Red Velvet Blossom Cookies

Red Velvet Blossom Cookies

Red Velvet Blossom Cookies

I recently discovered a recipe for these in a CIA publication (that's the Culinary Institute of America, not the spies!).  These seemed to me to be the perfect Valentines Day cookies, with a striped white chocolate candy on the top.  These are easy, delicious, and really cute.  Surprise your favorite valentine with a batch of these cookies!  Makes about 32 cookies

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon table salt

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 granulated sugar

1 egg

1 Tablespoon liquid red food color

1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar

32 white chocolate "kiss" candies (Like Hershey's Hugs)

Line baking sheets with parchment or silicone baking mats.  Preheat the oven to 375-degrees.  Unwrap the candies and place on a plate or small sheet pan, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the freezer.

Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl, set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large mixing bowl combine the oil, brown sugar, and granulated sugar and beat on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes.  Add the egg and mix to combine.  Blend in the food color and vinegar until fully incorporated.

Add the flour mixture and mix until well-combined.

Scoop the dough with a #60 scoop (2 teaspoons) onto the baking sheets.  Bake the cookies until puffed and the edges are set, 10-12 minutes.

Remove the candies from the freezer, and then the cookies from the oven and insert 1 candy into the center of each cookie.  Let the cookies stand on the baking sheets 2 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.