These Apple Cider Whoopie Pies are tender, spiced cakes flavored with reduced apple cider and applesauce, filled with a silky caramel cream cheese frosting and finished with a sprinkle of salted caramel sugar. They’re an ideal cozy treat for fall.
Table of Contents
- A Brief History of the Whoopie Pie
- Ingredients Needed
- Essential Whoopie Pie Baking Tools
- Tips for Making the Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
- Apple Cider Whoopie Pie FAQs
- Apple Cider Whoopie Pies Recipe
A Brief History of the Whoopie Pie
Is a Whoopie Pie a Cake, a Pie, or Cookie?
Whoopie pies are essentially small cakes baked on a sheet pan, then sandwiched together with a creamy filling. Think of them as a sandwich-style cake—soft, pillowy rounds with a sweet center.
They’re sometimes called inside-out cupcakes, but the simplest description is sandwiched cakes: two cake rounds with a frosting or marshmallow filling in between.
Why Is It Called a Whoopie Pie?
Whoopie pies are a Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish tradition, popular across New England and parts of the Mid-Atlantic. The origin story suggests bakers turned leftover cake batter into small cakes that children would find in their lunches and exclaim “Whoopie!” when they discovered them. Regardless of how accurate that tale is, whoopie pies have become a beloved classic with many regional names and variations.
The classic version uses chocolate cakes with a marshmallow filling or vanilla buttercream, but many creative flavors exist—like these apple cider whoopie pies, perfect for autumn.
Ingredients Needed
To make apple cider whoopie pies, gather the following:
- Apple cider: Boiled down to concentrate flavor (not apple cider vinegar).
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Spices: Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, apple pie spice, and salt.
- Unsalted butter: Room temperature for creaming.
- Granulated sugar
- Light brown sugar
- Eggs: Room temperature.
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Salted caramel sugar: Optional garnish for the tops.
Essential Whoopie Pie Baking Tools
Helpful tools for making these whoopie pies include a stand mixer (or hand mixer), cookie scoop for even rounds, baking sheets lined with parchment or silicone mats, a piping bag or offset spatula for filling, and a cooling rack.
Tips for Making the Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
- You can use a store-bought caramel sauce for convenience. It blends smoothly into the cream cheese for rich flavor.
- If you don’t have salted caramel sugar for sprinkling, skip the sprinkle or add a touch of salted caramel sauce into the frosting instead.
- Use an offset spatula or a piping bag to assemble the whoopie pies. A large piping bag and a round tip or Wilton 1A work well for an even finish.
- If making the frosting ahead, refrigerate it in an airtight container. Bring it back to room temperature and re-whip before using for best texture.
Apple Cider Whoopie Pie FAQs
Reducing the cider concentrates its flavor so the apple taste comes through in the cakes without adding excess liquid.
No. Apple cider vinegar is not a substitute—use fresh apple cider.
Boiling typically takes 10–15 minutes. Cool it completely before adding to batter.
The recipe yields about 10 assembled whoopie pies.
A 1 1/2 tablespoon scoop creates standard-size whoopie cakes; 2–3 tablespoons make larger rounds and fewer pies.
No. It’s optional for garnish and adds a sweet-salty finish.
Store tightly wrapped in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–5 days. Freeze wrapped in a sealed bag or container for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before serving.
More Fall Treats to Try
Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
Pumpkin Cinnamon Cookies
Chocolate Pumpkin Cake Roll
Easy Homemade Apple Pie
Apple Cider Whoopie Pies
Ingredients
Whoopie pie cakes
- 1 cup apple cider, boiled down to 1/4 cup
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp apple pie spice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- Salted caramel sugar, for sprinkling tops (optional)
Caramel cream cheese frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/4 cup caramel sauce (store-bought)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1–2 tbsp milk or heavy cream, if needed to thin
Instructions
Whoopie pie cakes
- Bring 1 cup apple cider to a rapid boil in a small saucepan and reduce to about 1/4 cup (10–15 minutes). Let cool completely.
- Preheat oven to 375°F and position a rack just above center. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats; lightly spray parchment with flour-based baking spray if desired.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, apple pie spice, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium-high until blended. Add eggs, applesauce, and cooled reduced cider, mixing until combined.
- Reduce mixer to low and gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Use a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop to drop scoops of batter onto prepared sheets about 1 1/2–2 inches apart.
- Sprinkle tops lightly with salted caramel sugar, if using. Bake at 375°F for 12–15 minutes, until centers spring back when lightly pressed.
- Cool on the baking sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Caramel cream cheese frosting & assembly
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add caramel sauce and vanilla and blend.
- With mixer on low, gradually add sifted powdered sugar until incorporated. If frosting is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of cream or milk; add more sugar if too thin.
- To assemble, pipe or spread frosting onto the flat side of one cake, then sandwich with another. Repeat for all whoopie pies.
- Store tightly wrapped in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–5 days, or freeze up to 3 months. Allow to come to room temperature before serving.
Notes
- To prevent sticking, lightly spray parchment with a flour-based baking spray or use a silicone baking mat.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 75 g |
Protein: 5 g |
Fat: 17 g |
Sugar: 55 g
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary based on specific ingredients used.