Red Velvet Cookies With Cream Cheese Filling

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• CREAM CHEESE FILLING
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Line a baking pan with parchment paper, set aside
3. In a large bowl cream together sugar and butter.
4. Mix in egg, buttermilk and vanilla extract.
5. Stir in red food coloring. Set aside.
6. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and unsweetened cocoa powder.
7. Stir dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until combined.
8. Using a mini ice cream scoop, scoop out the dough and place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. (roll the balls to make them smoother on the surface)
9. Bake for 7-8 minutes.
10. Remove from oven and let cookies sit in the pan for 1-2 minutes and then place on a cooling rack.
11. To make the cream cheese filling, cream together cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract until combined.
12. Place filling in a piping bag.
13. Once cookies are cooled, pipe cream cheese filling in the center of a cookie and top with another cookie.
14. Place in the fridge for at least 3 hours to set the filling.
15. Store in the fridge.