Christmas Pudding Whoopie Pies

Step 2: Sift the flour, cocoa and Bicarbonate of Soda into another bowl. Gradually add spoonfuls of the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, stirring well after each addition, along with sufficient buttermilk to make a smooth, thick cake mixture – Note: you may not require the full 250ml (9fl.oz) buttermilk.

Step 3: Using a 5cm (2in) diameter ice cream scoop, drop 6 scoops of the mixture on to each baking tray, spaced well apart to allow for room for spreading. Bake in the oven for 12-14 minutes until risen and firm to the touch. Cool for 5 minutes on the trays before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 4: For the topping, lightly dust the work surface with icing sugar and roll out the green Regal-Ice Icing thinly. Using a small holly leaf cutter, stamp out 32 leaves and set aside to firm up. Break off tiny pieces of red Regal-Ice Icing and roll to make small holly berries. Set aside.

Step 5: To make your glace icing, mix sieved icing sugar with water in a bowl and beat until smooth. The icing consistency needs to be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. If it's too thin add a little more sieved icing sugar, if it's too thick add a few more drops of water.

Step 6: Spread the glace icing over the peaked side of half the cold pies, decorate each with a couple of holly leaves and berries and leave too set.

Step 7: For the filling, place the butter in a mixing bowl and beat until soft. Gradually sieve in the icing sugar and cocoa, beating well after each addition, to make a smooth, spreadable icing. Spread thickly over the flat sides of the remaining pie halves using a knife.

Step 8: To serve, when the iced pie tops have set, carefully sandwich them on to the filled pie halves.