Caramel Apple Whoopie Pies

This is the best way to enjoy the yummy flavors of a caramel apple, minus the mess. Although, it can't really replace the nostalgia I have from eating one. And oh, just the small addition of cheesecake. Yum, I think there are very few foods that will get me more excited than cheesecake. Actually, that may be a small fib. Heath bar may be on up there. Which is why my favorite blizzard is heath cheesecake. and now I am craving one. and it is 1am. How rude that Dairy Queen is A) not open this late and B) they don't offer delivery. 

But for the time being, this will have to satiate me and it delivers. I promise you this.  and my promises carry weight. Believe it.

When I stumbled upon the caramel apple cake mix in Target, I knew right away that I would be making a whoopie pie with it. I just needed to think about what filling would compliment the sweetness of the caramel and the tartness of the apple. Cheesecake was an easy choice. and if you haven't spied the caramel apple cake mix, never fear...in the notes section I have an alternate version.

Ingredients

1 box caramel apple cake mix

2 eggs

1/3 cup oil

1/4 cup water

1 tbsp caramel ice cream topping

filling

1 packet cheesecake cream pudding

4-6 oz cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tbsp heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping

Preheat oven to 350'

Mix together dry cake mix, oil, eggs, caramel and water. Place in fridge for about an hour.

I normally use a round TBSP to place on cookie sheet, but you can also use a round TSP to make them bite size and get more out of it. Bake 8-9 minutes

For the filling

Cream softened cream cheese on low for 1 minute to get fluffy, add the pudding packet and 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream, beat until fully incorporated and slowly add the  whipping cream and beat until peaks begin to form. or for alternate version, prepare the pudding w/1 cup cold milk and mix w/cool whip. Place in fridge for hour to let either version set up. 

 Melt the ice cream topping in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Place a large dollop of the filling on one cookie, spoon a little of the caramel over the cheesecake filling and press another on top to spread the filling out.

***Notes. If for some reason you cannot locate the caramel apple cake mix. Get a white cake mix and use 1/4 cup apple cider in place of the water and 2 tbsp caramel topping. Otherwise, follow directions. You could also possibly add in a half a cup of shredded apples.