Recipe: Black Velvet Whoopie Pies with Orange, Green or Purple Filling (using cake mix)

BLACK VELVET WHOOPIE PIES

"Dive into the spirit of the season with a tempting new take on red velvet cake. These mini cake sandwiches pop with Jack-O-Lantern Orange, Frankenstein Green and Phantom Purple fillings that can be customized to your taste with flavors like Orange, Lemon and Raspberry."



FOR THE COOKIES:
1 (2-layer size) package German chocolate cake mix with pudding
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 tablespoons McCormick Black Food Color
3 eggs
1 tablespoon McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract

JACK-O-LANTERN ORANGE FILLING:*
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 (7 ounces) jar marshmallow cream
1/2 teaspoon McCormick Pure Orange Extract
1/2 teaspoon McCormick Red Food Color
1/2 teaspoon McCormick Yellow Food Color

TO MAKE THE COOKIES:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Beat cake mix, water, cocoa powder, oil, food color, eggs and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed just until moistened, scraping sides of bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes.

Spoon 1 tablespoon of batter, 2-inches apart, onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. (Cookies will spread so avoid crowding them on baking sheet.)

Bake 8 minutes or until cookies are puffed and spring back when touched, turning baking sheets halfway through baking. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

TO MAKE THE ORANGE FILLING:
Beat all ingredients for the filling in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

TO ASSEMBLE THE WHOOPIE PIES:
Place 1 tablespoon filling on flat side of 1 cookie. Top with a second cookie, pressing gently to spread the filling. Repeat with remaining cookies and filling.

*VARIATIONS:

FRANKENSTEIN GREEN FILLING:
Use McCormick Pure Lemon Extract in place of the orange extract and 1/4 teaspoon Neon Green McCormick Assorted NEON! Food Colors & Egg Dye in place of the yellow and red food color.

PHANTOM PURPLE FILLING:
Use 1 teaspoon McCormick Raspberry Extract in place of the orange extract and 1/2 teaspoon Neon Purple and 15 drops Neon Blue McCormick Assorted NEON! Food Colors & Egg Dye in place of the yellow and red food color.

Makes 2 dozen or 24 (1 whoopie pie) servings.
Source: McCormick