Mom's Birthday Vanilla Whoopee Pies

It's my mom's birthday tomorrow, but we are celebrating today because I will be back at college tomorrow. She absolutely loves whoopee pies and I knew they would be the perfect dessert to bake her for her birthday.

I have only made whoopee pies once before for the Fourth of July and they are a little time consuming, but so worth it!

There are so many different ways to decorate your whoopee pies. I decided to keep these simple but colorful by rolling them in nonpareil sprinkles. They look so festive for a birthday treat.

I usually try to bake healthy and low sugar desserts, but I also believe in going all out with the butter and sugar for special occasions. I also only made enough whoopee pies for each of us to have 2 maximum, so there won't be any extra temptation throughout the week.

These whoopee pies are definitely worth baking for someone special in your life. I think I am going to make them as Christmas gifts for friends and decorate with Christmas colored sprinkles. They are so versatile and absolutely delicious.

Mom's Birthday Vanilla Whoopee Pies:

(original recipe from: http://foodnessgracious.com)

Whoopee Pies:

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

4 tablespoons vegetable shortening

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs, at room temperature

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 375° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl combine the flour, salt and baking powder and set aside.
3. In a stand mixer combine the butter, shortening, granulated sugar and brown sugar and mix until combined.
4. Add in the eggs and buttermilk and mix until incorporated.
5. In a small bowl combine the milk, vinegar, baking soda and vanilla.
6. Add half of the flour mixture to the egg mixture and mix until combined. Add in the vinegar mixture and the rest of the flour mixture and mix again until everything is fully incorporated, scraping down the sides as needed.
7. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag and pipe circles onto the parchment paper about 1 inch apart. Flatten out the tops and bake for 10 minutes. Transfer the whoopee pies to a cooling rack.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:

2 sticks butter, at room temperature

3-4 cups powdered sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons milk

sprinkles

1. Mix the butter in a stand mixer for 2 minutes. Add in half of the powdered sugar and mix until incorporated. Add in the rest of the powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until fully incorporated. 
2. Add in the milk and mix for another minute on high.
3. Spread the frosting onto one half of a whoopee pie and place another half on top, pressing down so some of the frosting gets on the edges. Roll the edges in sprinkles and serve. You can store these for 3 days in the fridge.