Red Velvet Oreos

Just call me Cookie Monster :). Seriously, these cookies are insanely good and will change your life forever. Truth be told, I’m not a huge sweets person, give me savory over sweet! But I didn’t want to stay out of these. Hubby said I had a little too much filling in them… what does he know. ha! I’ve been seeing people making homemade oreos for a while and I really wanted to try my hand at making some. Then I found this recipe for Red Velvet Oreos. Oh be still my heart! Seriously. And like I said, I’m a savory person but YUM! Anyway I can’t say enough good things so just make them for yourself, you won’t be sad. The cocoa powder gives a hint when you bite in and oh… I want more. We’re out at my house….. sad day! But I don’t need anymore :).

So a tip, I keep a 1/4 measuring cup in both my flour and my sugar so I’m not having to dig for a measuring cup when I need to go to measure something. Some days like making cinnamon rolls when you have to do 8 cups flour I’ll pull out a 1 cup measuring cup just so I don’t have to count so many quarters, but otherwise, it’s so nice because I’m not constantly digging for a measuring cup, there’s just one in there and bam, I’m on my way :).

One day our friend Jared went to get in the cabinet for a cup and asked if we liked JL’s that much. We have a bunch in our cabinet and a bunch more somewhere. Hey… we know good food at my house 😉

Red Velvet Oreos

(original recipe found here)

Ingredients:
for the cookies:

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 8 tbsp butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1 tbsp red food coloring

for the filling:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 8 tbsp butter, softened
• 1 tbsp hot water
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Time to make the cookies:
In a medium bowl combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; whisk and set aside.
In your electric mixer beat the sugar and butter until combined and fluffy.
Add the egg and food coloring and continue to beat/mix (with your electric mixer!!)
Slowly add the dry ingredients and turn the mixer on until the dough comes together.
Form the dough into balls (about 1 tbsp each) and place on baking sheets, leave a couple inches between the balls.
Then take a cup and slightly flatten the balls of cookie dough.
Bake 7-10 minutes or until edges are set.
Cool 5 minutes on baking sheets and then remove to cooling rack to completely cool.

Filling time:
We’re making a butter cream filling… so….
Beat powdered sugar with the shortening, butter, water, and vanilla in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

Making the Red Velvet Oreos:
Now comes the fun part, assembly. You can place your filling in a piping bag with a small round tip (size 3 or 4). Pipe filling onto one cookie and top with a second cookie, pressing together to spread the filling.
or
Take a icing spatula and just smear icing on one side of the cookie, top with a second cookie and smoosh together.
Enjoy! and whatever doesn’t immediately get eaten, store in an air tight container! 🙂