Heart Shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Sooo, I was thinking about the upcoming Valentines day..


Sometimes I wonder if Valentines Day is just a holiday made up by Hallmark or Florists to try and boost sales.. But even if you do think that, I know that everyone still is secretly hoping that someone will be their Valentine.


So, I was trying to think of those who wont get anything- As I have been one of those people many times in the past, I wanted to try and make some goodies to give away before Valentines day.


Instantly cupcakes came to mind.. but I always do cupcakes- Mainly because they already come in individual servings and does'nt require cutlery of any descripton.. but screw cupcakes! I am sick to death of always being the person at work who brings in cupcakes. "Great pattycakes.", "Cupcakes were yum.", "Can you give me the recipe for those cupcakes you brought in the other day?" "Cupcakes, cupcakes, CUPCAKES!"


I want something wayyyyyy better to make those super ronery people feel better about themselves :D


When I think of St Valentines, I think: Hearts, chocolates, cards, LOTS of the colour red.. and not forgetting your unmentionables ;). I thought cake pops, but I am sick to death of seeing them everywhere aswell! And like a light to moths, I was instantly drawn to Red Velvet Whoopie Pies!


Moist, soft, delicious, filled with decadant cream cheese frosting, and not to forget red.. But, I didn't want them to be in just 'flat cupcake form', and also wanted to incorporate a few more aspects of Valentines day into it. So I decided to make them heart shaped! :D




Red Velvet Whoopie Pies



2 Cups of general purpose flour
1 Tsp of salt
1 Tsp of baking powder
2 Tbs of unsweetened coco powder
1 Cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 Cup of unsalted butter (softened)
1 Large egg
1/4 Cup of sour cream (room temperature)
1/4 Cup of milk (room temperature)
1 Tsp of vanilla extract
1 Bottle of pillar box red food colouring



Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (approx 160g) Packet of creamed cheese (room temperature)
160 Grams of unsalted butter (room temperature)
400 Grams of powdered sugar
1 Tsp of vanilla extract


Preheat your oven to 160 degrees and line 2x baking trays with parchment paper.

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl, set aside. Mix in sour cream, milk, food color and vanilla in a jug, set aside.

In a seperate bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar with electric mixer on medium speed 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in egg.

Add about 1/3 of the dry ingredients, then add 1/2 of the wet, repeat again until you end with the last 1/3 of the dry ingredients until just blended, do not overbeat.

Spoon batter into a piping bag (I used a disposable one as I assumed that the batter may stain my good piping bag (as it did my bench top and my hands :D)

I piped my batter into heart shapes, but you can do whatever shape comes to mind.

Bake for 6-9 mintues or until you can insert a toothpick and it comes out clean, being careful to watch the pies as they will cook quickly. Allow them to cool completely on baking trays.

For cream cheese frosting, use an electric mixer to beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in vanilla and start adding powdered sugar a little at a time until you reach the desired consistency. It's not necessary to use all of it, whatever you feel is right.

To assemble your pies: Once cooled, match your pies up (so that both sides are the same size, as mine ranged in sizes), pipe your cream cheese frosting into the inner flat side of one pie, and attach other side. Repeat until all are done.

You can be patient and wait until they are refridgerated, but I ate mine straight away.

Enjoy!

Don't forget to tell me how your Valentines Day goes!