Name: Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese Recipe
Prep time: 2 h 45 min
Cook time: 14 min
Total time: 3 h 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 and 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled); 2 teaspoons ground ginger; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 6 Tablespoons (90ml) unsulphured or dark molasses (do not use blackstrap; I prefer Grandma’s brand); 1/4 cup (60ml) hot water; 2/3 cup (130g) granulated sugar; 1/2 cup (120ml) vegetable oil; 1 large egg, at room temperature; 6 ounces (170g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature; 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; 1 and 1/2 cups (180g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted; 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; small pinch of each: ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves (about 1/16 teaspoon each)

There’s something incredibly cozy about the blend of warm spices and rich cream cheese in this **Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese Recipe**. These soft, cake-like cookies sandwiched with luscious spiced icing make for a perfect treat anytime you want a little slice of comfort and joy.

This image shows a close-up of multiple stacked sandwich cookies arranged in a grid. Each cookie has two round, soft-looking brown layers with a smooth white cream filling in the middle. The brown cookie layers have a slightly bumpy texture with small darker spots, while the white filling is thick and even. The cookies are tightly packed with the cream layer visible between each pair, creating a repeating pattern of brown and white horizontal layers. The background surface has a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I still remember the first time I made these Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese Recipe during a chilly winter afternoon, and the kitchen smelled like the holidays instantly. These treats aren’t just tasty; they bring a little celebration to your daily routine.

Perfectly Balanced Spices: The ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves come together just right to give warm festive flavors without overwhelming your palate.
Soft, Cake-Like Texture: Unlike crunchy cookies, these are tender and pillowy, making every bite melt in your mouth.
Spiced Cream Cheese Filling: This filling is creamy with just a hint of those same cozy spices, tying everything together beautifully.
Easy to Make Ahead: You can prepare the dough and filling in advance — a lifesaver when you want to wow guests with minimal stress.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese Recipe plays a part in delivering those classic flavors and a delightful texture. Knowing why they work together helps you feel confident while baking and opens doors for easy swaps if you need.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour on a simple white ceramic plate, small piles of ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves arranged neatly on a white ceramic dish, a white ceramic bowl with dark molasses, another small white bowl filled with hot water, a white ceramic bowl containing granulated sugar, a white ceramic bowl with golden vegetable oil, one large whole brown egg with a clean shell, a white ceramic plate holding a block of full-fat cream cheese, a small white ceramic bowl with unsalted butter cubes, a white ceramic dish with sifted confectioners’ sugar, and a tiny white bowl holding pure vanilla extract, all ingredients fresh and natural, perfectly spaced with balanced layout and symmetry, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose Flour: Provides the structure but keeps the pies tender when used with the right proportions.
Ground Ginger, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Cloves: The signature warm spices that create that unmistakable gingerbread taste.
Baking Soda & Baking Powder: These leaveners ensure the pies rise just enough for a cake-like softness without air pockets.
Molasses: Adds deep, rich sweetness and that classic dark flavor; I avoid blackstrap for its bitterness.
Hot Water: Loosens the molasses so it spreads evenly and reacts well with the leavening.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and balances the acidic molasses.
Vegetable Oil: Keeps the cookies moist and tender without the heaviness butter could add here.
Egg: Binds everything together and contributes to the pies’ soft texture.
Cream Cheese: Full-fat cream cheese makes the filling smooth and tangy.
Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and helps the filling hold its shape.
Confectioners’ Sugar: Sweetens the filling and provides the right silky texture.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the flavors and adds a subtle fragrant sweetness.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love that this Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese Recipe is super forgiving and adaptable. Whether you want them a little smaller for kids’ parties or jazz them up with a bit more spice, this is a recipe you can really make your own.

Variation: I often add a teaspoon of orange zest to the filling for a bright twist that pairs wonderfully with the spices.
Dairy-Free Option: Swap the cream cheese and butter in the filling for vegan alternatives and use coconut oil in the batter for an allergy-friendly version.
Smaller or Larger Pies: For smaller treats, scoop less batter and reduce baking time by about a minute; for bigger, just add more batter but keep an eye on baking times.
Double the Recipe Carefully: When doubling, I reduce the oil slightly to avoid a greasy dough, a trick that keeps the pies perfectly moist.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese Recipe

The image shows three soft, thick cookie sandwiches arranged on a white marbled surface. Each sandwich has two layers of moist, light brown cookies with a slightly cracked top texture, sandwiching a thick layer of creamy white filling that looks smooth and fluffy. One cookie sandwich is broken in half, revealing the creamy filling inside, highlighting its rich texture against the brown cookie layers. The lighting softly brightens the cookies, showing detail and making the white filling stand out photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Whisk Your Dry Spices and Flour

Start by combining the flour with all those warm spices—ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves—along with baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk them well so the flavors are evenly distributed. Trust me, evenly mixed spices are key to hitting that consistent gingerbread note in every bite.

