Red Velvet Cookies

Currently sitting on my desk at work - SIN!!

Is there any food that sounds more sinful than red velvet cake?  Red - the color of sin.  Velvet - such a  sensual fabric, it is sure to be sinful...  Cake - delicious, delicious sin.

Red velvet cake has been big in the south for many years, and lately, red velvet cupcakes have been driving the ridiculous cupcake obsession in America.  This, friends, is even better. 

Red. Velvet. Cookies.

How could red velvet cake have been improved?  By making it a cookie.  Cookies are the best.  Which is what I have done.  Make hundreds, eat them all, and wallow in sin.


Cookies:

• 5 cups flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 ½ tsp. baking Soda
• 1 ½ tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 oz. bottle red food coloring
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. lemon juice

1. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
2. Beat butter until light and fluffy. Beat in sugars until smooth. Add eggs, food coloring, vanilla and lemon juice. Beat just until combined.
3. Add flour mixture and beat just until combined.
4. Place tablespoon-size balls of dough 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
5. Bake at 350 for 10 – 12 minutes. Edges will be set, but centers will still be soft. Cool on wire racks. Cooled cookies may be iced with cream cheese frosting.

Frosting:

• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup butter
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 5 – 6 cups confectioners sugar

1. Cream butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy.
2. Add vanilla and confectioners sugar, 1 cup at a time, until frosting is slightly dry but still smooth.
3. Frost cookies.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Yes folks, I realize that I neglected to post yesterday.  I'm dealing with a fairly wicked cold at the moment, and it has me all messed up.  To make it up to you, I'll post twice today.  How does that sound?

First off, more cookies!  These are the ultimate kid cookie.  Unless that kid happens to have a peanut allergy, in which case he/she will enjoy these cookies immensely for around 25 seconds before going into anaphylaxis. 

Epipens at the ready?  OK, here we go!

• 16 oz Hershey Kisses (96), unwrapped
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 ½ cups peanut butter
• ⅔ cup packed light brown sugar
• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 4 Tbs. milk
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• Granulated sugar for rolling

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Remove foil wrappers from Hershey Kisses (DO THIS BEFORE COOKIES GO IN THE OVEN).
3. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended.  Add ⅔ cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy.  Add eggs, milk, and vanilla; beat well.
4. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt.  Gradually mix into peanut butter mixture.
5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.  Roll in granulated sugar, place on ungreased cookie sheet.
6. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.  Immediately press one Hershey Kiss into the center of each cookie (cookie will crack around edges).  Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack and allow to cool completely.  Makes approx. 8 dozen.

Pecan Balls

Of course the first holiday recipe is going to be a Christmas cookie. Obviously.

These particular cookies look like little snowballs - double-coated in powdered sugar. This means, however, that they also make a mess when you eat them, so they are to be avoided when wearing black clothing, or else you'll look like a coke fiend instead of a cookie monster.

Now, on to the cookies!

• ½ cup sifted confectioners sugar, plus additional for dusting
• 1 cup soft butter
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 cups sifted flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 cups finely chopped pecans

1. Cream sugar and butter thoroughly. Blend in remaining ingredients, making sure to blend well.
2. Chill dough for a short time.
3. Shape dough into balls, the size of large marbles. Place on greased cookie sheets and bake at 350 until just brown, about 15 minutes. Be careful not to overbake, or cookies will crumble.
4. Remove from pan and immediately roll hot cookies in additional sifted confectioners sugar. When cookies have cooled, roll in sugar again. You will use about 2 cups of sugar for rolling.