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Recipe: Apple Cider Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese & Caramel

Apple Cider Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese & Caramel

These Apple Cider Whoopie Pies are soft, spiced cookies sandwiched with cream cheese frosting and caramel. Made with an apple cider reduction, warm spices, and Trader Joe’s Apple Pie Spread, they taste like fall in every bite. Perfect for cozy gatherings, bake sales, or gifting.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Chill time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 whoppie pies

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • Ingredients Cookies:
  • 1½ cups apple cider
  • 2½ cups 300 g all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • Zest of 1 navel orange ~1 tsp
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ¾ tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp grated fresh nutmeg
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • 2 large eggs
  • ⅔ cup Trader Joe’s Apple Pie Spread or apple butter
  • ½ cup 110 g packed dark brown sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ⅓ cup 70 g granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
  • ¼ cup cinnamon sugar
  • Ingredients Filling:
  • 4 oz cream cheese room temp
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter room temp
  • 2 cups 230 g confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 3 Tbsp Ghirardelli caramel topping

Instructions
 

  • Boil cider in saucepan until reduced to ¼ cup (15 minutes). Cool 10 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
  • In a bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon, zest, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, nutmeg, salt, cloves.
  • In another bowl, whisk eggs, apple spread, brown sugar, oil, granulated sugar, and vanilla. Slowly whisk in reduced cider.
  • Add wet to dry; stir until combined.
  • Scoop 2-oz portions onto baking sheets, 1" apart. Bake 12–14 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
  • Brush tops with melted butter; sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
  • Make filling: Beat cream cheese + butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar + vanilla, beat until smooth.
  • Pipe filling onto half the cookies. Dollop caramel on the others. Sandwich and press gently.
  • Refrigerate 1 hour (up to 3 days).

Video

Notes

Tips:
  • Chill overnight for best texture.
  • Don’t skip cinnamon sugar topping — it’s the sparkle.
  • If no Trader Joe’s spread, apple butter works.
Keyword apple cider whoopie pies, cream cheese whoopie pies, fall baking recipes, Trader Joe’s desserts
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