Chocolate whoopie pies with peanut butter filling

American sandwich cookies filled with peanut butter cream. Intensely chocolatey and wonderfully nutty! Chocolate whoopie pies have a texture similar to a sponge or butter cake (and are made in much the same way), staying soft and fluffy. They’re an American classic, especially when paired with peanut butter.

Makes approximately 15–17 whoopie pies (sandwiched).

Ingredients for the chocolate whoopie pies:

• 120 g butter
• 170 g caster sugar
• 1 large egg
• 170 g plain flour
• 60 g cocoa powder
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ cup milk

All ingredients should be at room temperature.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and continue beating until fully combined. The mixture may look curdled at this stage, but this will not affect the finished cakes. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda directly into the bowl, then add the milk and fold together with a spatula. Do not overmix; stop as soon as the ingredients are combined.

Line a large, flat baking sheet with baking paper. You can also use a special whoopie pie pan; grease it with butter and dust lightly with flour first. Transfer the batter to a piping bag (no nozzle is necessary) and pipe portions of approximately 1 tbsp of batter onto the baking sheet. Alternatively, spoon the batter onto the sheet. Leave plenty of space between them, as they will spread and rise considerably.

Bake the chocolate whoopie pies at 175°C for approximately 12–15 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Sandwich the cakes together with 1 heaped tablespoon of peanut butter cream.

Ingredients for the peanut butter cream:

• 190 g smooth peanut butter
• 60 g butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 170 g icing sugar (or less, to taste)

All ingredients should be at room temperature. Place everything in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until creamy. The more icing sugar you add, the lighter and fluffier the cream will become.

Enjoy!