- 20
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tbsp. natural unsweetened cocoa
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- Red gel food coloring
- 1 recipe cream cheese filling (recipe follows)
Preparation
Step 1
In a large bowl, beat butter and 1 cup sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer. Add egg and vanilla, beating until well blended.
In a separate bowl, combine flour cocoa, baking soda and salt.
Add flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time to butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Add desired amount of red gel food coloring, stirring well. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 1 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Using your hands, roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Roll balls in remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets; flatten slightly with a spatula.
Bake until slightly soft, 7-9 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks and let cool completely. Spread cream-cheese filling on flat side of 1 cookie. Top with another cookie, flat side toward filling. Repeat with remaining cookies and filling.
CREAM-CHEESE FILLING
Yield: approximately 1 1/2 cups
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla, beating well.