Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! First off I’d like to thank my husband, Art, for the wonderful 3 years we’ve been together. Also since he’s a big part of this, he deserves some publicity too haha. So if you still need a quick easy idea for a dessert tonight, how about something fitting like red velvet?

Tonight my sister is having the family up for dinner. She’s providing Lasagne, Mom’s bringing Strawberry Spinach Salad and I was stuck on what to bring. I thought it over and over yesterday. Then I thought why not Red Velvet Cake? Of course I got to thinking more and decided, why not make cookies!? Mom usually makes hers with a box cake mix and even searching, I found “cake mix this, cake mix that”. I got fed up with the laziness so I re-searched with “Red Velvet Cut Out Cookies”. Aha! I got quite a few “from scratch” recipes. I found but didn’t have some of the stuff. Below is my revised edition. I didn’t have buttermilk powder so I just made buttermilk with the vinegar and milk already called for. Also, didn’t have the emulsion so food coloring worked just as good. I’ll be filling them with my Mom’s “cooked icing”. It’s mostly used in whoopie pie cases but I’m excited to try it with these. I plan edging them in sprinkles afterwards. This all would have been done last night, but an emergency trip to the store for my parents side lined that. I’ll get pictures up as soon as I can! Enjoy!

Red Velvet Cut Outs
1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups confectioners sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1-2 tsp red food coloring
2-3 tbsp milk
1/2 cup Hershey’s Cocoa powder
1/4 cup powdered milk
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (I had to use extra-dough got too sticky)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
splash {about 1/2 a tsp} apple cider vinegar

Instructions

Mix milk and vinegar together. Let sit. Cream together butter and confectioners sugar. Add the egg, vanilla, coloring, and milk and mix well. Start with 2 tablespoons of milk, then add the rest if the dough is a little dry after adding the flour mixture. Sift together the cocoa, powdered milk, flour, baking powder and salt and add to the wet ingredients. The dough should be soft but not sticky. After mixing, let it rest for five to ten minutes, then roll out on parchment paper to 1/4 inch thickness dusting lightly with flour if needed. Cut into desired shapes and bake at 400 degrees for 6-7 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen 3 1/2 inch cookies

*I used a mix of cocoa powder and flour to roll out, less noticeable! Make sure to sift, otherwise you’ll have clumps of cocoa.
*Also, mine only took 5 minutes. Watch carefully!

Cooked Icing
4 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
2 Sticks Unsalted Butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In a saucepan, whisk together flour and milk. Turn heat to medium and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thick and creamy. Let it cool completely.
Using your mixer, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. Beat in the thoroughly cooled flour mixture. Beat and beat until the icing is fluffy and no longer grainy.

Have a safe and Happy Valentine’s with the one(s) you love!!! <3