Indulge in Love: Easy Heart-Shaped Chocolate Strawberry Whoopie Pies for Any Occasion
These delightful Chocolate Strawberry Whoopie Pies are crafted with ease using a Devil’s food cake mix, beautifully piped into festive heart shapes (or classic circles), and generously filled with a luscious strawberry buttercream made from sweet strawberry jam. Perfect for Valentine’s Day or any moment you crave a touch of chocolate-strawberry bliss in your life!
Hello, friends! Can you feel the love in the air? Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or just a day that calls for a little extra sweetness, these Heart-Shaped Chocolate Strawberry Whoopie Pies are absolutely the perfect treat to brighten anyone’s mood. Don’t you agree? There’s something undeniably charming about a dessert that looks as good as it tastes, especially when it’s infused with the universally adored combination of rich chocolate and vibrant strawberry.
I understand that not everyone gets swept up in the Valentine’s Day fervor, and that’s perfectly fine! You celebrate (or don’t) in your own unique way. But for those of us who embrace the occasion, you’ll find me happily adorning my home with heart-shaped decorations and, of course, baking up a batch (or two!) of these irresistible chocolate whoopie pies. They offer a simple yet profound way to share affection, whether with a significant other, family, or simply as a self-care indulgence.
Why Chocolate Strawberry Whoopie Pies are the Ultimate Treat
In my humble opinion, there can never be too much chocolate in the world. Countless studies highlight chocolate’s power to genuinely boost our happiness. Specifically, darker chocolate varieties contain compounds that stimulate endorphins, mirroring the feel-good chemicals released when we laugh. Considering the current state of our world, a little extra happiness is something we could all certainly use. Right?
These delightful whoopie pies take that happiness a step further by incorporating the fresh, fruity goodness of strawberries. The pairing of strawberries and chocolate is legendary; they simply belong together, much like Bert & Ernie! The rich, deep notes of chocolate are perfectly complemented by the sweet and slightly tart burst of strawberry, creating a flavor symphony that’s both comforting and exciting. It’s a classic combination that rarely disappoints and always brings a smile.
Crafting Your Chocolate Whoopie Pies with Strawberry Buttercream
While my current batch of whoopie pies, with all things Valentine’s Day on my mind, are charmingly heart-shaped, that’s certainly not a requirement! If you prefer to make them round, go right ahead. It simplifies the piping process and they will taste every bit as delicious. The real magic is in the combination of the soft, cake-like chocolate cookies and the dreamy strawberry cream cheese frosting. The vibrant pink hue of the filling also adds a lovely visual appeal, whether it’s for a romantic holiday or just a casual gathering.
The strawberry buttercream is truly the star that elevates these whoopie pies. Made with real strawberry jam, it delivers an authentic fruit flavor that pairs exquisitely with the rich chocolate cake. This frosting isn’t just sweet; it’s creamy, tangy, and bursting with fresh berry essence, making each bite an unforgettable experience. It’s the perfect contrast to the deep chocolate, creating a balanced and utterly addictive dessert.
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Simple Ingredients for Our Whoopie Pie Recipe
One of the best things about this recipe is its simplicity, thanks to a few pantry staples and a handy cake mix. Here’s what you’ll need for the delectable chocolate cake layers:
- **Devil’s Food Cake Mix:** This is our secret weapon for speed and consistent fluffiness. It provides that rich, deep chocolate flavor without needing to measure a dozen dry ingredients.
- **Large Eggs (room temperature):** Using room temperature eggs helps them incorporate more evenly into the batter, leading to a smoother, lighter cake texture.
- **Vegetable Oil:** Adds moisture and richness to the whoopie pie cakes, keeping them soft and tender.
- **Vanilla Extract:** A touch of vanilla enhances the chocolate flavor and adds a beautiful aromatic depth to the cake layers.
These minimal ingredients come together to form a surprisingly rich and tender chocolate cake that perfectly cradles our luscious strawberry filling.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Easy Chocolate Whoopie Pies
Creating these delightful chocolate strawberry whoopie pies is straightforward. Just follow these simple steps:
- **Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheets:** Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper. This is crucial for preventing sticking and ensuring easy removal of your delicate whoopie pie cakes.
- **Mix the Batter:** In a large mixing bowl, combine the Devil’s Food cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Use an electric mixer to blend these ingredients until they are just incorporated. Then, beat on medium speed for a full 2 minutes. This aeration step helps create the light and airy texture characteristic of a perfect whoopie pie.
- **Shape Your Whoopie Pies:** For those adorable heart shapes, trace a cookie cutter (about 1.5 to 2 inches) onto your parchment paper. If you prefer, you can freehand pipe circles – they will taste just as wonderful! Once traced, flip the parchment paper over so the pencil lines are facing down. This prevents lead from transferring to your food while still giving you a guide.
