Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

For Christmas Sis got me a subscription to Food Network magazine. The first issue arrived today and this recipe immediately caught my eye.

cookie ingredients.

1 c. all-purpose flour
1 T. unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
pinch of salt
6 T. butter, softened
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
1 tsp. red food coloring

filling ingredients.

3/4 c. sweetened shredded coconut
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
2/3 c. powdered sugar
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

directions.

To make the cookies: whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter, powdered sugar and vanilla in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Reduce the mixer speed to low and the egg. Mix until incorporated. Next beat in the flour mixture in two additions. Add the food coloring and beat until combined. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for one to two hours. Transfer the dough to a clean surface and knead a few times. Roll into a 10-inch long, 1-inch diameter log; wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper and freeze until firm.
Meanwhile make the filling: pulse the coconut, cream cheese, powdered sugar, salt and vanilla in a food processor until combined (or mix in your stand mixer). Refrigerate until ready to use.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove the dough from the freezer and unwrap. Slice dough into about 1/4-inch thick rounds and arrange about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until cookies are firm around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Spread about 1 tablespoon of the filling on the flat side of half of the cookies then use the remaining cookies to make into sandwiches.

The original recipe (for sandwich cookies) did not list an egg in the ingredients; however, I challenge you to try to make this recipe without an egg and see what happens. When completely mixed, the mixture represented dry crumbles until I added an egg. Perhaps because I added an egg, my cookies turned out to look nothing like the picture in the magazine?

Nevermind the look of the cookie. This is the best red velvet cookie sandwich in existence and taste accounts for so much more than appearance. Finding this recipe was a good way to start the new year.

Recipe rating: 