Cream Pie Whoopie Pies

1. For cookies: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl beat shortening on medium 30 seconds. Add 1 cup granulated sugar, the baking soda, and salt; beat until combined. Beat in egg, buttermilk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in flour until combined.

2. Using a large (3 Tbsp.) cookie scoop, drop 20 mounds of dough 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 10 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms start to brown. Remove; let cool on wire racks.

3. For filling: In a medium bowl beat butter on medium 30 seconds. Beat in marshmallow creme and remaining 2 tsp. vanilla until fluffy. Beat in powdered sugar.

4. Spread filling on bottoms (flat side) of half of the cookies. Top with remaining cookies, flat side on filling. Wrap individually and chill up to 3 days. Makes 10 whoopie pies.

Coconut Cream Whoopie Pies:

Prepare filling as above, except add 1/4 teaspoon coconut extract to the filling. Prepare cookies as above. Roll edges of filled cookies in toasted coconut.
Nutrition Facts per serving: Same as above except 543 calories, 81 g carbohydrate, 22 g total fat (10 g sat. fat), 22 g cholesterol, 315 mg sodium, 4% calcium, 10% iron

Banana Cream Whoopie Pies:

Mash 1 banana (1/2 cup) with 1 Tbsp. lemon juice. Prepare cookies as directed, except reduce buttermilk to 1 cup; beat half the banana mixture into cookie batter with buttermilk. Prepare filling as directed, except beat remaining banana mixture into filling with marshmallow creme and increase powdered sugar to 2 1/2 cups.
Nutrition Facts per serving: same as above except 580 calories, 94 g carbohydrate, 62 g total sugar, 2% Vitamin C, 308 mg sodium, 4% calcium

Double-Chocolate Cream Whoopie PIes:

Prepare cookies as directed, except reduce flour to 2 1/4 cups and combine with 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder. Prepare filling as directed, except add 1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder with powdered sugar.
Nutrition Facts per serving: same as above except 520 calories, 6 g protein, 2 g fiber, 11% iron

Strawberry Cream Whoopie Pies:

Prepare cookies as directed, except add 1/8 tsp. liquid red food coloring to batter with buttermilk. Prepare filling as directed, except fold in 6 Tbsp. finely crushed freeze-dried strawberries.
Nutrition Facts per serving: same as above except 550 calorie, 84 g carbohydrate, 53 g total sugar, 317 mg sodium, 4% calcium, 10% iron

Lemon Cream Whoopie Pies:

Prepare cookies and filling as directed, except stir 2 tsp. lemon zest into filling.
Nutrition Facts per serving: same as above except 80 g carbohydrate