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Valentine’s Red Velvet Whoopie Pies Recipe

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These Valentine’s Red Velvet Whoopie Pies are delightful heart-shaped sandwich cookies featuring a rich red velvet cake exterior and a creamy cream cheese filling. Perfectly tender and moist, these whoopie pies are ideal for celebrating Valentine’s Day or any romantic occasion, combining classic red velvet flavors with a smooth, sweet filling.

Ingredients

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For the Red Velvet Cookies

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder (natural, unsweetened)
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1 Tablespoon (1 oz.) red gel food coloring

For the Cream Cheese Filling

  • 6 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
  • 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted

Instructions

  1. Prepare Baking Sheets and Preheat Oven: Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter or a stencil to draw hearts all over the parchment paper, spacing them about one inch apart to allow for spreading during baking. Place the stencil facing down on the parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, natural unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
  3. Cream Butter: In a separate large bowl, cream the softened butter on medium-high speed for about 1 minute until smooth and creamy.
  4. Add Sugar, Egg, and Vanilla: Gradually add the light brown sugar to the creamed butter and beat on medium-high speed until fluffy and well combined. Mix in the vanilla extract and the large egg, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed to ensure even mixing.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Beat in the buttermilk and red gel food coloring until fully incorporated. On low speed, slowly add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined without overmixing to maintain tenderness.
  6. Pipe Batter on Baking Sheets: Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a ½ inch round tip; alternatively, use a zip-lock bag with a small corner cut off. Pipe small ‘V’ shapes inside each heart stencil on the parchment paper. Fill only a V shape as the batter will spread during baking.
  7. Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the centers appear set and springs back lightly when touched. Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  8. Prepare Cream Cheese Filling: Using a mixer, beat the room temperature butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and continue to beat until light and fluffy.
  9. Assemble Whoopie Pies: Transfer the cream cheese filling to a piping bag with a large round tip or a zip-lock bag with the corner cut off. Pair the cooled cookies by similar size and shape. Pipe the filling onto the flat side of one cookie, leaving a small border around the edges. Top with the matching cookie, flat side down, and gently press so the filling reaches the edges.
  10. Store: Place the assembled whoopie pies in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve to keep the filling fresh and firm.

Notes

  • Ensure all cold ingredients (butter, egg, buttermilk, cream cheese) are at room temperature for best mixing results and smooth batter/filling.
  • Do not overmix the batter to maintain the tender texture of the cookies.
  • If you don’t have red gel food coloring, use a concentrated liquid red food coloring, but gel produces more vibrant color without thinning the batter.
  • Use parchment paper and stencil/heart-shaped cookie cutter guides to achieve uniform heart-shaped cookies.
  • These whoopie pies can be refrigerated for up to 3-4 days and brought back to room temperature before serving.
  • Allow cookies to cool completely before assembling to prevent filling from melting.

Keywords: red velvet, whoopie pies, heart shaped cookies, Valentine’s dessert, cream cheese filling, red velvet cookies, holiday treats

Find it online: https://tastygenius.com/valentines-red-velvet-whoopie-pies-recipe/