Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies

By izzie

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)

Details

Servings 20

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.