- **Pipe the Batter:** Transfer your cake batter into a pastry bag, or a sturdy ziplock bag with a corner snipped off (approximately 1/2 inch opening). If using a pastry tip, attach it now. Carefully pipe the heart or round shapes onto the prepared parchment paper, ensuring you leave at least one to two inches of space between each for proper spreading and rising. This spacing is key for perfectly formed whoopie pies.
- **Bake to Perfection:** Bake the whoopie pie cakes for about 7-8 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops spring back slightly when gently touched. Avoid overbaking to keep them soft and moist.
- **Cool Completely:** Once baked, let them cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from sticking and helps maintain their shape. They must be entirely cool before frosting.
Essential Ingredients for the Creamy Strawberry Whoopie Pie Filling
The heavenly strawberry cream cheese filling is what truly sets these whoopie pies apart. Here are the simple ingredients you’ll need to create this delightful frosting:
- **Unsalted Butter (softened):** Softened butter is essential for achieving a smooth, creamy frosting. It whips up beautifully with the cream cheese.
- **Cream Cheese (softened):** The cream cheese adds a wonderful tang and richness, balancing the sweetness and giving the filling its signature fluffy texture. Make sure it’s softened to avoid lumps.
- **Vanilla Extract:** A hint of vanilla always brightens and complements fruit flavors, enhancing the overall taste of the strawberry filling.
- **Strawberry Jam:** This is where the magic happens for the strawberry flavor! Using jam ensures a concentrated, fruity taste and a lovely pink hue. Choose a good quality jam for the best results.
- **Powdered Sugar:** Also known as confectioners’ sugar, this provides the necessary sweetness and helps achieve the perfect creamy, pipeable consistency for the frosting.
Crafting the Dreamy Strawberry Cream Filling for Your Chocolate Whoopie Pies
Once your chocolate whoopie pie cakes are cooling, it’s time to prepare the star of the show – the luscious strawberry cream filling. This sweet and tangy frosting brings everything together!
- **Whip the Base:** In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter and softened cream cheese until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is crucial for achieving a smooth, airy texture.
- **Incorporate Flavors:** Add the vanilla extract and strawberry jam to the butter and cream cheese mixture. Continue mixing until these ingredients are fully incorporated and the frosting takes on a beautiful pink color and fruity aroma.
- **Add Sweetness:** Gradually beat in the powdered sugar, a cup at a time, until the frosting is perfectly creamy and smooth. If the frosting seems too thick, you can add a tiny splash of milk or cream. If it’s too thin, a bit more powdered sugar can help.
- **Assemble Your Whoopie Pies:** Once your cakes are completely cool and your strawberry cream filling is ready, it’s time for assembly. You can either spread the filling onto one half of a chocolate whoopie pie cake using a knife or offset spatula, or for a neater, more professional look, pipe it on using a pastry bag fitted with your favorite tip.
- **Complete the Sandwich:** Gently top the filled half with another plain whoopie pie cake, pressing lightly to form a perfect sandwich.
- **Chill for Best Results:** This recipe typically yields about two dozen whoopie pies. It’s best to refrigerate them before serving to allow the filling to set and the flavors to meld beautifully.
You’ll find the full, printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions at the bottom of this post.
Considering a Whoopie Pie Pan?
If you’re looking to simplify your baking process and achieve perfectly uniform whoopie pies every time, investing in a specialized whoopie pie pan is a fantastic idea. These pans have distinct cavities that ensure each cake bakes up in a consistent size and shape, eliminating the need for manual piping and ensuring a uniform appearance. They’re especially great if you’re making a large batch or if piping isn’t your strong suit.
Even better, they make adorable heart-shaped whoopie pie pans, which are absolutely perfect for Valentine’s Day or any occasion where you want to add a touch of romantic charm! While I’ve provided instructions for piping, these pans truly make life easy and ensure beautifully shaped treats with minimal effort.
Freezing Whoopie Pies for Later Enjoyment
Whoopie pies are wonderful for make-ahead convenience! Once your chocolate strawberry whoopie pies are fully assembled, you can easily freeze them to enjoy at a later date. This is perfect for portion control, unexpected guests, or simply having a delicious treat on hand whenever a craving strikes.
To ensure optimal freshness and prevent freezer burn, I highly recommend wrapping each whoopie pie individually in plastic wrap. Then, place the wrapped pies in an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. They will keep beautifully in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy one, simply transfer it to the refrigerator to defrost for a few hours or overnight. Once thawed, they’re ready to be savored, offering that same fresh-baked taste and creamy filling you loved the first time!
The incredible flavor combination of chocolate and strawberry is truly unbeatable, and it’s especially perfect for Valentine’s Day celebrations! If you’re a fan of this delightful duo, you absolutely must try another one of my favorite recipes: these Chocolate Covered Strawberry Baked Donuts. Imagine light and fluffy strawberry-flavored donuts, baked to perfection, then generously coated with a smooth, decadent chocolate frosting. They’re utterly delicious and another fantastic way to enjoy the classic chocolate strawberry pairing!
Explore More Valentine’s Day Recipes & Sweet Ideas
Unraveling the Mystery: What Exactly IS a Whoopie Pie?
