Black Velvet Whoopie Pies is orange-colored whipped buttercream in between two layers of Dark chocolate cake rounds. You will definitely hear a ‘whoopie!’ when you share this treat! Try my Peppermint Whoopie Pies, too!
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Black Velvet Whoopie Pies
Whoopie Pies, also known as gobs, black moons, and moon pies (among other names) are a decadent treat that is easy to make and put together. This recipe starts with a boxed cake mix; then the mix is combined with just a few ingredients to give you the cakey part of this popular cake sandwich. Finally, the whipped orange buttercream is added to make the sweet dessert come together!
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Ingredients & Substitutions
There are two parts to this recipe–the small cakey rounds and the whipped buttercream.
Cake Mix: Look for a box of Dark chocolate cake mix. You will only be using the mix, not following the box instructions. I have listed all the ingredients you need to make the small mounds of cakes. You could also use another variety of chocolate cake mix if preferred.
Extracts: I used both vanilla and almond extract in the buttercream. You can definitely leave out the almond extract if that is not your preference, but I recommend trying the buttercream with the almond extract before deciding. If you have a nut allergy simply use Imitation Almond Extract.
Food Coloring: Get out your black and orange food coloring for these Black Velvet Whoopie Pies. I love the contrast of colors, and they make perfect treats for Halloween! But, of course, you could make the buttercream any color you want!
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Can Make These Ahead of Time?
You can get a good start when it comes to making this treat. The buttercream can be made up to 2 weeks in advance and stored in the refrigerator. When ready to make the whoopie pies, you may have to re-whip the buttercream before adding it to the cakes.
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How to Store Black Velvet Whoopie Pies
Once assembled, the whoopie pies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or so. You can store them in the refrigerator if preferred, but they could dry out faster. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
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Black Velvet Whoopie Pies
Ingredients
- 1 box (15.25 ounces) Dark chocolate cake mix
- ยฝ cup (125 g) water
- ยผ cup (29.5 g) dutch process cocoa powder
- ยผ cup (54.5 g) vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons black food coloring
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Orange Buttercream
- ยฝ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ยฝ teaspoon almond extract
- 16 ounces (3ยฝ cups) confectioners' sugar
- 1 tablespoon whole milk, or more as needed to reach desired consistency, room temperature
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon orange food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, add cake mix, water, cocoa powder, oil, food coloring, eggs, and vanilla. Using a hand mixer on low speed, mix until just moistened, scraping sides of bowlย frequently.
- Increase the speed to medium. Mix for 2 more minutes.
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of batter onto the lined baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each tablespoon. (The cakes will spread as they bake.)
- Bake for 8 minutes, turning the baking sheet halfway through baking. The whoopie pies are done when they are puffed and spring back when touched. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 1 minute. Then, transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Orange Buttercream
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, add butter. Whisk on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
- Add vanilla and almond extract.
- With the mixer on low, slowly add confectioners' sugar, milk, and salt, frequently scraping down the sides andย bottom of the bowl.
- Remove the bowl from the stand mixer. Fold in the food coloring.
Assembly
- To assemble the Whoopie Pies, place 1 tablespoon of buttercream on the flat side of one cookie. Topย with a second cookie, pressing gently to spread the filling. Repeat with remaining cookies and buttercream.
- Store whoopie pies in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
You are so good, Amanda. I love you poem, it made me smile “aloud”!!!
Tomorrow, when they’ll be all gone you could try with a sweet fairy-tale: “once upon a time there was a halloween whoopie pie,…”
They look great and delicious!
These are so Halloweenie!! I love the colors…but one question…how black do they make your teeth? LOL!
LOVE IT!!!
Another masterpiece! Bravo you… And the poem is perfect too!
PS – I worked at HCS in Salinas, CA, which is on the same street (Schilling Place) as McCormack (used to be McCormack & Schilling) and I can tell you from having been inside their plant that your vision is not far off! ๐ xo
Ahh, I’m in sweet, wicked love! These are amazing, Amanda. Your images are gorgeous as well! xo
These are SO gorgeous! Love them!
Such a brilliant idea for Halloween! The colors really pop!
I love whoopie pies. I make them all the time. I really like your Halloween twist!
These look great I think I will try them for my halloween party…but maybe raspberry instead of orange filling since I would want a red filling for my vampire themed birthday party….CANT WAIT!! Thanks! Love your blog!!
These are super sellers for fundraisers (but I don’t recommend any recipe that uses Crisco as part of the filling — acccckkkk!)
These are totally do-able ๐