Halloween Whoopie Pies

Recipe by Cook's Hideout

For this month's Home Baker's Challenge, our host of the month Nalini Suresh @ Nalini's Kitchen chose 5 spooky & yummy Halloween treats. When I saw the challenge the beginning of the month I felt like I should make all of them. But of course time slipped through my hands and in the end I was scrambling to find time to make at least 1 of the treats. After much deliberation, I ended up making these Halloween Whoopie Pies. I've never made whoopie pies and this challenge gave me a chance to make these cakey cookies. I didn't have orange...

Ingredients

• 1 cups all-purpose flour
• Ritz Cracker (Unsweetened)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 unsalted butter (stick (½cup), at room temperature)
• 1 cup brown sugar (Light - packed)
• 1 egg ((or equivalent egg replacer))
• 1 cup applesauce
• Ritz Cracker
• 1 butter (- stick (½cup), at room temperature)
• 1 cup sugar (Confectioner's)
• orange Sugar (Nonpareils or sanding - for decoration)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In another mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg (or replacer) and beat until combined.
4. Add the dry ingredients and applesauce alternately to the butter mixture starting and ending with flour. Mix just until combined, do not over mix.
5. Drop the dough by heaping tablespoons, 2" apart on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-14 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cookie comes out clean.
6. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately using a thin spatula remove the cookies onto a wire rack. Cool completely.
7. In the meantime, make the frosting by creaming softened butter, powdered/ confectioner's sugar and vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
8. Once the cookies are completely cooled, spread some frosting on the cookie and sandwich with another cookie. Press lightly and then roll in the nonpareil. Set aside for 15 minutes to dry. Enjoy!!

View the recipe instructions at Cook's Hideout