric hand mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 1-2 minutes. Add the egg and peppermint extract and beat until smooth and lightened in color, about 1 minute.
• Add about a third of the dry ingredients and mix on medium-low speed until combined, then add half of the milk and mix until incorporated. Continue alternating additions of the dry ingredients and milk, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
• Use a 1½-ounce ice cream scoop to portion out the batter onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing at least 2 inches apart.
• Bake the cakes for 12-14 minutes, until firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
• Make the marshmallow filling: Add the butter and marshmallow creme to a large bowl and beat with an electric hand mixer on medium-high speed until fully combined, 2-3 minutes. Sift in the powdered sugar and salt, then beat for another 2-3 minutes, until combined. The mixture should be stiff; if not, add a few more tablespoons of powdered sugar. Transfer the filling to a piping bag or zip-top bag. Place the piping bag in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes before assembling the whoopie pies.
• When ready to assemble, cut a 1-inch (2.5 cm)-wide opening from the corner of the piping bag.
• Pipe a thick spiral of the filling (¼-⅓ cup) onto the flat sides of half of the cakes, leaving a ¼-inch (½ cm) border around the edge. Place the remaining cakes on top of the filling, domed sides up, and press down lightly to adhere.
• Add the crushed peppermint candies to a bowl. Roll the sides of each whoopie pie into the peppermint candies to coat. (For a more polished look, use a spoon to tilt the crushed peppermints onto the exposed filling).
• Refrigerate the whoopie pies until ready to serve, then remove from the refrigerator at least 10 minutes prior to serving.
• Enjoy!