Cousin Johnnie’s Red Velvet Whoopie Pie

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Recipe Courtesy of Paula Deen

Based on 74 Reviews

Johnnie’s a fantastic baker, and her desserts, like these bite-sized red velvet whoopee pies, have won her a large, loyal following around Atlanta.

Servings: 24 Pies
Prep Time: 20-30 Minutes
Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients Add to grocery list

For the pies:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups canola oil
1 teaspoon white vinegar
One 1-ounce bottle red food coloring
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk

For the filling:
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 cup sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening, such as Crisco
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two cookie sheets. Sift the flour, baking soda, and cocoa together. In a separate bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, food coloring, and vanilla.

Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and eggs together until they turn pale and double in volume. Add the oil mixture and beat to combine. Add the flour mixture and buttermilk alternately in five small additions, starting and ending with the flour.

Drop the batter by teaspoons onto the baking sheets, allowing 1 inch between drops, as the cookies will spread. You’ll be making 48 cookies. Bake until the cookies are firm but not crisp, about 12 minutes. Transfer immediately to racks to cool.

To make the filling, put the flour into a medium saucepan and slowly add the milk, whisking until smooth. Set over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly with a whisk, until very thick, about 3 minutes. Allow to cool completely.

Cream the sugar, butter, shortening, and vanilla with an electric mixer. Add the cooled flour mixture and whip until fluffy. Spread onto one cookie and top it with another to make a sandwich; repeat with the remaining cookies and filling. Cover the filled whoopee pies with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

Tools You May Need

Baking sheets
Mixer
Mixing bowls

Show: The Rachael Ray Show
Watch Paula on Food Network

Reader Comments:

Can't wait to try it

By Malaysia on March 28, 2013

This recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of canola oil yet on the program this week, Bobby used only 1/2 cup of canola oil. Which is correct?

By Susan Moss on March 22, 2013

I adore Paula Dean

By Patty chapman on March 19, 2013

Caution: When Paula and Bobby make these on the TV show they used 1/2 Cup Canola Oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla in the cookie portion of the recipe. Whomever types these recipes for the website should be more careful.

By Anonymous on March 19, 2013

great

By Joan on December 04, 2012

This is a really good recipe because I tried your sweet potato pie recipe and it was delicious

By Anonymous on December 01, 2012

AMAZING! Made these for my daughters birthday party and they were a hit! We made them bigger than the recipe called for, but after trying them regretted it - they are so rich eating one is tough! I also made them different colors, and added food coloring to the filling. Super cute and popular! Will definitely do this again in the future!

By Anonymous on October 21, 2012

Paula I love your cooking to death. I watch you every day for the past I don't know how many years. paula how do I measure a guarter amount?

By barbara goree on October 04, 2012

Can you please come up with a creamy kool ade pie i lost mine....it had cream cheese sugar vanilla cool whip and kool ade.....please help me thanks.......

By susan on July 25, 2012

I opted to ignore all of the comments with suggestions on how to improve this recipe. Boy, was I sorry! Following this recipe as it is listed is a bad idea! The cakes were bland, but manageable. The worst part was the filling! It turned out greasy, not sweet, & all I could taste was the vegetable shortening! If I ever make these again, I'd maybe substitute the shortening for another stick of butter.

By Erin on July 16, 2012

I made these for a party this weekend. they have a wonderful true red velvet flavor and quality. For me this recipe made 29 palm sized pies. And I am so excited to make these again and again!

By Megan Raup on July 04, 2012

Didn't have alot of flavor.

By Mary on May 17, 2012

I am wondering about the ingredients.... I just watched this make by Paula and son on her cooking show and the amount of oil used in the show was only 1/2 cup, cocoa was 2 T, and vanilla was 1 tsp. Is this recipe posted with the correct amounts, or are the amounts from the show more accurate? Thanks!

By Betty Lewis on May 16, 2012

HI!MRS.PAULA,I AM A BIG FAN OF YOURS, AND I WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU,I AM CURRENTLY IN PASRTY ARTS SCHOOL,AND I ENJOY COOKING,AND BAKING.I ALSO LOVE TO MEET YOURS SONS;BOBBY,AND JAMIE,I JUST LOVE TO SEE YOU AND YOURS SONS IN THE KITCHEN IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR HAVE LOTS OF FUN TOGETHER AS A FAMILY SHOULD. WELL I HOPE I GET TO MEET YOU VERY SOON!!! LOVE YOUR #1 FAN IN COOKING, NICOLE CARTER, JACKSONVILLE,FL

By Anonymous on March 17, 2012

SO DELICIOUS! I made these for my husband for Valentine's Day and he LOVED them. I followed the recipe exactly - the only thing I did different was I used baking mats on my pans instead of greasing them. They are SO delicious and by far the best whoopie pie I have ever had. We brought them into work to share with our co-workers and they were gone in the blink of an eye! Thanks for sharing this great recipe Paula!

By Jaime D. on February 15, 2012

OMG I am so disappointed I am not even done with the filling cause I am so upset the cookies. They horrible flat and tasteless. So sad I didn't read all the comments bellow first now My families Valentine present dessert is crap :(

By Anonymous on February 14, 2012

ONLY USE 1/2 CUP OF CANOLA OIL!!!!

By Jessie K on February 13, 2012

Awful, awful, awful. I was a fool and didnt read the comments below until after I tasted this awfulness. After making a batch of these horrible pies, I dont even want to spend my time making the another recipe of these. Dont waste your time with this recipe. Im sure Paula's version from the show is great, but this is not!

By Laurie on December 31, 2011

these whoopie pies were so easy and delicious.

By barbara marolf on December 29, 2011

First I have never made red velvet anything nor a cake from scratch for that matter. Was overall impressed with the cake part, but the filling was quite disappointing. I didn't like how the filling looked, so I had my husband try one with the filling before I filled all of them. So instead of this filling, I made cream cheese icing and sprinkled some of the pies with crushed pecans. After the filling change, they were amazing. I placed them in saran wrap, tied a bow on the with Christmas ribbon and passed them out at work. My co-workers loved them! Now I am off to make another batch to carry to Christmas dinners. Love you and your work Paula! May God bless you and your family! Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year to all!

By Brittany S. on December 23, 2011

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Cousin Johnnie’s Red Velvet Whoopie Pie

Ingredients Add to grocery list

Directions

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