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These Amish mocha whoopie pies have a delicious coffee flavor. The chocolate cake is soft and the mocha cream filling is fluffy!

These aren’t just ordinary a plain chocolate Whoopie Pie. (Like anything called a whoopie pies can be ordinary!) We decided to put a little twist on them. We made Mocha Whoopie Pies.

We had to take our love for coffee, lattes and iced coffees and put them into a dessert. These little whoopie pies have strongly brewed coffee in the cakes and in the buttercream.

What is the difference between a Maine and Pennsylvania whoopie pies?

This recipe was adapted from my Amish cookbook. But there seems to be a discrepancy where whoopie pies originated. Maine or Pennsylania? But does it really matter? Both are great, but here’s the difference:

Maine whoopie pies are typically much larger, often the size of a hamburger or bigger, and sold individually. Their filling is often light and marshmallow-like.
Pennsylvania whoopie pies tend to be smaller and more portable, fitting more easily in the hand or a lunchbox. The filling may be slightly denser and sweeter, often using shortening as a base in addition to marshmallow or butter.

I’ve had whoopie pies both in Maine and in Amish country, and wouldn’t deny either if someone offered them to me.

Why you’ll love this mocha whoopie pie recipe:

Soft chocolate cake sandwiches
short baking time
creamy chocolate mocha filling
individual desserts for picnics and lunches
make as big or as small as you’d like! Maine style or Pennsylvania style 🙂

You may see in the store that they do sell whoopie pie pans, but you do not need one for this recipe. If it makes you feel more safe and comfortable, feel free to use it.

Ingredients in Whoopie Pies

ingredients for mocha whoopie pies on a table

The ingredients are very similar to our chocolate cake recipe.
You’ll taste a slight hint of the coffee added, mostly in the buttercream frosting. Coffee enhances the flavor of chocolate, which is why they pair so well in mocha coffee!
The filling of our mocha whoopie pies is buttercream based. Butter, powdered sugar and cocoa powder, very similar to our chocolate buttercream recipe.

✨ See the recipe card for full ingredients and amounts. ✨

Before you begin:

If you want a lot of small whoopie pies, use a teaspoon to drop a heaping teaspoon of the batter onto the baking pan. The batter will spread just a bit as it cooks, and your whoopie pies will end of being about 2 ½ inches in diameter. You’ll have about 18 tasty little cakes.
If you want large, double-fisted whoopie pies, use a heaping tablespoon of batter. This will make cakes that are about 4 inches in diameter and you’ll get about 10 whoopie pies.
We used strongly brewed fresh espresso in our cakes and the buttercream. This gives just a subtle mocha flavor, so even those who are not crazy about coffee will like them. If you want a stronger mocha flavor, you can use instant espresso powder, which I believe can be found in the coffee aisle at the grocery store.

How to Make Mocha Whoopie Pies

Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or large bowl with hand mixer), cream together the sugar, salt, butter, vanilla and egg. Mix well and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and cocoa. Add the flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture alternately with the coffee and buttermilk.

cocoa powder over creamed butter in a bowl

Drop the batter by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 7-8 minutes. Set the cakes aside to cool.

scooping chocolate batter onto a baking pan

In a stand mixer bowl, whip the room temperature butter on medium speed until it is almost white in appearance.
Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Mix on low speed. The mixture will be thick at this point.

Add in the cooled coffee and whip the buttercream on medium speed for 3-4 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
Choose two whoopie pies that are about the same size. Spread the buttercream between the two cakes.

half of a whoopie pie with mocha buttercream on top

Can you make whoopie pies in advance?

The mocha whoopie pies can be made a day in advance. The flavors blend, the buttercream softens the cakes, making them extra delicious the second day. I can’t speak to saving them beyond that point, since they were gone quickly. If you do happen to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container. They should be fine at room temperature for 2-3 days.

They should also freeze really well! Wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a zippered bag or other other container.

two mocha whoopie pies, one with a bite out

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