Red Velvet Whoopie Pies // Giada Giveaway

Let's kick this post off with the recipe; then we will get to the details of the giveaway. 

We'll start with the red velvet cake rounds.

Here's what you will need:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk, well-shaken

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 large egg

2 tablespoons red food coloring

Let's get baking:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl until combined. Stir together buttermilk, vanilla, and red food coloring in a small bowl.

Using an electric mixer at medium-high speed, beat together butter and brown sugar in a large bowl for about 3 minutes (or until pale and fluffy). Add the egg, beating until combined well. Reduce speed to low and alternately mix in flour mixture and buttermilk in batches, beginning and ending with flour. Scrape down side of bowl occasionally and mix until smooth.

Spoon mounds of batter (about a tablespoon) two-inches apart on two buttered, large baking sheets. Bake 11 to 13 minutes. Cookies are done if they spring back when gently touched. Transfer with a metal spatula to a rack to cool completely.

Next, it's time for the cream cheese frosting:

Here's what you will need:

4-ounce package cream cheese, softened 
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups confectioners' sugar

Splash of milk or cream (if needed)

Place the confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula as you work. Add a splash of milk or cream, if needed, for a smoother consistency.

Now, let's put the two together:

This is the easy part. Using a spoon, dollop cream cheese frosting on flat sides of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies, flat sides down. If you'd like, you can then roll the sides of your whoopie pies into sprinkles for a little added bling! 

That's it! 

So now that I've shared both whoopie pie recipes with you, it's giveaway time! Thanks to the wonderful people at Giada De Laurentiis for Target I'm giving away Giada's 5-Piece Bakeware Set. 

Follow the directions in the Rafflecopter widget below for a chance to win this bakeware just in time for the holidays!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

As always, thank you for reading. Your comments are awesome and appreciated!

While I was given the products to test, this is NOT a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

A big thanks to the folks at Giada De Laurentiis for Target for my bakeware and for offering a set to a lucky IBC reader. I am so grateful.