Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Pinterest Twitter Instagram RSS Facebook
    Buy GO DAIRY FREE and EAT DAIRY FREE today!
    Go Dairy Free
    • Need to Know
      • Newbies Start Here!
      • Take the Challenge!
      • Dairy-Free FAQs
      • Latest News
      • Milk Allergies
      • Lactose Intolerance
      • Other Health Issues
      • Testimonials
      • Calcium Guide
      • Holidays & More
      • Best Books
      • The Community
    • Recipes
      • Recipes by Category
        • Alisa’s Recipes
        • Sarah’s Recipes
        • Appetizers
        • Beverages
        • Bread
        • Breakfast
        • Cheese Substitutes
        • Condiments & Dressings
        • Cream Substitutes
        • Desserts
        • Entrees
        • Kids Can Cook
        • Milk Substitutes
        • Pasta
        • Salad
        • Sandwiches
        • Sauces
        • Sides
        • Snacks
        • Soup
      • Full Dairy-Free Recipe Index
      • Gluten-Free Recipe Index
      • Vegan Recipe Index
    • Reviews
      • Dairy Substitutes
        • Butter
        • Cheese
        • Cream
        • Creamer
        • Dessert Toppings
        • Ice Cream
        • Ice Cream Novelties
        • Milk
        • Yogurt
        • More Kitchen Essentials
      • Sweets & Snacks
        • Protein Shakes
        • More Creamy Beverages
        • Snack & Protein Bars
        • More Snacks
        • Chocolate
        • Cookie Dough
        • Cookies & Brownies
        • Pies & Cakes
        • Pudding & Mousse
        • More Sweet Treats
      • Meal Makers
        • Baking Mixes
        • Bread Products
        • Breakfast Pastries
        • Cereal & Granola
        • Cheesy Pasta & Rice
        • Frozen Pizza
        • More Entrees
        • Dip and Spreads
        • Salad Dressing
        • Sauces
      • All Product Reviews
        • New Product Reviews!
        • Browse by Product Type
        • Full Review Index
        • Gluten-Free Review Index
        • Vegan Review Index
    • Grocery Guide
      • Alisa’s Dairy-Free Kitchen
      • Brands We Love
      • Dairy Substitutes
      • Dairy Ingredient List
      • Understanding Food Labels
      • No Dairy Product Lists
      • Ordering Specialty Foods
      • Best Grocery Stores
    • Eating Out
      • Fast Food Listings
      • Recommended Restaurants
    • My Books!
      • Go Dairy Free 2nd Edition (best seller!)
      • Eat Dairy Free 1st Edition (full color!)
      • eBooks & Printables
      • Book Supplements & Resources
    • About Us
      • Meet Us
      • Contact Us
      • Join Us
      • Work With Us
    Go Dairy Free
    You are at:Home»Dairy-Free Recipes»Dairy Free Desserts»Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies made Dairy-Free

    Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies made Dairy-Free

    6
    By Alisa Fleming on March 14, 2017 Dairy Free Desserts, Dairy-Free Recipes

    Updated in 2021! In honor of Pi Day, I thought we would revisit an old favorite, Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies. The recipe was shared with us by Rob Benes from the online magazine Kids Cuisine over a decade ago. That website has since changed over, but this sweet dairy-free recipe lives on and I’m giving it a refresh today!

    Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies - a dairy-free, nut-free, optionally soy-free recipe!

    To give you a little history, chocolate whoopie pies can be traced back to the Pennsylvania Dutch and most of New England. The pies are two small disk-shaped cakes with a sweet creamy frosting sandwiched between. I make my filling using Marshmallow Fluff as the base ingredient.

    While whoopie pie recipes vary — some call for canola oil and some call for shortening — the result is basically the same. But I prefer to use shortening. It may not be the healthiest thing to to eat, but my motto is “there’s no such thing as bad food, it’s just that people eat too much of things too often. Moderation is the key. Plus, I think the shortening gives the you a better baked product, superior taste, and longer shelf life.

    Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies - a dairy-free recipe!

    The traditional whoopie pie is chocolate cake with a white, vanilla-flavored filling. But, you can also take out the cocoa powder and use pumpkin, oatmeal, banana, apple, carrot or anything else for that matter that lends itself to good baking. The filling, too, can be switched to complement the cakes. For example, if the cakes are banana flavored, try a peanut butter filling; or if carrot cakes are made, try a dairy-free cream cheese filling.

    Nonetheless, these classic chocolate whoopie pies  are great for kids’ birthday parties. You can even make one gigantic whoopie pie and top it with candles instead of the cake. The kids will get a huge kick out of a Whoopie Pie Birthday Cake!

    Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies - a dairy-free, nut-free, optionally soy-free recipe!

    Special Diet Notes: Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies

    By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, nut-free, peanut-free, optionally soy-free (depending on the buttery spread and shortening or oil that you use), and vegetarian.

    For egg-free and vegan chocolate whoopie pies, you can swap in egg replacer for the 2 eggs. Vegan marshmallow creme can be hard to find, so I would use the Alternate Vanilla Cream Filling.

    We haven’t these chocolate whoopie pies gluten-free as of yet, but they may work with your favorite gluten-free flour blend.

    Dairy-Free Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pies
     
    Print
    Prep time
    30 mins
    Cook time
    10 mins
    Total time
    40 mins
     
    These whoopie pies have two cake-like cookies sandwiching a vanilla marshmallow creme filling. We have an alternative vanilla ice recipe in the notes. We have also made a few adjustments to the original recipe (in late 2021), to help ensure optimal results!
    Author: Adapted from Rob Benes
    Recipe type: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Serves: about 12 servings
    Ingredients
    Chocolate Cakes
    • 2 cups sugar
    • 1 cup shortening (see Shortening Note below)
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 4 cup all-purpose flour
    • ⅔ cup cocoa powder
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 cups unsweetened or plain dairy-free milk beverage (your choice of type)
    Vanilla Cream Filling
    • 1 cup Marshmallow Fluff or Creme (about ½ of a 7½-ounce jar)
    • 1 cup powdered confectioners’ sugar
    • ½ cup dairy-free buttery spread
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Chocolate Topping or Dip
    • Melted dairy-free chocolate (optional)
    Instructions
    Chocolate Cakes
    1. Preheat your oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. (do not grease)
    2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the sugar and shortening with a hand mixer or stand mixer. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat to combine.
    3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
    4. Alternately add the flour mixture and milk alternative to your mixing bowl, beating after each addition. Beat until combined.
    5. Pipe (for neater cookies) or drop the dough by the heaping tablespoon (to make 24 cakes, each about 2 to 2½ inches wide) onto your prepared cookie sheet.
    6. Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cookies just spring back when pressed in center with finger.
    7. Let cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely before filling.
    Vanilla Cream Filling
    1. Place the marshmallow fluff, powdered sugar, buttery spread, and vanilla in a mixing bowl, and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. If the frosting has thinned at all (due to warmth), place the frosting in the refrigerator to set up again.
    2. Once the cakes are completely cool, spread the filling on the bottom half of one cake. Top with another cake.
    3. If desired, drizzle the pies with melted chocolate.
    4. Chocolate whoopie pies store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator and also freeze well.
    Notes
    Marshmallow-Free Vanilla Creme Filling: In a mixing bowl, blend 2½ cups powdered sugar, ½ cup non-hydrogenated shortening, 1 tablespoon plain or unsweetened dairy-free milk beverage, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until smooth. Start with the mixer on low until the powdered sugar is mostly incorporated to avoid a dust cloud. Blend in more milk beverage 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed to get a thick but soft icing that you can roll into balls.

    Shortening Note: This recipe was created with traditional Crisco. Non-hydrogenated shortening, like Spectrum, should work well, but some natural brands might cause more spread. Substituting dairy-free butter alternative will also cause more spread.

