Apple Whoopie Pies with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. apple pie spice (or an equal combination of nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice & cloves)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup milk
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 large granny smith apple, peeled and grated (approx. 1 cup)
Frosting, recipe listed below
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cover baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add butter and beat on medium speed until creamy (about 30 seconds).  Add in brown sugar, baking soda, apple pie spice & salt.  Beat on medium speed until well incorporated. Add egg and beat until combined.  Add in applesauce & milk and mix on low speed until fully incorporated.   Add in flour a little at a time and mix until combined.  Add apple and fold into mixture with spatula.

Using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop dough onto prepared baking sheets approximately 2 inches apart.  Bake for 10-12 minutes until tops are lightly browned.  Let stand a couple minutes on cookie sheets to set and then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick), softened
4 oz. 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 lb. confectioner’s sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
Directions:
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together butter & cream cheese until creamy.  Add in confectioner’s sugar, vanilla & cinnamon.  Beat until light & fluffy and a spreadable consistency (may take several minutes).*
*Note: this is a half batch of frosting. I made a whole batch and had half left over so I recommend starting with a half batch and making more if necessary.
To assemble: 
Take one cookie and spread frosting on the bottom side of the cookie, covering the cookie liberally.  Top with another cookie and store in an airtight container.