Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies: Failure and Redemption

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!! What am I doing for Valentine's Day you may ask? I have a date...with a dentist! That's right, I have a teeth cleaning this afternoon! Whoo Hoo!!!!

Me looking fabulous in my awesome yellow
submarine apron!

As a perpetually single girl this day is particularly sad and depressing. But, how do I console myself? I BAKE!!!! This method is much more reliable than having a significant other making something for you. Plus, it guarantees that it will be something you like.

SEE!!! It's dry!!!!

As you may have guessed from an earlier blog, I LOVE red velvet desserts. And Valentine's Day has further proved it becasue I have made RED VELVET SANDWICH COOKIES!!!! So yesterday, I started out all optimistic and started on the journey to make these (hopefully) delicious treats. The original recipe I was to use was from Food Network magazine's January/Febraury 2012 issue. Well, to make things short and sweet, THIS RECIPE DOESN'T WORK!!!! It started out fine, but once I started adding the flour/dry mixture things started to go down the drain! They were as dry as the Atacama Dessert! AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!


So what did I do? I make another batch, hoping that I had somehow messed up the first batch. Well, the same thing happened again. Finally learning my lesson, I hopped onto google and searched for other recipes. And what did I find? A recipe on foodnetwork.com from Paula Deen. The failed recipe from their magazine made me hestitant to use a recipe from their website, but I decided to give Food Network another chance based on their (many) previous successes I have tried.


After a quick run to the grocery store during rush hour, I started the Paula Deen recipe. And what did I get? A VICTORY!!!!!! Even though I still have more than enough leftover cream cheese filling, this recipe was the redemption I was looking for after the failed recipe.

Now that I have a success with the recipe that decided to cooperate with me, I will share the recipe so that others can bask in the deliciousness of anything red velvet!

RED VELVET SANDWICH COOKIES

sandwich cookies:
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar

2 eggs
2 tablespoons buttermilk
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon red food coloring

cream cheese filling:
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cup powdered/confectioners' sugar
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans, optional

cookies
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Mix together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time. Then beat in the buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla, and red food coloring. Once combined, add the dry ingredients to the wet. Mix until thoroughly combined.

On a parchment lined cookie sheet, drop batter using an ice cream scoop, forming 2-inch round circles.

Bake for 10 minutes, until baked through. Cookies should be cake-like and light. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

filling
In a large mix bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed until high and mix until very light and fluffy.

Spread the cream cheese frosting between 2 cooled cookies and roll the edges in finely chopped pecans, if desired.