Iain Bagwell
These festive sandwich cookies pack all of the flavor of a red velvet cake in one cute little package. We paired tender chocolate crackle cookies (made red with just a touch of food coloring) with a smooth and tangy cream cheese frosting. When scooping the batter, a trigger-handled ice cream scoop makes the work of getting uniform cookies a breeze. The filling and cookies can be made up to three days in advance if stored separately in an airtight container. Fill the cookies just before serving.
How to Make It
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375°F with oven racks in the top third and bottom third of oven. Melt chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe glass bowl on MEDIUM (50% power) until melted and smooth, about 1 1/2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Whisk in granulated sugar, eggs, and food coloring until smooth.
Step 2
Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and add to butter mixture, stirring gently just to combine.
Step 3
Place 1 cup of the powdered sugar in a small bowl. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls into powdered sugar, rolling to coat, and place 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Using the heal of your hand, gently flatten domed tops of dough. Bake in preheated oven until cookies are almost set and outsides are crackled, 10 to 11 minutes. Transfer pans to wire racks, and cool cookies completely, about 30 minutes.
Step 4
Beat cream cheese and remaining 1 cup powdered sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread 1 1/2 teaspoons cream cheese filling onto flat side of half of the cookies. Cover with remaining half of cookies, flat side down, and gently press.
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