Whole Grain Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies

Usually, the desserts for these Sweet Saturday posts are made the weekend before the post actually goes up. So that means, while you guys are seeing these awesome, moist, flavorful whoopie pies for the first time today. Babyface and I have actually been eating on these all this past week. Well, not all week, technically. I think these suckers were gone by Wednesday. They were so good we couldn’t make ’em stretch out.

For a hot second, I contemplated making another batch of these mid-week, but there is a reason why I make desserts on the weekend only. And that reason is because weekday evenings are reserved for important tasks like watching New Girl and reading Damn You Auto Correct with Babyface. Priorities, kids. Priorities.

My Dad happened to stop by in the middle of my epic, weekly Sunday afternoon cooking extravaganza last weekend and snatched away one of the cookies (quality control, you know) before it was filled. He said it was awesome on its own. So feel free to skip the part with the frosting and just make these sweet, carrot-cake cookies.

Although, honestly, why would anyone ever want to skip cream cheese frosting? Actually, why would anyone skip any kind of frosting? I never understood the “I don’t like frosting” people. Isn’t frosting the whole purpose of eating cake? If you don’t like frosting, I’m not sure we can be friends.

Okay, so we can totally be friends, but I’ll silently judge you for all of time.

The thing I love about these sandwich cookies is that they taste incredibly decadent, but definitely have a bit of added nutritional power. They are made mostly with whole grains (whole wheat flour and whole oats) and instead of packing the cookies full of butter or oil, I used pumpkin puree for color and moistness.

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Whole Grain Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies

Yield: 12 whoopie pies

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

There is something nice about the simplicity of the two cookies filled with the winter white frosting, but for a bit of texture and fun decor, feel free to roll the whoopies in crushed walnuts or flaked coconut.

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Ingredients

For the cookies:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup pure pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup shredded carrots

For the filling:

• 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup confectioner's sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. For the cookies: in a large bowl, whisk together the flours, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the pumpkin puree, butter, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, vanilla and carrots until well combined.
4. Add in dry ingredients a small amount at a time, mixing well after each addition.
5. Spoon rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cookies are set up and slightly browned. Set aside to cool completely
6. For the filling: cream together the cream cheese and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add in salt and vanilla extract.
7. To assemble whoopies: when cookies are completely cool, spread about 2 tablespoons of the filling on the flat, underside of one cookie. Smoosh the flat underside of another cookie on top.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1 whoopie pie
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 284Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 177mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 2gSugar: 26gProtein: 5g

At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.

Do you like frosting?