    High Altitude: We haven't tested this recipe at higher altitude. If baking above 2500 feet, particularly if in a dry climate, adjustments should be made. I would personally try cutting the leaveners (baking powder and soda) in half as a first trial.
    3.5.3229

    More Chocolate Cookie Recipes

    Sandwich Cookies with Assorted Homemade Fillings (vegan, gluten-free & allergy-friendly)

    Chocolate Chunky Monkey Cookies (vegan, gluten-free & allergy-friendly)

    Chocolate Chunky Monkey Cookies Recipe - unbelievably easy, rich, and naturally vegan, gluten-free and allergy-friendly

    Double Chocolate Orange Cookies (vegan, gluten-free & allergy-friendly)

    Double Chocolate Orange Cookies Recipe with Fair Trade, Organic, Dairy-Free Chocolate (vegan, gluten-free)

    Alisa Fleming
    • Website

    Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Food Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living, and the new cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.

    Related Posts

    Dairy-Free Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe - creamy, cheesy, rich, and fulfilling. Optionally gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free. Plant-based nd vegan-friendly.

    Dairy-Free Stuffed Mushrooms with Perfect Cheesy Creamy Flavor

    The Best Dairy-Free Steel Cut Oatmeal Recipe with Stove Top and Instant Pot Options. Includes Cinnamon Raisin Variation. Plant-based, vegan, allergy-friendly, and gluten-free.

    Perfect Steel Cut Oatmeal with Stove Top and Instant Pot Options

    Over 50 Dairy-Free Valentine's Day Treats you can Buy at the Store with Allergen Notes and Vegan Options!

    50 Dairy-Free Valentine’s Day Treats you can Buy at the Store

    6 Comments

    1. Meg on March 5, 2018 10:37 am

      can you use a gluten free all purpose flour for these?

      Reply
      • Alisa Fleming on March 5, 2018 2:11 pm

        Probably, but we haven’t tested it and brands can vary!

        Reply
    2. Pingback: Chocolate Puffs for Hamilton Buffs: A Sweet 18th Century Recipe

    3. Pingback: 22 Dairy-Free Potluck Dessert Recipes Everyone Will Love

    4. Richard on March 15, 2017 6:02 am

      I love the name of these! I might try them with peanut butter filling like you suggested. Thanks Alisa!

      Reply
    5. Patty v on August 10, 2014 8:09 am

      I made these whoopie pies last night. I used almond milk for the cakes they took about 15 minutes in the oven Made about 20 sandwiches. I uses cream cheese sub in the filling and marshmallow but I think you need to use a lb of 10X sugar . Very sweet but the kids liked it. Thanks.

      Reply

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Rate this recipe:  

    Go Dairy Free - The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance and Casein-Free Living
    Dairy-Free Queso Recipe that's Kindly Allergy-Friendly and Truly Plant-Based - nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, sesame-free, vegan, and even oil-free. From Dreena's Kind Kitchen Cookbook

    Dairy-Free Queso that’s Kindly Nut-Free and Truly Plant-Based

    Is Chocolate Dairy Free? Yes and No. Here’s Why …

    Enjoy Life FoodsFames Chocolates. From Brooklyn with loveEat dairy free bookChocolate Emporium
    Go Dairy Free is the leading website for information on the dairy-free diet. We share dairy-free recipes, product reviews, news, recommendations and health guides to aide those with milk allergies, lactose intolerance or a general need or desire to live without dairy. Dairy-free does include milk-free, lactose-free, casein-free and whey-free, too! We also offer ample resources for gluten-free, soy-free, food allergy, vegan and paleo diets. Please note that ingredients, processes and products are subject to change by a manufacturer at any time. All foods and products should be considered at risk for cross-contamination with milk and other allergens. Always contact the manufacturer prior to consumption. Disclaimer - All Rights Reserved - Privacy Policy Go Dairy Free © 2005-2022 Fleming Marrs Inc.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.