They’re creepy & they’re kooky, you’re gonna love this cookie! Halloween Whoopie Pies are fluffy black cocoa cookies sandwiched with tender buttercream frosting that’s dyed the season’s favorite colors.

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A pile of homemade whoopie pies in halloween colors. One of the cookies has a bite out of it.

What Makes This Halloween Whoopie Pie Recipe Different?

Halloween whoopie pies are decadently festive in ways you never thought possible! The fluffy chocolate cookies are primarily colored by black cocoa powder, actually making them BLACK rather than the typical dark brown of my popular chocolate whoopie pies. Stuffed between the two cakey cookies we add vibrant, smoooooth buttercream dyed pumpkin orange, princess pink, witches’ hat purple, ghoulishly green (or any other frightening color you can think of).

I love this Halloween version of whoopie pies because they are every bit the party showstopper without sacrificing taste. You can expect a whole lot of whoopie pie fun dressed up in a spooky fun costume!

3 halloween whoopie pies on the counter with purple, orange and pink frosting.

Ingredients in Whoopie Pies

Salted butter, softened – I always use salted butter in my recipes! Unsalted will work, just throw an extra pinch of salt in the dough!
Brown sugar
Eggs
Vanilla extract
All-purpose flour – No need for a specialty flour here, all-purpose works great.
Black cocoa powder – This helps flavor + color this spooky whoopie pie recipe.
Cornstarch – The cornstarch helps these cookies attain a soft, pillowy fluff for days!
Baking soda
Salt
Buttermilk – We need a little more buttermilk in this recipe than the standard whoopie pie!
Black food coloring – Let’s just seal the deal on making sure these cookies are the blackest black possible.

Vanilla Buttercream Filling

Salted butter, softened – Again, always salted butter!
Powdered sugar
Clear vanilla extract – This will give you a vibrant white frosting that acts as a better base for getting the colors you want in the frosting!
Heavy whipping cream
Food coloring – Use any color your heart desires!

A bowl of halloween whoopie pies with some cookies spilling over the side.

How to Make Homemade Whoopie Pies (Halloween Style!)

Preheat the oven to 375° F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
In the bowl of a stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer, combine the softened butter and brown sugar until combined.
Add the egg and vanilla, mixing well.
Add the flour, black cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking soda and salt to the bowl. Slowly start mixing. As the dry ingredients are mixing in, slowly add in the buttermilk and finish with the black food coloring.
Mix until a thick batter forms.
Add the batter to a piping bag. Pipe round circles equal in size onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving room for the cookies to bake and spread. Alternatively you can scoop the batter onto the pan.
Bake at 375° F for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies have spread and no longer look wet and underbaked in the center of the cookie.
Allow the cookies to cool on the pan.
While the cookies are cooling, make the filling.

Vanilla Buttercream Filling + Cookie Assembly

To make the filling, slowly cream the butter until smooth.
Add powdered sugar one cup at a time, adding a splash of heavy cream to the bowl with it to help incorporate the powdered sugar into the butter.
Repeat the last step until all 3 cups of powdered sugar have been added.
Add in the clear vanilla extract and more heavy cream to thin the filling, if needed.
If coloring your frosting, add in your desired food coloring.
Add the filling to a piping bag. Pipe the filling onto the bottom of a cooled chocolate cookie and top it with another cookie to create the whoopie pie. Repeat with remaining cookies!
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to 1 week in the fridge. Enjoy!

Close up of homemade whoopie pies in halloween colors.

Do I have to use Black Cocoa Powder?

To get the dark black color of the cookies, yes! If you don’t want to use black cocoa powder, check out my chocolate whoopie pie recipe!

How long will homemade whoopie pies last?

Your Halloween Whoopie Pies will keep for 3 days at room temperature or up to 1 week in the fridge. Just make sure to store them in an airtight container!

What colors can I make my filling?

In the spirit of Halloween, I made vibrant orange, purple and pink fillings. I think a green or red would also be good options here. Just be weary of trying black in the frosting if you want to avoid getting it all over your teeth.

A pile of homemade whoopie pies in halloween colors. Across the top it says "halloween whoopie pies" in text.

More Whoopie Pie Recipes

Halloween Whoopie Pies

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 12

Cook Time: 10

Servings: large whoopie pies

Calories: 323kcal

Ingredients

1/2 cup salted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup + 2 tbsp black cocoa powder
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
black food coloring

Vanilla Buttercream Filling

1/2 cup salted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp clear vanilla extract
1/4 – 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Food coloring

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375° F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
In the bowl of a stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer, combine the softened butter and brown sugar until combined.
Add the egg and vanilla, mixing well.
Add the flour, black cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking soda and salt to the bowl. Slowly start mixing. As the dry ingredients are mixing in, slowly add in the buttermilk and finish with the black food coloring.
Mix until a thick batter forms.
Add the batter to a piping bag. Pipe round circles equal in size onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving room for the cookies to bake and spread. Alternatively you can scoop the batter onto the pan.
Bake at 375° F for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies have spread and no longer look wet and underbaked in the center of the cookie.
Allow the cookies to cool on the pan.
While the cookies are cooling, make the filling.

Buttercream Filling

To make the filling, slowly cream the butter until smooth.
Add powdered sugar one cup at a time, adding a splash of heavy cream to the bowl with it to help incorporate the powdered sugar into the butter.
Repeat the last step until all 3 cups of powdered sugar have been added.
Add in the clear vanilla extract and more heavy cream to thin the filling, if needed.
If coloring your frosting, add in your desired food coloring.
Add the filling to a piping bag. Pipe the filling onto the bottom of a cooled chocolate cookie and top it with another cookie to create the whoopie pie. Repeat with remaining cookies!
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to 1 week in the fridge. Enjoy!