Gingerbread whoopie pies are two sweet and spiced gingerbread cookies with a soft cake-like texture, filled with a spiced cream cheese frosting. The best kind of sandwich cookie to enjoy during the "ber" months!
These gingerbread whoopie pies are the perfect combination of cookie and frosting with all the warm flavors of fall and winter. With no mixer needed, these are an easy fool-proof recipe that you are sure to enjoy!
For more Gingerbread recipes, try my gingerbread snickerdoodles, my gingerbread blondies or my gingerbread layer cake.
Jump to:
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Cookies & Frosting: Always a winning combination.
- Warm Spices: These cookies have so much flavor with molasses, ginger, cinnamon and cloves.
- Cake-like Texture: I love how soft these cookies are.
Ingredient Notes
Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Oil: I tested these cookies with melted butter and preferred the softer texture using oil. I tested with both avocado and coconut oil, but any oil will work.
- Sugar: You will use a combination of both granulated and brown sugar for these cookies.
- Molasses: Make sure it is unsulphured molasses.
- Buttermilk: You can sub in a regular milk if needed.
- Flour: If you have a scale I always suggest using it to weigh your dry ingredients. If not, just lightly spoon flour into the measuring cup.
- Cream cheese: Philadelphia brand cream cheese is my favorite for baking. It seems to have less water/moisture than others I've tried.
Step by Step Instructions
- Step 1: Place the oil and sugars in a large mixing bowl and mix together. Add in molasses, egg, vanilla and buttermilk and mix until combined.
- Step 2: Slowly mix in flour, salt, soda, powder, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and all spice, being careful not to over mix. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.
- Step 3: Scoop the dough into 1½ tablespoon size balls and place on the cookie sheets.
- Step 4: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool completely before making the frosting and assembling.
- Step 5: Mix together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add in vanilla, powdered sugar and cinnamon and mix until smooth.
- Step 6: Scoop 1½ tablespoons of frosting onto the bottom of one cookie and place another cookie on top.
Expert Baking Tips
- I prefer the texture of these cookies with oil, but you can sub in melted butter if needed.
- The dough will feel sticky and wet, even after you chill the dough.
- I think it's pretty to sprinkle the tops with a little powdered sugar, but not necessary.
- I have given both cups and grams as measurements. Grams will be more precise, especially when measuring flour. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, no problem! Just lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup to insure its not packed in there. Light and fluffy is the key.
FAQ
Yes, you can sub in a 1:1 ratio gluten free flour such as cup4cup or king arthurs measure for measure.
Yes, these will produce a sweet and spiced cake-like ginger cookie that's great even on it's own.
Yes, these cookies will spread too thin without chilling the dough first.
Storing & Freezing
Gingerbread whoopie pies can be stored at room temperature, or in the fridge, in an airtight container. They will keep fresh this way for 3-4 days. You can also prep the dough and frosting and leave it in the fridge for up to a week if you want to make that part ahead.
These cookies will keep fresh in an airtight container in the freezer for 3-4 months. Just allow them to come to room temperature before eating!
Other Popular Recipes to Try
For more yummy treats follow me on instagram @thesaltedsweets. And be sure to tag me and comment if you make them and love them as much as I do!
Gingerbread Whoopie Pies
Ingredients
- ½ cup (112 g) neutral oil
- ⅓ cup (66.67 g) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (73.33 g) brown sugar
- ⅓ cup (75 g) molasses
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ cup (60 g) buttermilk room temperature
- 2 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon (0.75 teaspoon) salt
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon (0.75 teaspoon) baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) cloves
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) all spice
- 4 ounces (113.4 g) cream cheese room temperature
- 3 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) cinnamon
Instructions
- Place the oil and sugars in a large mixing bowl and mix together. Add in molasses, egg, vanilla and buttermilk and mix until combined.
- Slowly mix in flour, salt, soda, powder, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and all spice, being careful not to over mix. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Scoop the dough into 1½ tablespoon size balls and place on the cookie sheets.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool completely before making the frosting and assembling.
- Mix together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add in vanilla, powdered sugar and cinnamon and mix until smooth.
- Scoop 1½ tablespoons of frosting onto the bottom of one cookie and place another cookie on top.
Sandy
These soft and spiced cookies are so good, and the cinnamon cream cheese filling makes them over the top! Great fall treat!
Carol Pickersgill
Perfect fall cookies! The kitchen smells heavenly!
Christin
I’d like to give them ten stars! Such a treat!
Christin
I’d like to leave ten stars. These are delicious!
Erin m.
So festive and easy! Delicious cookies!
Rachel
These were so good! Perfect texture. Everyone loved them.
Brooklyn
If you’re a gingerbread lover, you’ll love these. I’m not the biggest fan and I still loved these. The cream cheese frosting was yummm with the soft cookie
Stephanie Wright
Delicious! Gone in less than 24 hours!
Ashlee Mayfield
I made these for a Lord of the Rings party and they were a huge hit! Soft and delicious! Everyone was asking for the recipe and asking how hard they were to make. They couldn't believe that they weren't hard at all!
Andrea
The smell of these baking in the oven is reason enough to make them, but eating them is even better. The cinnamon cream cheese frosting really takes the cookie to the next level. Will be making these for all the holiday parties this year.
Elisa Tod
Delicious!!
Debbie Wronka
Huge hit to kick off Thanksgiving festivities at the in-laws! Big crowd pleaser and full of that gingerbread flavor!
Giada S
Soft, spiced cookies with creamy frosting—perfectly balanced sweetness and warmth. Easy to make, wonderfully tender, and irresistibly delicious.
Katie B
Another fun and festive recipe! Especially loved the texture of the cookie. More like a cake than a cookie so it stayed soft even after refrigerating. The gingerbread flavor really came through.
Adrienne
These are just delicious with the perfect amount of spice! And the frosting is so good! A perfect addition to my dessert table!
Lynzee
These were a twice in a month cookie. We loved them so much.
Shauna Phillips
So good! Would love a pumpkin version too.
Lonna S
Chef’s kiss! All our guests loved these! Will be a repeat every Thanksgiving now!
Joan
Great treat for this time of year! Love the cinnamon cream cheese filling
Elisa M.
These cookies are so tasty, they will definitely make your moth say, “Whoopie!” Definitely perfect for fall!