Creamsicle Whoopie Pies

Vanilla Bean Whoopie Pies 

 2/3 cup vegetable oil

 ½ cup full fat sour cream

 1 ½ cups granulated sugar

 ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar

 2 large eggs

 2 vanilla beans, cut and seeds scraped out

 1 tsp vanilla extract

 zest of ½ a medium orange

 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour

 1 ¼ tsp baking powder

 1 ¼ tsp baking soda

 ½ tsp salt

Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl, set aside.

 Using a stand mixer (or a bowl and beaters) using the paddle attachment, beat together the oil and sour cream for 1 minute until combined.

 Add the sugars and beat for another 2 minutes.

 Add eggs, one at a time, making sure to scrap down the bowl after each addition.

 Add the vanilla bean seeds, extract, and zest and beat for another 30 seconds until completely combined.

 With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture. Mix until just combined, you don’t want to see any flour but you don’t want to over mix it.

 Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

 Using a piping bag, fill the bag with batter. Pipe the batter to about the size of a quarter (I made mini ones) onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.

 Bake at 350F for 6-7 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on sheet for 5 minutes. Remove and move to wire rack to cool completely.

 When cooled, match up two cookies of the same size. Take one cookie, and with the flat side up, pipe or spoon on the orange vanilla filling. Top with another cookie.

 Repeat until you run out of cookies.

Creamsicle Filling 

 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar

 1 ¼ tsp orange extract

 ¾ tsp vanilla extract

 2 TBSP unsalted butter, at room temperature

 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

 1 TBSP powdered sugar

In the bowl of a stand mixer (or use bowl and beaters) using the paddle attachment, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, extracts and butter. Beat on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl, using a spatula to get all of the cream cheese mixture. Set aside.

 Clean bowl and place back at mixer. Add whipping cream. Using the whisk attachment, whisk the cream on high. When soft peaks form add the 1 TBSP of powdered sugar. Keep whisking on high until the cream has formed stiff peaks.

 Add cream cheese mixture to the bowl with whipped cream. Using the whisk attachment, whisk together until completely combined and light and fluffy. Add food coloring if desired.

http://www.culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com/2009/02/10/ordinary-people/