Whoopie pies are those delightful little desserts with a rather confusing name, primarily because they aren’t pies at all! Traditionally, with their rich chocolate cake and white vanilla filling, they bear a striking resemblance to a large, plump Oreo cookie—some even affectionately refer to them as the “BFO” (Big Fat Oreo). At their heart, a whoopie pie is essentially two soft, cake-like cookies or mini cakes, sandwiched together with a creamy, delectable frosting in the middle. Think of it as an inside-out cupcake, where the “cake” is on the outside and the “frosting” is generously tucked within.
These charming treats originated in the Pennsylvania Amish country, as well as parts of New England and Maine. For many years, they remained a regional delicacy. Growing up in Nebraska, for instance, I had never even heard of them! (The closest thing I encountered was an Oatmeal Pie, but that’s a story for another time.) Thankfully, their popularity began to migrate across the country, allowing more and more people to discover and enjoy their unique deliciousness. Now, whoopie pies have earned their rightful place as a beloved American classic, cherished for their tender texture and sweet, creamy centers.
The Convenience of Whoopie Pies from a Cake Mix
While traditional whoopie pie recipes are made from scratch, my version embraces simplicity and uses a high-quality cake mix. Many bakers who attempt scratch recipes sometimes encounter issues with their whoopie pies turning out a bit flat or dense. Using a cake mix, however, is a fantastic shortcut that consistently delivers that fluffy, soft, cake-like cookie texture we all adore in a whoopie pie. When I first decided to try making these at home, I opted for the cake mix route to bypass any potential drama and ensure a perfectly light and tender result. It’s a foolproof method that guarantees success, even for novice bakers, allowing you to focus on the fun of piping and filling!
Love Whoopie Pies? Discover More Delicious Recipes to Try!
If you’ve fallen in love with whoopie pies, there’s a whole world of variations to explore! Here are some other fantastic recipes that celebrate this iconic dessert:
- Classic Maine Whoopie Pies: The original, often with a marshmallow-like filling.
- Chocolate Salted Caramel Whoopie Pies: A decadent twist for those who love sweet and salty.
- Apple Butter Whoopie Pies: Perfect for autumn, featuring warm spiced apple butter.
- Chocolate Fluffernutter Whoopie Pies: A playful combination of chocolate and a peanut butter-marshmallow filling.
- Funfetti Whoopie Pies: Festive and colorful, ideal for birthdays and celebrations.
Wishing you a Valentine’s Day (or any day!) filled with abundant love, and these utterly charming “sweetie pies” — our delightful Heart-Shaped Chocolate Strawberry Whoopie Pies! Let’s get baking and spread some joy! 
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Print Recipe
Chocolate Strawberry Whoopie Pies
Equipment
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Kitchenaid Stand Mixer
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KitchenAid Hand Mixer
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Fox Run Mini Heart Muffin Pan (Optional, for easy heart shapes)
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Wilton 12-Cavity Whoopie Pie Baking Pan (Optional, for easy round shapes)
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Reynolds Kitchens Non-Stick Parchment Paper
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13×18 Half Sheet Pan
Ingredients
- For the Whoopie Pie Cakes:
- 1 box Devil’s Food cake mix
- 3 large eggs (at room temperature)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- For the Strawberry Cream Filling:
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
- 6 ounce cream cheese (softened)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup strawberry jam
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
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To prepare the Whoopie Pie Cakes: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line several cookie sheets with non-stick parchment paper.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the Devil’s Food cake mix, large eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Using an electric mixer, beat until the ingredients are just combined. Continue to beat on medium speed for 2 minutes to ensure a light and airy batter.
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For heart-shaped whoopie pies, trace heart shapes (about 1.5-2 inches wide) onto your parchment paper using a cookie cutter as a guide. Flip the parchment paper over so the pencil markings face down, preventing transfer to your cakes. If preferred, you can simply pipe round shapes.
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Transfer the cake batter into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round pastry tip, or into a sturdy ziplock bag with a 1/2-inch corner snipped off.
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Pipe the heart or round shapes onto the prepared parchment paper, ensuring to leave at least 1-2 inches of space between each for proper spreading and rising during baking. When piping hearts, leave a good gap in the center of the “V” to help them retain their shape.
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Bake for approximately 7-8 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers spring back lightly when touched. Remove from oven and let cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. They must be completely cool before frosting.
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To Prepare the Strawberry Cream Filling: In a clean large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened unsalted butter and softened cream cheese until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and strawberry jam, mixing until fully incorporated. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar, about a cup at a time, until the filling is smooth, creamy, and holds its shape well.
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Once the chocolate cakes are cool, spread or pipe a generous amount of strawberry cream filling onto the flat side of one whoopie pie half. Gently top with another whoopie pie half, pressing lightly to form a sandwich.
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These whoopie pies are best served chilled. Store them in the refrigerator. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Defrost in the refrigerator before enjoying.