Black Velvet Whoopie Pies

These Halloween colored whoopie pies are a combination of recipes. The basic recipe and idea was from Amanda at I Am Baker. The additions I made to Amanda's recipe came from Hedy Goldsmith, a multiple James Beard Award nominee in the Outstanding Pastry Chef category. She has a fabulous and fun cookbook called Baking Out Loud. In this cookbook, Hedy makes Mochaccino Whoopie Pies, so I snitched an idea from her recipe and added espresso powder and cinnamon to Amanda's fun recipe for Halloween. 
Now I'm going to have to go back and make Hedy's recipe!

Halloween Black Velvet Whoopie Pies
From I Am Baker and Baking Out Loud

Ingredients:
1 package (15 1/4 to 18 1/4 ounces) German chocolate cake mix with pudding 
1/2 cup water 
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
1/4 cup vegetable oil 
3 tablespoons black food color 
3 eggs 
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 tablespoon espresso powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the Filling: 
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar 
1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow cream 
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
1/2 teaspoon red food color 
1/2 teaspoon yellow food color

Method:
For the cookies:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat cake mix, water, cocoa powder, oil, food color, eggs, vanilla. espresso powder and cinnamon in your electric mixer on low speed just until moistened, scraping sides of bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. 
Spoon 1 tablespoon of batter, 2 inches apart, onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. (Cookies will spread so don't crowd.) 
Bake 8 minutes or until cookies are puffed and spring back when touched, turning baking sheets halfway through baking. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. 

For the orange filling:
Beat all ingredients with your electric mixer until light and fluffy.
To assemble:
Place 1 tablespoon filling on flat side of 1 cookie. Top with a second cookie, pressing gently to spread the filling. Repeat with remaining cookies and filling.

Pumpkin Shortbread

Here's a shortbread for autumn you're going to love with your cup of tea or coffee; these are great little dunkers. (Milk would work too.) Not too sweet, but with lovely pumpkin flavor and and nicely crisp. Your family might like them sweeter, so before you cut, glaze the whole thing with confectioners sugar mixed with milk (or eggnog!), or serve them with ice cream. I like them simple and elegant with just a sprinkling of confectioners sugar.
Spicy fragrance from your oven and an uncomplicated recipe for a perfect fall treat: a pumpkin spiced shortbread cookie. Win-win.

Pumpkin Shortbread
From Libby's

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/3 to 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (use 1/2 cup for a softer shortbread)
2 teaspoons sparkling or granulated sugar

Method:
Preheat oven to 300° F. Spray bottom of 9-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom with nonstick cooking spray. (I used a square tart pan)

Combine flour, cornstarch, pumpkin pie spice and salt in small bowl.
Beat butter and powdered sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in pumpkin until combined. Add flour mixture and mix until just incorporated. Spread dough into prepared pan; smooth top.

Bake for 80 minutes or until firm and golden brown. Cool for about 10 minutes; remove side from pan. When cool, sprinkle with confectioners sugar. Use a serrated knife to cut into wedges. (Or squares)

Gingerbread Bars

This time of year, we all love anything with spices. And the fragrance that permeates the house when something with spices is baking. These bars are lovely and dense, with a nice mixture of the spices we all know and love, but with the added surprise of some fresh ginger and fresh orange zest for an even more delectable bar. You're going to love these. And the cream cheese frosting adds the perfect final touch. Gayle's recipes never miss.

Gingerbread Bars
From :pastry studio

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cloves           
1/8 teaspoon black pepper                                   
4 oz butter (8 tablespoons) at room temperature
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup  granulated sugar                                             
1 egg, room temperature
1/4 cup molasses
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
zest of 1/2 orange

For the frosting:
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 oz (3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Method:
Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9” x 9” square baking pan.  Line the bottom with parchment, leaving an overhang on 2 sides.
Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt and spices.  In another bowl, cream the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat until blended.  Mix in the molasses, grated ginger and orange zest. Add the flour gradually beating just until blended. You'll find the batter is quite thick, so use an offset spatula to spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
Bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 22 - 24 minutes,

Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.  Lift the pastry out of the pan, peel the parchment and cool.

Beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add the vanilla and blend. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar and beat until smooth.  Frost the cooled bars. 

Store these bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  Bring to room temperature to serve.