Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

These would look pretty and festive on the table for Christmas or would make a cute gift for your loved one on Valentines Day.  I didn’t have reason for making them though, I just wanted to try them :)

Makes 8.

Whoopie Pies:
2 cups  flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
½ teaspoons baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons red food colouring

Cream Cheese Filing:
190g Cream Cheese
40g unsalted butter
½ teaspoons vanilla extract
65g icing sugar

Preheat oven to 190°C.  Lightly grease a Whoopie Pie tin or line a baking tray with baking paper.  In medium bowl mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.  Beat in brown sugar until light and fluffy and then beat in the egg and vanilla.  Next beat in the flour and buttermilk, alternating between the two ingredients.  Stir in the food colouring.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared Whoopie Pie tin or drop heaped tablespoons of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about one inch apart.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the tops are set.  Cool completely on the baking sheets on a rack.  Remove cooled cookies from baking sheets.

To make the cream cheese filling:
Place the cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract into the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on a medium – high speed for 2 –3 minutes or until combined and smooth.  Reduce the speed and add in the icing sugar and beat until combined.  Transfer to a piping bag and pipe onto back of ½ the cookies.  Sandwich with the remaining cookies.