Nom nom nom.

I know it seems a bit early to be thinking about Christmas treats (although realistically, I’ve already got some major wish lists created on Amazon to track gift ideas for every member of the family, and I bet some of you are even farther along in planning than I am), but this week is the beginning of a neat blog hop I’ve been invited to participate in.  Brenda Thompson over at Meal Planning Magic is hosting this Twelve Weeks of Christmas Treats event, so if you like what you see here, make sure to pop over to her blog and show her some love.

To celebrate the first week of the blog hop, I had to come up with something that seemed appropriately festive…something that would sum up my excitement about Christmas baking…something so fun, it even had a fun name.  Obviously, there wasn’t much of a contest — what has a more fun name than Whoopie Pies?  Here, I’m gussying them up with a double-chocolate gingerbread cake and a cinnamon-cream cheese filling to make them seasonally appropriate.  And I have to say it: These were love at first bite, not only for me and J., but for the boys and for some lucky co-workers who got in on the testing as well.

Small disclaimer necessary: For those who are new to this blog, or have been around for a while but may still be surprised by a whole-hog sugarfest recipe, let me explain.  Yes, I believe in eating well and in feeding our families whole, unprocessed foods.  But I also believe that treats are treats, and especially at Christmastime, it’s okay to just bake the darned cookies.  Bake them without trying to make them “healthier.”  Bake them the way your grandma did (which was NOT, I assure you, with spelt flour and succanat, as lovely as those two ingredients may be).  Bake them and enjoy them in their time and place, and then look forward to next year.

And by the way…if you bake these Double-Chocolate Gingerbread Whoopie Pies?  You will DEFINITELY be looking forward to next year.