Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

I found this tasty recipe on Paula Deen's website and it's a keeper! 

Ingredients:

For the pies:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups canola oil
1 teaspoon white vinegar
One 1-ounce bottle red food coloring
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
For the filling:
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 cup sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening, such as Crisco
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

*Preheat the oven to 350°F.
*Lightly grease two cookie sheets.
*Sift the flour, baking soda, and cocoa together.

*In a separate bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, food coloring, and vanilla.

*Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and eggs together until they turn pale and double in volume.
*Add the oil mixture and beat to combine.
*Add the flour mixture and buttermilk alternately in five small additions, starting and ending with the flour.

*Drop the batter by teaspoons onto the baking sheets, allowing 1 inch between drops, as the cookies will spread. You’ll be making 48 cookies. Bake until the cookies are firm but not crisp, about 12 minutes.

*Transfer immediately to racks to cool.

To make the filling:

*Put the flour into a medium saucepan and slowly add the milk, whisking until smooth.
*Set over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly with a whisk, until very thick, about 3 minutes.  

Allow to cool completely.

*Cream the sugar, butter, shortening, and vanilla with an electric mixer.
*Add the cooled flour mixture and whip until fluffy.
*Spread onto one cookie and top it with another to make a sandwich; repeat with the remaining cookies and filling.
*Cover the filled whoopee pies with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. 

I bought a whoopie pie pan from Jo Ann's crafts, to ensure uniformity. I disregarded the recipe's instructions for cookie scoop size, and consequently my cookies were a little too big, and they ended up a little pointy on the top. So, if you use a whoopie pie pan be careful not to overload it! 

Oh, and I only used one .3 oz bottle of food coloring (the one that usually comes in the set) and it was more than enough to get the cookie batter red. A full ounce seems like it would be overkill.