If you’re looking for a Halloween dessert that’s festive, fun, and full of nostalgic flavor, Halloween Whoopie Pies are the perfect pick. These pillowy, cake-like cookies sandwich a rich, creamy filling — the ideal combination of soft, chewy, and sweet. Dressed up in Halloween colors like orange, purple, black, and green, they’re spooky, cute, and guaranteed to be the star of your Halloween dessert table.
Whoopie pies are a classic treat that strike the perfect balance between cake and cookie. With a tender chocolate or pumpkin base and a fluffy buttercream or marshmallow filling, every bite melts in your mouth. Whether you go for classic chocolate with orange frosting or pumpkin spice with cream cheese filling, these handheld desserts are as festive as they are delicious.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Soft, cake-like texture: Moist and fluffy, not too dense.
- Festive and customizable: Endless ways to decorate for Halloween.
- Perfect for parties: Easy to serve and fun to grab and go.
- Make-ahead friendly: Tastes even better the next day.
- Kid-approved: Fun to bake and decorate together.
Ingredients for Halloween Whoopie Pies
For the Chocolate Whoopie Pies
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
For the Filling
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 (7-ounce) jar marshmallow creme (or fluff)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring (orange, purple, green — your choice)
- Halloween sprinkles (optional for edges)
Optional Variation: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Swap cocoa powder for ½ cup pumpkin purée and add 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice for a festive twist.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes). Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
Step 4: Add the Dry Ingredients and Buttermilk
Alternate adding the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined — the batter should be thick and soft.
Step 5: Scoop and Bake
Using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop batter onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. For even cookies, smooth the tops lightly with a spoon or your finger.
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Step 6: Make the Filling
In a large bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar gradually, mixing until smooth. Beat in the marshmallow creme and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Divide into bowls and tint each with Halloween food coloring (orange, green, purple, or black).
Step 7: Assemble the Whoopie Pies
Once cookies are completely cool, pipe or spread filling onto the flat side of one cookie. Top with a second cookie to create a sandwich. Gently press together so the filling spreads to the edges.
Step 8: Decorate
Roll the edges in Halloween sprinkles or drizzle melted chocolate over the tops for extra flair. Chill for 15 minutes to help them set before serving.
Flavor and Texture Profile
Halloween Whoopie Pies are soft, fluffy, and rich with the perfect balance of cocoa flavor and sweet filling. The cookies have a tender, cake-like crumb that melts in your mouth, while the marshmallow buttercream adds creamy sweetness with a light texture. The colorful frosting brings the Halloween spirit to life — bright orange or eerie purple peeking out between deep chocolate rounds.
Each bite is a harmony of flavors: buttery chocolate, vanilla sweetness, and festive flair that makes every whoopie pie irresistible.
Tips for Perfect Whoopie Pies
- Keep batter thick: If it’s too thin, the cookies will spread too much.
- Make them even: Use a cookie scoop for uniform sizes.
- Cool completely: Warm cookies will melt the filling.
- Pipe the frosting: Makes for neater, more consistent layers.
- Get creative with colors: Try black cocoa for darker cookies or orange food gel for vibrant filling.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
- Make Ahead: You can bake the cookies 1 day ahead and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Fill them the next day.
- Storage: Keep assembled whoopie pies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Freeze unfilled cookies for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before assembling.
- Serve Chilled or Room Temp: Cold pies hold their shape better, but room temperature brings out the flavor.
Variations and Add-Ons
- Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies: Add ½ cup pumpkin purée and 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice for fall flavor.
- Monster Whoopie Pies: Use candy eyeballs and colored frosting to make monster faces.
- Cookies & Cream Version: Add crushed OREOs to the frosting.
- Salted Caramel Filling: Mix caramel sauce and a pinch of salt into the buttercream for a gourmet twist.
- Glow-in-the-Dark Effect: Use neon-colored frosting under blacklight for an eerie party vibe.
Serving Ideas
Serve Halloween Whoopie Pies at:
- Halloween parties: A handheld, mess-free dessert that’s easy to grab.
- Classroom events: Kid-friendly and fun to decorate.
- Dessert platters: Combine with cookies, truffles, and candy for variety.
- Gift boxes: Wrap individually in plastic wrap with festive ribbons.
- Movie nights: Perfect paired with hot cocoa or pumpkin lattes.
Nutritional Snapshot
Each whoopie pie (based on 12 servings) contains approximately:
- Calories: 280
- Fat: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Protein: 3g
- Sugar: 26g
They’re indulgent, fun, and festive — just the right amount of sweet for Halloween celebrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a cake mix to make whoopie pies?
Yes! Use a chocolate or spice cake mix and reduce liquid slightly for a thicker batter.
Can I use store-bought frosting?
Absolutely. Tint it with food coloring and pipe it between cookies for a quick shortcut.
Can I make these gluten-free?
Yes. Substitute a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend — the texture will still be soft and delicious.
Can I make mini whoopie pies?
Yes! Use 1 teaspoon of batter per cookie and bake for 7–8 minutes. Perfect bite-sized treats.
Do I need to chill them before serving?
Chilling helps set the filling and enhances the flavor, but they’re delicious either way.
Expert Tips for Success
- Don’t overmix the batter: It keeps the cookies tender and fluffy.
- Space cookies evenly: They spread slightly while baking.
- Cool on wire racks: Prevents soggy bottoms.
- Use high-quality cocoa powder: Gives deep, rich flavor and color.
- Have fun decorating: Add candy eyes, edible glitter, or frosting spider webs!
A Sweetly Spooky Halloween Classic
These Halloween Whoopie Pies are everything a festive fall dessert should be — soft, fluffy, rich, and full of personality. They’re easy to make, fun to decorate, and endlessly customizable for any Halloween theme. Whether you go for ghostly white, monster green, or pumpkin orange, each whoopie pie delivers that perfect balance of flavor and fun.
They’re the ultimate party dessert — handheld, shareable, and just spooky enough to make everyone smile.
Halloween Whoopie Pies
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer
- Rubber spatula
- Cookie scoop
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
- Wire rack
- piping bags or spatula (for filling)
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (for filling)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme or fluff
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (for filling)
- food coloring (orange, green, purple, black)
- Halloween sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until fluffy (2–3 mins). Add egg and vanilla; mix until smooth.
- Alternate adding dry ingredients and buttermilk to butter mixture. Mix just until combined.
- Drop batter onto baking sheets using cookie scoop. Smooth tops if needed. Bake 10–12 minutes until tops spring back. Cool on rack.
- Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar. Mix in marshmallow creme and vanilla. Tint with food coloring as desired.
- Pipe or spread filling on one cookie’s flat side. Top with another cookie to sandwich. Gently press together.
- Roll edges in sprinkles or drizzle chocolate. Chill for 15 minutes to help them set before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Final Thoughts
Halloween Whoopie Pies are a must-bake treat for spooky season. With their moist, cake-like cookies, creamy filling, and festive colors, they bring Halloween joy in every bite. Simple enough for weeknight baking but impressive enough for parties, they’re the kind of dessert that disappears as fast as you can make them.
Whether you’re serving them at a haunted house, gifting them to friends, or just baking for fun, these whoopie pies are pure Halloween magic — soft, sweet, and spooktacularly delicious.
