Easy Peasy Whoopie Pies!

I had one of these treats at a bake sale a few years ago and they were so good! So, I decided to make my own at home, they came out perfect! They have a slightly crisp exterior and a soft and cakey inside. The best part?! There is frosting in the middle! They're awesome for bake sales, picnics and parties. I made red velvet pies with cream cheese frosting, but any flavor is going to be just as good. I've tried carrot cake, chocolate, cinnamon and they're all delicious. I substituted most of the oil in the recipe for apple sauce so they're definitely more healthier than your average whoopie pie and they're eggless! They don't take that much time either, so if you're in a time crunch these are perfect! Bake a batch and you'll be in whoopie heaven!

Whoopie Pie Ingredients
- 1 box of red velvet cake mix (I like betty crocker)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 2 TBSP ener-g egg replacer
- 2 TBSP vegetable oil

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- 2 TBSP sweet cream butter- room temperature
- 4 oz. cream cheese- room temperature
- 1/4 cup confectioners sugar
- 1/2 TSP vanilla extract
- 2 TBSP whipping cream

Directions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- in a bowl combine water and ener-g egg replacer and mix with a fork or whisk until completely smooth.
- In a mixer (I used a kitchen aid, but a hand held mixer works fine too) combine oil, apple sauce and ener-g mixture and mix on low speed for one minute.
- Adding 1/3 cup at a time, add cake mix until batter in fully combined. (batter will be slightly thick)
- Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Using a mini ice-cream scoop, make 1 inch balls and drop on cookie sheet and flatten slightly. If you don't have a mini ice-cream scoop- using two tablespoons. (scoop one tablespoon of batter and form a ball with the help of the other spoon and drop batter on cookie sheet, and flatten slightly)
- Bake for 10-13 minutes. (Oven times will vary, best way to check if the pies are done- insert a toothpick until it comes out clean). Cool completely
- While pies are baking, in a medium bowl add cream cheese and butter and cream together with a hand held mixer until pale and creamy. (Make sure butter and cream cheese are at completely at room temp, or frosting with be lumpy)
- Add whipping cream and vanilla extract and mix. Add sugar and mix for about 2-4 minutes until frosting is light and fluffy.
- After pies are cooled, add 1 TBSP of frosting to the flat side of the whoopie pie and put another pie on top.

Serving Size- Makes about 15 whoopie pies

Serving suggestion
- For a lower calorie filling, use cool whip.
- If you don't have time to make the frosting from scratch use whatever frosting you have on hand!