Step 2: Blend the Wet Ingredients Carefully

Mix the molasses and hot water to loosen the molasses up — it’s important to let it cool a bit before adding your sugar and oil so nothing gets scrambled when you add the egg. Once the sugar and oil are in, whisk until smooth. Then, add the egg and give it a quick whisk. The wet ingredients might look a bit oily; that’s totally normal and what keeps the cookies moist.

Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry and Chill the Dough

Pour those wet ingredients into your dry mix and fold everything together gently. I find a silicone spatula works better than a whisk because this dough is a bit heavy. Once combined, cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 2 hours — this chill time really helps the flavors to meld and prevents spreading when baking.

Step 4: Bake Your Whoopie Pies

Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line your baking sheets. I use silicone mats for easy cleanup. Scoop scant tablespoon-sized mounds of batter spaced well apart — they’ll puff up but not spread much. Bake 13–14 minutes, until the edges are just set but the centers still look soft. Let them cool on the pan for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack.

Step 5: Whip Up the Spiced Cream Cheese Filling

Beat your softened cream cheese until silky smooth, then add the butter and keep mixing. Next, sift in confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and those same warm spices from the cookies—but just a pinch of each! Taste and adjust spices if you like. A little extra cinnamon is my go-to. This filling becomes wonderfully fluffy and full of cozy flavor.

Step 6: Assemble Your Whoopie Pies

Match cookies in pairs as close in size as you can. Pipe or spread the filling on the flat side of one cookie, then top with its partner. If you want a crisp look, the Wilton 1A piping tip is a fantastic tool I swear by. Once sandwiched, cover and refrigerate leftover pies.

Top Tip

I’ve made these Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese Recipe a dozen times now, and a few small tweaks made all the difference in how great they turn out. Here are my favorite tips for you to get that perfect texture and flavor every time.

Molasses Matters: Stick with unsulphured or dark molasses like Grandma’s brand. Blackstrap is just too bitter for this delicate balance.
Chill Your Dough Thoroughly: I never skip the 2-hour chill; skipping this leads to cookies that spread and lose that tender crumb.
Use Room Temperature Ingredients: The cream cheese, butter, and egg at room temp help the filling get that perfectly smooth and fluffy texture.
Don’t Overbake: Pull them out when edges look set but centers soft—they continue to cook as they cool and stay softer inside.

How to Serve Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese Recipe

gingerbread whoopie pies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to sprinkle a tiny dusting of cinnamon or powdered sugar on top for an elegant but simple finish. Sometimes I add a few festive sugar pearls or tiny edible gold stars when I bring these to holiday parties — they make the pies look so festive and inviting!

Side Dishes

These whoopie pies pair beautifully with a steaming cup of chai tea or spiced apple cider. If I'm serving friends, I often lay out fresh fruit like sliced pears or spiced nuts alongside, which balance the sweetness perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve arranged these whoopie pies stacked on tiered cake stands surrounded by fresh pine greenery or holly. Wrapping each in parchment and tying with twine makes them a charming edible gift, too — everyone loves that extra thoughtful touch!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover whoopie pies tightly covered in an airtight container in the fridge, and they stay fresh up to a week. I find slicing them in half if they’ve gotten chilled helps warm them up nicely before serving.

Freezing

Freezing works like a charm here—wrap each whoopie pie individually in plastic wrap and pop them in a freezer container. They freeze for up to 3 months without losing their soft texture. I thaw them overnight in the fridge or for a couple hours at room temp.

Reheating

If you want to warm a leftover or frozen whoopie pie, I microwave it for about 15-20 seconds. This softens the filling and cookie just right without melting the cream cheese completely. It’s like fresh-out-of-the-oven every time!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make these whoopie pies gluten-free?

Yes! To make gluten-free Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese Recipe, swap the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free blend designed for baking. Make sure your baking powder and other ingredients are gluten-free as well. The texture will be slightly different but just as delightful.

What’s the best way to soften the cream cheese for the filling?

The best way is to take the cream cheese out of the fridge about an hour before making the filling, leaving it at room temperature. If you’re short on time, cut the block into smaller cubes to speed up softening, or microwave it in 10-second bursts, watching carefully to avoid melting.

Can I prepare the dough and filling ahead of time?

Absolutely! The dough can be made and refrigerated for up to 2 days before baking, and the filling can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored covered in the fridge. This makes it easy to break the process up into manageable steps, especially during busy holiday seasons.

How long do Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese stay fresh?

Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, these whoopie pies stay fresh for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze them individually wrapped for up to 3 months, then thaw before serving.

Final Thoughts

Making these Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Spiced Cream Cheese Recipe always brings me back to cozy afternoons with friends and laughter around the kitchen. I know you’ll enjoy them just as much, whether for a holiday treat or just because you deserve a little something special. Give them a try, and I’m sure they’ll become a favorite in your recipe box too.