Banana Whoopie Pies

Total Time: 34 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 14 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 4 ounces unsalted butter, softened
• 3 3/4 ounces brown sugar
• 1 3/4 ounces granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• mashed banana
• 2 large eggs
• 8 1/2 ounces king arthur whole wheat flour ( wheat or traditional)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 9 ounces chocolate chips
• 3 ounces chopped walnuts
• 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 12 ounces confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 -2 tablespoon milk, as needed
• 3 ounces chopped walnuts (optional)

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 350°f lightly grease two baking sheets, or line with parchment paper.
• 2 1. for the cookies: in a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugars, and salt until light and fluffy. add the vanilla, and then the bananas.
• 3 2. the mixture will look curdled; that's ok. beat in the eggs, one at a time.
• 4 3. whisk together the flour and baking soda; add to the banana mixture, mixing until evenly combined. scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, then mix for 1 minute more.
• 5 4. stir in the chips and walnuts.
• 6 5. scoop the dough by the quarter cup for large cookies, and by the tablespoon for small cookies. allow plenty of space between them.
• 7 6. bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until the tops spring back when lightly touched with your finger, and the edges are a very light golden brown. remove from the oven and cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring the cookies to a rack to finish cooling completely before filling.
• 8 7. for the filling: beat together the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla until smooth. add just enough milk to make the mixture a spreadable consistency. stir in the walnuts.
• 9 8. to assemble: spread the bottom of one of the cookies with 2 tablespoons of the filling. place another cookie on top of the filling, bottom side down.