NEWS ALERT!: I fear this might be my very last pumpkin recipe post of the season. I know, it’s devastating. Where did this fall go?? Is Thanksgiving actually this week?? And furthermore, why is it so freaking cold out?? While I want to agree with those who say “But there is no end to pumpkin season, Sues!” I also want to keep my pumpkin-time special. I can’t miss it if it won’t go away. I can’t get excited for it, if it’s always in my kitchen. And I can’t get super, uncontrollably happy for September if I don’t have pumpkin to look forward to. So there.
That said, I’ll certainly be gouging myself on pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake this Thanksgiving. And probably sneaking in some pumpkin straight through Christmas. But my pumpkin recipe creation will be put on hold until next year. So onto my last pumpkin experiment of the year. I’ve been DYING to make pumpkin whoopie pies since last year and I knew I couldn’t let this pumpkin season pass without giving in. I researched tons of recipes, but decided Steamy Kitchen’s were the prettiest and that they must be baked in my kitchen!
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies (makes about 20 sandwiches):
• 3 C all-purpose flour
• 2 t ground cinnamon
• 1 t ground nutmeg
• 1 t baking powder
• 1 t baking soda
• 1 t salt
• 1 C butter (2 sticks), softened
• 2 C brown sugar, packed
• 1 can (15 oz.) solid pack pumpkin puree (1 3/4 C)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 t vanilla extract
• 1/2 C walnuts, coarsely chopped and toasted
• Filling (see recipe below)
For the filling:
• 3/4 C butter (1 1/2 sticks)
• 2 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 C powdered sugar
• 1 jar (7.5 oz.) marshmallow cream
I have a strange aversion to Fluff. It’s not that I don’t like it. There’s just something about buying it that makes me feel like a 6-year-old who won’t eat her peanut butter sandwich if she can’t have Fluff on it (what? I never did this). It’s kind of like my shortening aversion, I guess. I just do not like using it in my baking. So, I was pretty happy to find this Tiny Trapeze Marshmallow Creme at Whole Foods. I believe Whole Foods actually owns Tiny Trapeze.
OK, let’s get started making whoopie… pies that is.
In a large bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In your mixer, beat together the butter and brown sugar on a medium-high speed until creamy. Add the pumpkin puree in and beat until combined.
Add eggs and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Then gradually add in the flour and beat until well-blended.
Also coming in handy was my new Le Creuset Spatula Spoon that the company so graciously sent me (more on this soon… AND a very special Le Creuset giveaway. Squee!!).
Now, using a large cookie scoop (about 2 inches diameter), scoop batter onto a cookie tray lined with parchment paper, a couple inches apart. Slightly flatten cookies with back of scoop. Press half of the toasted walnuts onto half of the cookies.
I totally messed up here and put the toasted almonds onto ALL the cookies. But you know what? There are much worse things that could happen in this world!! And the world did not end. And I’m not even sure this was so much a bad thing at all 
Put them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 16-18 minutes (until the cookies spring back when lightly pressed). I did mine in two different batches and recommend doing this too (I usually make cookies this way since I’m a HORRIBLE cookie maker and never know how big/small to make them until after the first batch. And then I adjust. Some day I will be able to visualize. I hope).
Cool cookies completely on cooling rack.
Now, onto the filling! You’ll probably have to clean your mixer out because you’ll be doing some more beating.
Beat together butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and marshmallow cream on medium-high speed, until well blended.
Scoop some filling onto the non-walnut side of one of your pumpkin cookies and then top with another cookie. Press down a little so the filling spreads to the edge of the sandwich.
You’ll want to individually wrap your whoopie pies in plastic wrap and keep in the fridge for about an hour before indulging. I know. It’s tough to wait. That’s why I recommend making these before you make dinner and… And then, by the time you make dinner and eat it, these will be all nice and ready for you
And I’m totally thrilled I finally made these as my last pumpkin treat of the fall. Can I admit something to you guys? Don’t laugh at me, but I totally thought making whoopie pies would be more complicated. I never totally realized they’re essentially two cookies with a cream filling.
Eating these was like biting into a pumpkin cloud with a sweet and creamy filling. Another confession? I don’t enjoy whipped cream. But marshmallow cream? That is a whole different story. The whoopie pies were sweet but not overly so and the cookies were so fluffy and packed with pumpkin flavor. Oh, and the walnuts were the perfect touch with their little salty crunch.
If you make one last pumpkin treat this fall, too, let it be these. Although after eating just one, you’ll probably find yourself craving more and more pumpkin. This could be a problem.
Farewell my sweet pumpkin puree. You will be missed dearly and I’ll be counting down the days until I can meet up with you again. Until then, you’ll be in my dreams. OK, and on my Thanksgiving dinner table.
If you’re not quite done with all things pumpkin yet, we have tons more pumpkin recipes for you to try out. Here are all the pumpkin recipes posted on We are not Martha in the past:
Pumpkin Cinnamon Buns
Cranberry Pumpkin Granola
Pumpkin Pie Martini
Pumpin Quinoa Parfait
Pumpkin Chicken Tacos
Molasses Ginger Cookies with Sweet Pumpkin Dip
Pumpkin Pasta with Chicken Sausage and Spinach
Pumpkin Snikerdoodles
Chicken Potpie in a Pumpkin
Pumpkin Pie Bars
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares
Pumpkin Fudge
Pumpkin-Swirl Brownies
Pumpkin Pancakes
I’ll miss pumpkin, but I’m also excited to move on to all things peppermint, gingerbread, eggnog, cranberry, and sugar cookie. In fact, as we speak, I’m sipping on a steaming hot cup of Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Tea:
It’s totally putting me in the holiday spirit! As is the freezing cold weather, turkey talk, and holiday beer (just got a Pecan Pie Porter from Clown Shoes today!). Now, we only need some snow. Seriously though, I love snow. Old Man Winter? Bring. It. On.
