Gingerbread Whoopie Pies

These delightful Gingerbread Whoopie Pies blend traditional holiday flavors with a creative twist. The soft, spiced gingerbread cookies are sandwiched with a luscious cream cheese filling, creating a perfect balance of sweetness and warmth. Ideal for festive gatherings, these treats are sure to impress while being completely nut-free and suitable for a variety of dietary preferences.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for filling)
• 1 tablespoon milk (to adjust filling consistency)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, mixing until well combined.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
6. Drop tablespoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are set and slightly firm to the touch. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. While the cookies cool, prepare the filling by beating the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk together until smooth and creamy.
9. Once the cookies are completely cool, spread a generous amount of the cream cheese filling on the flat side of one cookie and top it with another cookie to form a sandwich.
10. Repeat with the remaining cookies, then enjoy your delicious gingerbread whoopie pies!