Halloween Whoopie Pies are soft chocolate cakes filled with sweet orange icing. They’re easy to make and fun to decorate with candy eyes, licorice legs, or sprinkles. These treats are perfect for Halloween parties, school events, or a festive snack at home.
Why We Love This Halloween Whoopie Pies Recipe
This recipe has everything you could want from a Halloween dessert—it’s cute, quick, and completely customizable. You love that it starts with a simple boxed cake mix, so you’re not spending hours in the kitchen. Plus, the fudge pudding adds extra richness and moisture, giving you soft and chewy pies every time.
Another reason this recipe stands out is how fun it is to decorate. You can use candy eyes to make them silly, black licorice to give them creepy-crawly spider legs, or powdered sugar and stencils for a haunted house vibe. These pies make kids excited and adults nostalgic, all at once.
You also appreciate that you can prepare these in just 20 minutes. Whether you’re throwing together a last-minute Halloween snack or planning an elaborate dessert table, these pies fit right in. There’s no complicated technique here—just mix, bake, cool, and decorate.
Ingredients about Halloween Whoopie Pies
These ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store, and they combine to give you moist, rich, and festive little treats that will disappear quickly from the plate.
- 1 (15.25 oz) box Devil’s Food cake mix
- ¾ cup water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 (4-serving) box chocolate fudge instant pudding mix
- 2 (16 oz) tubs vanilla cake icing
- Orange food coloring gel
- Edible black glitter
- Powdered sugar (for optional stenciling)
- Black licorice (for spider legs)
- Candy eyes
How to Make Halloween Whoopie Pies Directions
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. While the oven is heating, grab a large mixing bowl and add the Devil’s Food cake mix, chocolate fudge pudding mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat everything together on medium speed until the batter is fully combined and smooth. This mix will be thicker than a traditional cake batter, but that’s exactly what you want.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. For larger Whoopie Pies, scoop out 18 evenly sized rounds and space them out. For smaller pies, make 36 scoops. Use a spoon or scoop to form even, circular shapes. Try to keep them roughly the same size so they match up well when sandwiched later.
Bake in the preheated oven for 7 to 10 minutes. If you’re making smaller ones, they’ll be ready closer to the 7-minute mark. Larger pies might need the full 10 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the tops are set and slightly spring back when lightly touched. Remove them from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
While the cakes are cooling, prepare your filling. Scoop the vanilla icing into a bowl and add a few drops of orange food coloring gel. Stir until the icing is evenly colored. You can add more drops if you want a deeper shade of orange. Once the pies are completely cool, you’re ready to assemble.
Flip half of the pie cakes over so the flat sides are facing up. Pipe or spread a generous amount of orange icing onto each flat side. Top with another cake, pressing gently to create a sandwich.
To decorate, sprinkle edible black glitter on the edges or tops of the pies. If you’re making spiders, lay out four small pieces of black licorice on each side before placing the top cake layer. Stick candy eyes on top using a tiny dab of icing as glue.
For extra flair, use small Halloween-themed stencils. Lay them on top of the pies, sift powdered sugar lightly over the stencil, then lift carefully to reveal your design. You can go with ghosts, bats, pumpkins—whatever matches your Halloween vibe.
How to Serve Halloween Whoopie Pies
When it’s time to serve these festive pies, place them on a themed Halloween tray or platter for the full effect. You can also add some extra candy or sprinkles around the tray for decoration. These pies hold their shape well, so they’re perfect for stacking or wrapping individually in small treat bags.
Serve them at room temperature to enjoy the soft texture of the cake and the creamy filling. They make great additions to a dessert table alongside cookies, cupcakes, and other Halloween sweets. You can even include them in party favor bags or classroom Halloween party boxes.
For spooky-themed parties, label them as “Spider Pies” or “Witch’s Sandwiches” to make things more fun for kids. No matter how you serve them, they’ll stand out thanks to their bright colors and creative touches.
Expert Tips: Halloween Whoopie Pies
To keep your Whoopie Pies uniform in size, use a cookie scoop. This helps each cake bake evenly and match up perfectly with its partner.
If you want an extra rich filling, mix the store-bought vanilla icing with a little cream cheese or marshmallow fluff. This can give the center a tangy twist that cuts through the sweetness.
When adding licorice legs, gently press them into the icing before sandwiching the pies. They’ll stick better this way and won’t fall out during serving.
Want a darker color theme? Use chocolate frosting or black food coloring instead of orange. You can even use crushed chocolate cookies around the edges for added texture.
For the stencils, press lightly so powdered sugar doesn’t go under the edges. You only need a small amount to create a clear shape, and using a fine mesh sifter gives the best result.
How to Store Halloween Whoopie Pies
After your pies are decorated, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you live in a warmer area or used cream cheese in your icing, keep them in the refrigerator instead.
To avoid smudging decorations, layer parchment or wax paper between the stacks of pies. This helps protect the tops and keeps everything looking neat.
If making ahead of time, you can store the undecorated cake pieces in the freezer. Just thaw before decorating and serving.
Variation of Halloween Whoopie Pies
You can switch things up in lots of ways with this base recipe. Try using a pumpkin spice cake mix instead of Devil’s Food for a more autumn-inspired flavor. It still works perfectly with the orange icing and gives a whole new twist.
Another fun option is to fill them with flavored icing—like chocolate, marshmallow, or even peppermint if you’re thinking ahead to winter parties.
Want a healthier version? Swap in low-sugar cake mix and use a light whipped topping instead of store-bought frosting. You can also reduce the food coloring or skip the glitter for a simpler version.
For a more interactive experience, set up a decorating station and let guests or kids create their own designs. Provide candy eyes, icing, sprinkles, and licorice so they can turn each pie into a personalized Halloween treat.
FAQ about Halloween Whoopie Pies
Can I make Halloween Whoopie Pies in advance?
Yes, you can make the cake pieces a day or two ahead and store them in an airtight container. Decorate them the day you plan to serve for the freshest look and taste.
What’s the best way to get vibrant orange icing?
Use a food coloring gel instead of liquid. Gel gives you bold color without thinning out the icing.
How do I keep the pies from sticking together in storage?
Layer parchment paper between each pie if you’re stacking them in a container. This keeps them from sticking or messing up the decorations.
Can I freeze Halloween Whoopie Pies?
You can freeze the unfilled cake rounds for up to 2 months. Thaw them before adding icing and decorating. Freezing after decorating may cause the colors to bleed when thawed.
What cake mix flavors work best?
Devil’s Food gives the richest flavor, but you can use red velvet, chocolate, or pumpkin spice depending on your theme. Just stick to moist-style mixes that hold their shape well.
Halloween Whoopie Pies
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1 15.25 oz box Devil’s Food cake mix
- ¾ cup water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 4-serving box chocolate fudge instant pudding mix
- 2 16 oz tubs vanilla cake icing
- Powdered sugar (for optional stenciling)
- Black licorice (for spider legs)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine Devil’s Food cake mix, chocolate fudge pudding mix, water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Beat until smooth.
- Scoop out 18 rounds for larger pies or 36 for smaller ones, spacing them on the baking sheets.
- Bake for 7 to 10 minutes until the tops are set. Cool on a wire rack.
- In a bowl, mix vanilla icing with orange food coloring until desired color is reached.
- Flip half of the cakes over and pipe or spread orange icing onto the flat side. Top with another cake.
- Decorate with edible black glitter, licorice legs, and candy eyes as desired.
- For stenciling, lay a stencil over the whoopie pies and sift powdered sugar on top.
Send me this recipe!
Just enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox!