Red Velvet Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon natural red food coloring such as Seelect or India Tree
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add in egg and beat well. Beat in vanilla and red food coloring. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet.

Scoop dough onto a lined cookie sheet using a generous medium scoop (2-3 tablespoons). Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes until centers appear set. Allow to cool sightly. Then pull the liner onto the wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Cheater Red Velvet Cookies
1 box red velvet cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together cake mix, eggs, oil and flour. Scoop onto lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool. Spread one cookie with filling and top with a second cookie.

Cream Cheese Filling

8 ounces cream cheese
4 tablespoons butter, softened
2 teaspoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar

Cream together cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl. Beat in milk and vanilla. Sift powdered sugar over the wet ingredients and beat in until smooth. Spread in between two cooled red velvet cookies.

Makes 10-15 sandwiches.