Red Velvet Cookie Stack

The countdown to Valentine's Day is on so of course the season for romance-laden bakes is upon us and in that spirit I sought to try out something different. Red Velvet cake is one of my favourites but as I was perusing my cookery books I came across a cookie version and inspiration struck!

So heart cookie cutter in hand I got to work... I say work, these cookies are ridiculously simple and quick to whip up and the frosting even more so. Here goes...

Red Velvet Cookies

Ingredients

125g unsalted butter (room temp) 215g caster sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract 265g plain flour 30g dutch processed cocoa powder 3 tsp red food colour 1/2 tsp white vinegar

Method

1. Beat butter and sugar in mixer until pale and creamy.

2. Beat in egg and vanilla.

3. Slowly beat in flour until just combined.

4. Add cocoa, beat until combined.

5. Add red food colour and vinegar and beat until combined.

Transfer dough to a clean surface and knead to smooth. Then divide into two pieces and shape each into a disc. Wrap in cling film and freeze for 20 minutes or refrigerate until the dough is firm.

Preheat oven to 180˚C Roll out your pastry - I choose to do this between two pieces of baking/parchment paper as this eliminates the need for excess flour making its way into your dough. Cut shapes to your choosing and then bake for 15 minutes or until just firm.

Now you have your cookies you can make the frosting while they cool. Here's what you'll need...

Cream Cheese Frosting

300g Icing/powdered sugar 50g unsalted butter (room temp) 125g cream cheese (cold)

Combine the sugar and butter together in your mixer on low (or with your hand held mixer) until at a sandy consistency and then add the cream cheese in one go, turn up the speed and beat until the mixture comes together and is smooth and creamy. Then pop it in a piping bag - I chose to pipe with a 1M tip but you can use whichever you prefer - and apply your bottom biscuit to a small cake board and get piping and stacking.

Then decorate however you'd like and either leave the top layer of frosting exposed or pop another heart cookie on top and your Valentine's Cookie Stack is complete!