Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

As promised, this is the other pumpkin whoopie pie recipe that I like. This one uses sour cream instead of oil, but you can certainly substitute yogurt. The flavors are milder, with just cinnamon and cloves, although I've been tempted to try these with a mixture of pumpkin pie spice.

PUMPKIN WHOOPIE PIES

Adapted from 125 Cookies to Bake, Nibble and Savor, by Elinor Klivans, as printed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Equipment

stand mixer with paddle attachment
2 baking sheets, greased or lined with parchment paper coated with butter on top
medium bowl
#20 or #40 cookie scoop

Ingredients

COOKIES
2-1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

FILLING
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups confectioners' sugar

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F.

2. MAKE THE COOKIES: Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves in a medium bowl. Set aside.

3. Put the butter and sugar in the bowl of the stand mixer and beat on medium speed for 1 minute until smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat for 30 seconds.

4. Decrease the speed to low and mix in the sour cream and pumpkin just until combined. Remove the bowl from the mixer and stir in the flour mixture just until it is incorporated. Stir in the walnuts.

5. Scoop and drop the batter onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.

6. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, until they feel firm to the touch. To test, gently press your finger in the center, and a slight indentation should remain. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to sit on the pan for another 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack. Cool completely before adding the filling.

7. MAKE THE FILLING: Put the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla in the mixer bowl and beat on medium-low speed for about 1 minute, until the mixture is smooth and thoroughly combined. Decrease the speed to low and add the confectioners sugar a little at a time. Beat on medium until the frosting is smooth, about 1 minute.

8. ASSEMBLE: Spread the flat side of half the cookies with the filling. Top with the remaining cookies. Because these cookies tend to be sticky, wrap each pie individually in plastic wrap for storing. Keep in the refrigerator.

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