Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

I discovered this little recipe in a Rachel Ray magazine.  The irony of that is, my husband isn't a Rachel Ray fan, but he loves these and begs me to make them for him every fall.  I find it funny that one of his favorite recipes came from someone that he doesn't like.  The original recipe only makes about 12 whoopie pies, and honestly, its kind of a lot of work to only end up with 12 when you are all done, plus they are so good that you are going to wish you made more, so I double the recipe.  The recipe listed below is the doubled version, so feel free to cut it in half if you want.  Colin and I both take some of these into work when I make them, and our co workers love them.  The thing that sets these whoopie pies apart from other whoopie pies is the cream cheese filling.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
For the cake:
3 1/2 cups flour
2 sticks unsalted butter (melted)
2 cups light brown sugar
4 large eggs lightly beaten
2 cups canned pumpkin puree
2 TBS pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda

Filling:
8 oz cream cheese softened
2 cups confectioners sugar
4 pinches salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick unsalted butter softened

Preheat oven to 350.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In large mixing bowl, mix together the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth.  Whisk in eggs, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, 2 tsp vanilla, baking powder, baking soda and 1 1/2 tsp salt.  Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour.

Using a small ice cream scoop, put batter on baking sheet and bake at 350 for 12 minutes.  Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

For the filling- With an electric mixer, cream the softened butter with cream cheese.  Add confectioners sugar, 4 pinches of salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Mix on low speed until blended and then beat on medium high speed until fluffy.  About 2 minutes.

Spread the flat side of one cake with cream cheese frosting and top with another cake.  Keep them stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve or eat them.  Makes about 2 dozen.