Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

 Gabe loved them!

As many of you already know, one of my favorite aspects of any holiday is the food (namely, desserts).  For Valentine's Day I felt the need to bake something and these Red Velvet Whoopie Pies seemed perfectly appropriate.  This was actually my first attempt with Whoopie Pies and they were remarkable.  I'm pretty sure they'll blow your mind.

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies (adapted from Better Homes and Gardens)

Ingredients

• 2  cups  all-purpose flour
• 2  Tbsp.  unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2  tsp.  baking soda
• 1/4  tsp.  salt
• 1/2  cup  butter, softened
• 1  cup  packed brown sugar
• 1    egg
• 1  tsp.  vanilla
• 1/2  cup  buttermilk
• 1  1-oz. bottle  red food coloring (2 Tbsp.)
• 1  recipe  cream cheese frosting (recipe here)

directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment; set aside. In medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2. 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.

3. Spoon batter in 1- or 2-inch diameter rounds, about 1/2-inch high on prepared baking sheets, allowing 1 inch between each round.

4. Bake 7 to 9 minutes for 1-inch cookies or 9 to 11 minutes for 2-inch cookies, or until tops are set. Cool completely on baking sheets on rack. Remove cooled cookies from baking sheets.

5. To fill, dollop Whoopie Pie Filling on flat sides of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies, flat sides down. Makes 60 one-inch or 42 two-inch cookies.