Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Posted by Lori:

Today I need desserts for three different things, so I spent the day in the kitchen baking.  It was so much fun trying new recipes!  The only not fun part (as usual) was the mess that remained afterwards. (And, part of which is still there right now - better get busy!)

The Red Velvet Whoopie Pies are so good and so pretty!  I made the filling pink, just to make them more "Valentine-y".  Just add a few drops of red (or Wilton icing color) to the filling mixture).


For the Whoopie Pies:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons red food coloring

For the Filling: 
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
4 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high 30 seconds. Beat in brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla.

Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating after each addition just until combined. Stir in food coloring. Drop heaping tablespoons (I used a 1-inch cookie scoop) of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 1-inch apart.

Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until tops are set. Cool completely on baking sheets on rack. Remove cooled cookies from baking sheets.

To make the cream filling:
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (I just used regular beaters), combine the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Add vanilla extract and beat until combined. Transfer
to a piping bag and pipe (I just used a small spatula) onto back of 1/2 the cookies. Top with remaining 1/2 of cookies.  Store in refrigerator until ready to eat.