What’s your favorite flavor of the holidays?
[Sues]
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I love whoopie pies! I can’t wait to make them this week!
I am starting to purchase extra cans to keep in the cabinet….just in case I get a craving when its not readily available
Sandwich cookies make such a great little dessert. These look like they have the perfect cookie/cream balance
Besides gorging on Ben & Jerry’s Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream, I haven’t made anything pumpkin this fall except pumpkin bread. Crazy, right? I’m going to make up for it by making pumpkin bread pudding for Thanksgiving
YES. Just, yes. I love the tiny trapeze marshmallow creme. My roommate and I used it this past spring when we made s’more cupcakes. I never thought of combining marshmallow and cream cheese for the filling, but it sounds like an excellent combo as cream cheese frosting is an essential companion to pumpkin.
Those look fantastic and I LOVE the collection of past pumpkin recipes. You do it justice as it’s brightest advocate. I’m with you though- bring on the winter flavors. It’s a rainy Monday in Chicago and that might call for a skim peppermint mocha.
I am obsessed with pumpkin whoopies. There is a bakery in Portland called Two Fat Cats which makes AMAZING pumpkin whoopies – I’m in love. But, these look pretty amazing.
Also, I’m jealous that you found Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride! I’m all out, and I haven’t found any in the stores yet! I’ll have to keep hunting.
Laura
you are so awesome for posting these! Once I get better i am going to be making the last of the pumpkin treats.. thanksgiving usually marks the end of my pumpkin craze. lol.
Ahh where did you find the Sleigh Ride tea in Boston?? I’ve looked at Shaw’s and Whole Foods and had no luck!
@Corey and @Sweetersalt- I actually resorted to ordering it online since I couldn’t find it anywhere either! It was super expensive on Amazon.com, but I found it on LuckyVitamin.com for only $2.20, plus shipping (http://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-9734-celestial-seasonings-sugar-cookie-sleigh-ride-holiday-herb-tea-20-tea-bags-overstocked)! I was a bit sketched out by the website, but it is secure and I got my shipment within a week. Joy!!
These look awesome!
These look amazing! I can’t believe you’re already giving up on pumpkin. I feel as if I’ve just started! But your new flavors sound exciting too so no worries. I’m all about the deep dark chocolates this year I think. Yum!
These look great! My favorite fall food has to be sweet potato. It has the consistency of pumpkin, but tastes a little less sweet, which I love!
I’m not quite ready to give up pumpkin for the season, but I agree that the winter flavors are calling my name! These whoopie pies look great, and I LOVE the Tiny Trapeze marshmallow creme.
these sound so delicious! i’ve never made whoopies pies before, but these seem like a good place to start! and i want to try that tea too, anything that involves sugar cookies must be good!
i haven’t seen that tea yet and have been searching since september! i am definitely not ready to give up pumpkin and will have to sneak it into my oatmeal while it still feels “seasonal”
whoopie it is
these look amazing!! i suppose you can put pumpkin on the back burner for now… although i did just get 3 large can’s at bj’s!
Oh, those are gorgeous, and I think I may love pumpkin whoopie pies even more than chocolate! Woah! Did I just say that?? But they look sooooo good!
I was looking to see where the vodka was in the recipe and then I realized you made your own vanilla! So funny! Your whoppies look whoonderful!
what a fantastic idea! Pumpkin whoopie pies!
Is that homemade vanilla I see? GREG
These look wonderful! I’m also excited about the teas, love holiday themed teas and have been sipping on peppermint tea today.
Yup! Just when you think you have made all the wonderful pumpkin you could ever want – you haven’t!!! I wish I had a plate of those!
oh my goodness. i gotta make these.
i bought 8 cans of pumpkin last week to hold me over til next fall in case we have another pumpkin shortage. 
These look amazing!! Love pumpkin but it is nice to move on to other flavors! I saw that beer at the store Saturday…Clown Shoes is out of Lexington! My husband has a whole keg of homemade Pumpkin Porter that needs to be finished, before he makes a winter spiced one!
Those look fabulous!
Yum, these look scrumptious! A worthy last pumpkin treat for sure!
Yum. Your whoopie pies look delicious! And I have been wanting to try the sugar cookie tea? Was it worth it to order online??
I love the added nuts… these whoopie pies looks festive and delicious.
Sweet potato for me, of course. I’m not the biggest fan of canned pumpkin, though these whoopie pies have changed my mind. I dunno. I think I need to test it out. Send some to me? ;-p
I really need to jump on the whoopie pie train and make some! These pupmkin guys looks delicious.
Me and Mike just spent the night flipping through recipe books because we’re responsible for dessert on Thursday, but this takes the cake! I think my favorite flavor of the holidays is a nice, cold Sam Adams Winter lager. Weird?
LOL. I love the giant bottle of vodka in the picture. At first glance I thought this is my kind of baking. Then I realized it was homemade vanilla extract. I totally do the same thing.
Where do you find the sugar cookie sleigh ride tea in the Boston area? I’ve looked for it everywhere!
I have to get that tea!
I love Pumpkin Whoopies! I can’t say the name without laughing! I even wrote a poem about it on my blog. I used King Author’s recipe for mine, but I like your version too! Thanks for sharing. I happen to love almonds…Never thought of that! Thanks for not being Martha!
I made these tonight for my family and our close friends. I tasted the filling and nearly cried it was so good!
Way better than the canned stuff I usually do.
My friends 7 year old daughter declared these the “best whoopie pies in the world!”