Apple Cider Whoopie Pies

Name: Apple Cider Whoopie Pies
Prep time: 80 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 91 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Sugar; 2 tbsp Cinnamon; 2 cups Apple Cider ((reduced to 1/2 cup, see instructions)); 3 cups + 2 tbsp All Purpose Flour; 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder; 1/2 tsp Baking Soda; 2 tsp Cinnamon; 1/2 tsp Nutmeg; 1/8 tsp Ground Cloves; 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt; 1/2 cup Salted Butter ((room temperature)); 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil; 1 cup Brown Sugar; 2 large Eggs ((room temperature)); 2 tsp Vanilla Extract; 1/2 cup Sour Cream; 8 oz Cream Cheese ((room temperature)); 1/2 cup Salted Butter ((room temperature)); 4 cups Powdered Sugar; 2 tsp Vanilla Extract; 1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon; 1/4 tsp Nutmeg; 2 tbsp Heavy Cream

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These Apple Cider Whoopie Pies are soft, spiced little cake-like cookies that taste like fall in every bite. They’re made with reduced apple cider, then coated in butter and dipped in cinnamon sugar and filled with a dreamy cinnamon cream cheese frosting. These little cookie sandwiches are the perfect Fall dessert!

If you love this whoopie pie recipe, make my snickerdoodle whoopie pies next!

apple cider whoopie pies stacked on top of each other on a serving tray.

You’re going to love these Apple Cider Whoopie Pies! They’re soft, packed with warm Fall spices, and filled with the most luscious cinnamon cream cheese filling. So basically Fall wrapped up in a cookie sandwich.

The secret is reducing real apple cider down until it’s thick and syrupy, which gives every bite that cozy, rich apple flavor.

Then the whoopie pies get brushed with melted butter and dunked in cinnamon sugar for that apple cider doughnut-like finish that’s just chef’s kiss.

The texture is unreal, the flavor is next level, and honestly – I’ve been making these on repeat! If you’re looking for a delicious treat that you actually tastes like the flavor of apple cider, you’re gonna love this recipe!

Why You’ll Love These Apple Whoopie Pies
Key Ingredients
Pro Baking Tips
Recipe FAQs
More Apple Recipes

Why You’ll Love These Apple Whoopie Pies

Big apple cider flavor. Every bite tastes like fall thanks to the apple cider reduction. It’s sweet, tangy, and caramelized all at once.
Soft, cakey texture. These whoopie pies are fluffy and tender with that classic light crumb that practically melts in your mouth!
That cinnamon sugar coating! Brushing them with butter and rolling in cinnamon sugar gives them the perfect little crunch that’s so good you’ll want to lick your fingers.
Perfect for fall gatherings. Whether it’s a bake sale, Thanksgiving dessert table, or even Christmas cookie swap, these are the kind of treats that disappear fast.

Key Ingredients

apple cider whoopie pies laid together in a tray.

(full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card)

Ground Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves are essentially apple pie spice enhance the apple cider flavors.
Apple Cider is the star of the show! Reducing the cider concentrates its natural sugars and give the whoopie pies that deep apple flavor. It also adds moisture to the batter, keeping the cookies soft and tender.
All-Purpose Flour is the backbone of the recipe. It provides structure and stability so the whoopie pies hold their shape while still staying light and cake-like.
Sour Cream adds moisture and a subtle tang that balances the sweetness of the brown sugar and frosting. It also helps create a soft, tender crumb.
Cream Cheese is used in the frosting and brings richness and tanginess that mellows out the sweetness. It also helps the frosting stay thick, smooth, and stable – no sliding or melting when you sandwich the whoopies together.
Homemade Apple Pie Spice (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Cloves) brings all the warm, cozy fall flavor. Cinnamon gives sweetness and warmth, nutmeg adds that nostalgic “baked good” aroma, and cloves bring a subtle spice that deepens everything.
Salted Butter adds flavor and richness while helping to trap air when creamed with sugar. That’s what gives the whoopie pies their light, fluffy texture.
Brown Sugar is key for that caramel-like depth. It adds moisture (thanks to the molasses content), enhances the apple cider flavor, and keeps the whoopie pies soft long after baking. It also gives the cookies that golden, slightly chewy edge that makes them so addictive.

How To Make Apple Cider Whoopie Pies

Prep

Add apple cider to a small saucepan over medium-high heat and boil for 30-45 minutes, until reduced to 1/2 cup ~ 120g. Pour into a bowl and set aside to cool.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Make the cinnamon sugar. Mix together cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl and set aside.

Make The Apple Cider Whoopie Pie Batter

dry ingredients whisked together in a bowl.

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and kosher salt.

wet ingredients mixed together in a bowl.

Step 2: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter, oil, and brown sugar. Cream for 3 minutes, then add eggs, one at a time, ensuring that the first egg is incorporated prior to adding the next. (scrape down the sides of the bowl if needed) Then add vanilla extract and sour cream and continue to mix.

apple cider whoopie pie batter in a bowl.

Step 3: Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix together until just combined, about 10-15 seconds. Then add apple cider reduction and mix together. Then add the remainder of the flour and mix until everything is fully incorporated.

whoopie pie dough scooped onto a baking sheet.

Step 4: Use a small cookie scoop (about 2 tbsp) to scoop out the batter and place onto the prepared baking sheets. Leave about 2 inches between each cookie. Bake for 9-11 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.

Assemble The Cookies

cinnamon cream cheese frosting whipped together in a bowl.

Step 5: Make the buttercream – add cream cheese and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed for 1-2 minutes, until smooth, then begin adding powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Once all of the powdered sugar is added, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and heavy cream. Mix until combined and smooth, about 30 seconds.

melted butter being brushed on top of the whoopie pies.

Step 6: Use a pastry brush to brush the tops of the whoopie pies with melted butter.

whoopie pies in a bowl of cinnamon sugar.

Step 7: Dunk the cookies into the cinnamon sugar.

apple cider whoopie pies in a serving tray with one cookie with a bite taken out of it.

Step 8: Once the whoopie pies have completely cooled, add frosting to a piping bag and pipe buttercream onto the one whoopie pie and then top with another whoopie to make a cookie sandwich. Repeat for remaining pies.

Pro Baking Tips

Bake one sheet at a time: These bake fast, and overcrowding the oven can cause uneven rise or browning.

Cool apple cider reduction completely before adding: If the reduced cider is still warm when mixed in, it can melt the butter in the batter and make the texture greasy or dense.

Room temperature ingredients are key: Cold eggs or sour cream can cause curdling or uneven mixing.

Don’t overmix after adding flour: Stop as soon as the last streak of flour disappears to avoid tough or dry cookies.

Use a cookie scoop: Keeps each whoopie the same size so they bake evenly and pair up neatly.

apple cider whoopie pies stacked on top of each other on a table.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use apple juice instead of apple cider?

Nope. Apple cider is unfiltered and has a deeper, tangier flavor that gives these whoopie pies that cozy fall taste. Apple juice is too light and sweet, so the flavor won’t come through the same way.

Do I really need to reduce the apple cider?

Yes! Reducing the cider intensifies the flavor and gives the batter a concentrated apple caramel richness. If you skip it, the flavor will be much more subtle and your batter may turn out too thin.

Can I use store-bought frosting instead?

You can, but the homemade cinnamon cream cheese frosting is what makes these special! The warmth of the spices and the tang of the cream cheese pair perfectly with the apple cider flavor.

Can I make the whoopie pies ahead of time?

Adding too much butter or liquid or not enough flour can cause the cookies to spread. Use a kitchen scale to measure out all of your ingredients for best results!