Red Velvet Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling
Red velvet whoopie pies (or gobs, depending on where you live) are filled with cream cheese frosting and are perfect for Valentine’s Day dessert!
Nothing screams Valentine’s Day dessert quite like red velvet, am I right?!
It seems that it was created specifically with this holiday in mind. Although many variations of red velvet are sold year-round, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to dust off the red velvet recipes and let them shine!
In the past, I’ve also made red velvet cupcakes (which far surpassed any I have found in bakeries!), red velvet cheesecake (a Cheesecake Factory copycat!), a red velvet roll cake, and a red velvet poke cake… all huge hits!
So naturally I wanted to keep the red velvet train rolling… Cue the whoopie pie!
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies!
I’ve mentioned before that I grew up eating the chocolate cake and white filling version of whoopie pies known as “gobs” in the Pittsburgh area, but I love all of the variations that have sprouted up in recent years. There’s pumpkin, s’mores, and a whole host of others. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!
However, if an easy recipe for red velvet whoopie pies is what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place!
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Can You Make Red Velvet Whoopie Pies Without Buttermilk?
So, you want to make red velvet whoopie pies, but you don’t have buttermilk. No problem – you can make your own!
Using soured milk is a key component to red velvet cake batter, as the acidic liquid is needed to combine with the baking soda and cocoa powder to get the rise and texture right, so if you don’t have buttermilk on hand, use the following substitution:
- Pour 1 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar to a measuring cup. Add enough milk (I recommend 2% or whole) to measure 1 cup total. Stir together and let sit for 5 minutes, then use as directed in the recipe below.
While these gorgeous red velvet whoopie pies are amazing as-is, here are some ideas for switching them up!
- Use a peppermint filling (and maybe roll in green sanding sugar) for a perfect Christmas dessert.
- Make the batter in a cake pan and then cut out heart shapes and fill to amp up the Valentine’s factor!
- Instead of cream cheese frosting, try using a marshmallow frosting (skip the toasted marshmallows!) or 7 minute frosting to change up the flavor.
- Use a chocolate frosting for the filling, because… chocolate.
If you’re looking for the best recipe for red velvet whoopie pies for Valentine’s Day, you’ve found it!
These are fluffy, a little chocolatey, a deep, gorgeous red, and filled with sinfully sweet cream cheese frosting. Totally dreamy!
Four years ago: Homemade Chocolate Pudding
Five years ago: Buckeye Brownies
Seven years ago: Sausage Dip
Eight years ago: Cappuccino Cinnamon Squares
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling
Ingredients
For the Whoopies
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (28.67 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) baking soda
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
- ½ cup (113.5 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup (102.5 g) vegetable shortening
- ½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 teaspoons red food coloring
- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
For the Cream Cheese Filling
- 4 ounces (113.4 g) cream cheese, at room temperature
- ¼ cup (56.75 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3½ cups (420 g) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Make the Whoopies: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat together the butter, shortening and both sugars on low speed until just combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat until fluffy and smooth, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and the red food coloring and beat until just blended.
- Add half of the flour mixture and half of the buttermilk to the batter and beat on low until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the remaining flour mixture and remaining ½ cup buttermilk and beat until completely combined.
- Using a spoon (or a medium cookie scoop, which is what I used), drop a tablespoon of batter onto one of the prepared baking sheets and repeat, spacing them at least 2 inches apart. Bake one sheet at a time for about 10 minutes each, or until the cakes spring back when pressed gently. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cakes cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a rack to cool completely.
- Make the Cream Cheese Filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat together the cream cheese and butter on medium speed. Add the sugar and beat on low speed until combined. Add the vanilla and increase the speed to medium-high; beat until creamy and smooth, about 4 minutes.
- Assemble the Whoopie Pies: Spread the filling onto the flat side of one cake using a knife of spoon. Alternatively, you can use a pastry bag with a round tip (I used a #12 Wilton tip) to pipe the filling onto the cake. Top it with another cake, flat-side down. Repeat with the rest of the cakes and filling. Assembled whoopie pies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you need to stack layers, place a piece of wax paper between layers.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
[photos by Whitney Wright]
This recipe was originally published on February 10, 2011.
Whoopie pies are so much fun! Fun to eat, fun to say, fun to make! And yours look so scrumptious!
i made some red velvet whoopie pies at christmas and people freaked out. i second the comment above – what happened to unplugged? i loved it!
I’ve already planned on making a batch of these this weekend=) I’m going to try and make them heart shaped. Hopefully it works out for me!
These are too cute! Definitely keeping them in mind for the weekend!
These are beautiful!! I want to make them just to look at how beautiful they are! :)
Beautiful Whoopie Pies.
On another topic…..what happened to the Brown Eyed Baker Unplugged?
Hi Gloria, I am doing some rearranging and reformulating of the other areas of the site. Stay tuned for an update soon!
Red velvet anything makes me drool.
I am scrolling back through your red velvet postings and whoopie pies and am loving every one of it! Looks delicious and so beautiful!
Those are GORGEOUS! :)
These look incredible! I think I need to add them to my Valentine’s menu :)
Perfect for my red velvet cravings. :D
I will be making these this weekend, can’t wait.
Love red velvet anything!
These are adorable! My daughter has planned to bake Valentine’s treats for her friends this weekend. She’ll be so happy when I suggest these :)
Il colore è fantastico molto chic, brava li immagino deliziosi
ciao
These are just beautiful. I wish I could just make like 4 of them for my husband and I to enjoy on Valentine’s Day, and not a whole batch (because I will end up eating all of them!)
I am so excited you posted this! I was thinking of making red velvet cake pops for Valentine’s Day (but I can’t seem to find sucker sticks last minute), but now these are what I will make! now if only I can make them heart shaped….
I know this is a few months past due but for sucker pops go to Michael’s. I found all the supplies I needed to make cake pops at Michael’s. (I’m sure you have already found a solution, but i thought just in case you hadn’t i would post)
These look delicious!!! I love the cream cheese filling as well. Yum!
We were thinking the same thing, I posted red velvet whoopie pies today too :) Yours look terrific!
these look delishious! I love all things red velvet.
these look just like the “hot velvet” cookies we’ve been selling like crazy for valentine’s day, except ours have marshmallow filling: http://www.cookiepanache.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=order&occasion_id=1&action=product_detail&product_sub_id=246.
These are almost too pretty to eat!
Whoopie pies are definitely making a comeback! I love how they are so fun to make and equally fun to eat! :-)
Awe, these are precious! I agree with Caroline, gorgeous photos. I love how Valentine-y they look with the pink background!
Whoopie pies are awesome! These always make me feel like I’m closer to home, these are a blast from my past! Such beautiful photos!
Perfect for Valentine’s! :)
These look amazing! I absolutely love whoopie pies :)
These look delicious! Whoopie pies are the cutest :)
Una hermosura se ve estos pies
Un relleno muy bueno
besos
I already liked your red velvet cupcakes, these must be great :)