Name: Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2½ cups all-purpose flour; ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup salted butter, softened (for batter); ⅔ cup granulated sugar; ⅔ cup light brown sugar, packed; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 1¼ cups buttermilk, room temperature; 1 teaspoon white vinegar; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 Tablespoons red gel food coloring (or more for deeper red); 8 ounces cream cheese, softened; ½ cup salted butter, softened (for filling); 2½ cups powdered sugar

Print Recipe· 4.1 from 9 reviews

If you want to bring a festive, charming twist to your dessert table, this Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Recipe is a perfect choice! These delightful red velvet cakes, sandwiched with a creamy and tangy cream cheese filling, not only taste heavenly but also make for an irresistibly cute presentation. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just craving something sweet and lovable, these heart-shaped treats will surely warm hearts and satisfy sweet tooths alike.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The image shows a white metal cooling rack with 22 bright red heart-shaped cookies spread out in five rows on a white marbled surface. The cookies have a smooth, slightly rounded texture and a soft matte finish. To the top left of the rack is a white bowl with pale cream-colored frosting and a red spatula resting inside it. To the top right, there is a white bowl with some frosting remnants and a metal spoon. On the bottom right corner, a pair of metal beaters covered with a small amount of cream is placed on the white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

The magic of this Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Recipe lies in its simple, classic ingredients that come together to create a rich velvet cake with the perfect softness and vibrant color, plus a luscious cream cheese filling that balances sweetness with a hint of tang.

All-purpose flour: The base that gives structure to the cakes, ensuring they stay tender yet sturdy enough to hold the filling.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: Adds a subtle chocolate depth that complements the red velvet flavor perfectly.
Baking soda: Helps the cakes rise beautifully for that soft, pillowy texture.
Salt: Enhances all the other flavors, balancing the sweetness.
Salted butter (softened): Provides richness and moisture for tender, flavorful cakes and a creamy filling.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the batter while contributing to the cake’s light crumb.
Light brown sugar (packed): Adds subtle caramel notes and moisture to keep the cakes soft.
Large eggs (room temperature): Bind everything together and add richness.
Buttermilk (room temperature): Gives the batter its classic tangy flavor and contributes to the tender crumb.
White vinegar: Reacts with baking soda to make the cakes super light and tender, plus it helps keep the red color vibrant.
Vanilla extract: Brings warmth and complexity to the flavor.
Red gel food coloring: Creates that signature bold red hue that stands out beautifully in this heart-shaped dessert.
Cream cheese (softened): The star of the filling—smooth, creamy, and tangy to balance the sweet cakes.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the filling to a perfect pipeable consistency.

How to Make Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Workspace and Ingredients

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper. Trace heart shapes all over the paper using a small heart cookie cutter to help keep your whoopie pies consistent in size and shape. Flip the parchment paper so your batter won’t touch pencil marks. This little trick ensures your red velvet hearts come out uniform and stunning.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. These dry ingredients create the perfect base for your red velvet cakes, contributing to flavor, texture, and rise.

Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large bowl, beat the softened salted butter with both granulated and light brown sugars on medium-high speed until fluffy and pale. This step is key to the light texture of your cakes and builds the sweetness foundation for the whoopie pies.

Step 4: Add the Wet Ingredients

Beat in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated, then add the buttermilk and red gel food coloring. The buttermilk keeps the cakes wonderfully moist while the food coloring brings the classic red velvet allure to life.

Step 5: Combine and Finish the Batter

Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined to keep your batter tender and not overworked. Stir in the white vinegar and vanilla extract — these enhance flavor and help the cakes stay soft. The batter will be thick but pipeable, perfect for shaping your hearts.

Step 6: Pipe and Bake the Hearts

Transfer your batter into a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe the batter over your stenciled hearts on the parchment, piping an outline first before filling in to neatly shape each heart. Leave spacing between them because the cakes will spread a bit as they bake. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the tops are no longer shiny and spring back slightly when touched.

Step 7: Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling

While the cakes cool, beat together the softened cream cheese and salted butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating after each addition until silky smooth. Transfer this luscious filling to a piping bag and get ready to assemble!

Step 8: Assemble Your Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Carefully match pairs of similarly sized and shaped cake hearts. Pipe about 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese filling onto one side of a heart and gently sandwich it with its partner. Repeat this for all the cakes until you have a dozen adorable, delicious red velvet whoopie pies ready to enjoy.

How to Serve Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Recipe

The image shows several heart-shaped, red cookies with a thick layer of white cream sandwiched in the middle. Each heart has two layers: the red cookie on top and bottom with a smooth, creamy white layer in between. The cookies are placed on a white plate with a red decorative pattern and the plate rests on a white marbled surface with a black and white checkered cloth nearby. In the background, there is a small white bowl filled with red sauce. Some small heart-shaped sprinkles are scattered around the cookies on the white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

For a little extra flair, dust the tops of your whoopie pies with powdered sugar or sprinkle some red sanding sugar for sparkle. Fresh raspberries or edible rose petals placed on the side add an elegant touch and a burst of freshness that complements the rich flavors beautifully.

Side Dishes

These whoopie pies pair wonderfully with a warm cup of coffee, a glass of cold milk, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a truly indulgent treat. For a festive brunch, a side of fresh fruit salad can balance the richness and add a refreshing contrast.

Creative Ways to Present

Stack these heart-shaped red velvet treats on a tiered dessert stand for an eye-catching centerpiece at your party. You can also wrap individual pies in clear cellophane bags tied with red ribbon for sweet party favors, or arrange them in a gift box for a homemade gift that’s sure to wow anyone lucky enough to receive it.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your assembled whoopie pies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Keeping them chilled helps preserve the cream cheese filling’s texture and freshness while maintaining the soft cake layers.

Freezing

Whoopie pies freeze beautifully! Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 2 months. Just thaw them overnight in the fridge before serving.

Reheating

If you want to enjoy slightly warmed whoopie pies, remove them from the fridge and let them come to room temperature, or gently microwave for about 10-15 seconds. Be careful not to overheat, as the filling might soften too much.

FAQs

Can I make these whoopie pies without red food coloring?

You can, but the signature red velvet look comes from the food coloring, which enhances the cocoa flavor too. Without it, the cakes will look more like traditional chocolate whoopie pies, which are delicious but lack that iconic red color.

What if I don’t have buttermilk?

No worries! You can make a buttermilk substitute by mixing 1¼ cups of regular milk with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using. This replicates the acidity and tenderness that buttermilk brings.

Can I use regular butter instead of salted butter?

Yes, just add a pinch of salt to your batter and filling if you use unsalted butter. Salt is essential to balance the sweetness and deepen the flavors in this recipe.

How do I ensure my whoopie pies come out the same size and shape?

Tracing heart shapes onto parchment paper and piping within those outlines is a fantastic way to keep your pies uniform. Flipping the paper so the pencil marks don’t touch the batter helps keep the cake surfaces smooth too.

Can I make the red velvet cakes ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can bake the cake layers a day ahead and keep them in an airtight container at room temperature or refrigerated if your kitchen is warm. Assemble the pies the next day for fresh filling and perfect texture.

Final Thoughts

I can’t recommend this Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Recipe enough if you want a charming, delicious dessert that’s both fun to make and a total crowd-pleaser. These little hearts bring sweetness and joy to any occasion, and once you try them, they’ll become a beloved classic in your baking repertoire too. So grab your piping bag and get ready to spread some love one bite at a time!