Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Ingredients

• 0.5 teaspoon baking soda 
• 0.7 cup buttermilk well-shaken
• 2 cups powdered sugar 
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 1 large eggs 
• 2 cups flour all-purpose
• 1 teaspoon juice of lemon fresh
• 1 ounce food coloring red (2 tablespoons)
• 0.1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 0.3 cup butter unsalted softened
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder unsweetened (natural) (not Dutch process)
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla 
• 0.3 cup vegetable oil 
• 1 teaspoon vinegar white

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• baking paper
• oven
• whisk
• hand mixer
• ice cream scoop

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F with racks in upper and lower third. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
3. Beat butter, oil, and sugar with an electric mixer until combined well, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg, vanilla, and vinegar.
4. Reduce speed to low and alternately mix in flour and buttermilk in batches, beginning and ending with the flour until combined.
5. Add the red food coloring and mix on low speed until thoroughly combined.
6. Spoon 2 tablespoon mounds of batter 2-inches apart on lined baking sheets.
7. Bake, switching positions of baking sheets halfway through baking, until rounds are puffed and set, 8 to 10 minutes.
8. Slide parchment with rounds onto wire racks to cool completely.
9. Beat together cream cheese, butter, lemon juice, vanilla, salt, and sugar until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.
10. Spread about 2 tablespoons of filling on flat-side of half the rounds; top with remaining rounds, flat side down, to form whoopie pies.
11. •To get perfectly round whoopie pies, use a 2 tablespoon ice cream scoop with the cake batter.•Store whoopie pies, chilled, in an airtight container, the layers separated between sheets of parchment paper, for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.