CHOCOLATE WHOOPIE PIES WITH RASPBERRY BUTTERCREAM

Chocolate Whoopie Pies with Raspberry Buttercream image

Sandwich raspberry buttercream between two soft chocolate cookies and then roll in toasted almonds.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 2h

Yield 12 whoopie pies

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

Cooking spray
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon fine salt
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup well-shaken buttermilk
1 1/2 pounds confectioners' sugar (about 6 cups)
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
Chopped toasted almonds, for coating the edges

Steps:

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment and lightly coat with cooking spray.
Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat together the brown sugar, butter and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat until combined. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the buttermilk in 2 batches, beating after each addition until just combined.
Scoop 2-tablespoon mounds of batter onto the baking sheets about 2-inches apart. Moisten your fingers and gently form each mound into a round and slightly smooth the top. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Bake the cookies, rotating the trays halfway through, until the tops bounce back when gently touched, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on the baking sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
For the buttercream filling: Put the confectioners' sugar and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on low speed until just incorporated, about 1 minute. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until smooth and fully incorporated. Turn the mixer off and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the raspberry jam and vanilla extract. Turn the mixer back on to medium speed and beat until well mixed, 1 to 2 minutes. With the mixer off, add the milk. Mix together on low speed until just incorporated.
Flip half of the cookies over and spread the bottoms with the filling. Top each with another cookie--bottom facing in--to make a sandwich.
Put the almonds on a plate and roll the edge of each whoopee pie in the almonds to coat.