Valentine’s Day is all about expressing love, and what better way to say “I care” than with heart-shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pies? These adorable treats are a bite-sized version of everyone’s favorite red velvet cake, sandwiched with luscious cream cheese filling. They’re perfect for gifting, sharing, or indulging yourself!
This step-by-step guide will show you how to make these delicious red velvet whoopie pies right at home. Let’s create something memorable this Valentine’s Day.
Why You’ll Love These Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
- Perfect for Valentine’s Day: Their vibrant red color and heart shape scream romance.
- Portable and Easy to Gift: Pack them in pretty boxes to brighten someone’s day.
- Irresistibly Delicious: The classic red velvet and cream cheese combo never disappoints.
- Fun and Family-Friendly: Get the kids involved for a creative baking session.
How to Make Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup buttermilk (room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon red gel food coloring
For the Filling
- 6 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar (sifted)
Instructions
1: Prepare the Baking Sheets
Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter or a heart template to trace outlines onto the parchment, leaving about an inch of space between each heart. Flip the parchment so the pencil marks face down.
2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3: Cream the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter on medium-high speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add the brown sugar and continue beating until fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract and egg, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the buttermilk and red gel food coloring, blending until smooth.
4: Combine and Make the Batter
Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients on low speed until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies soft.
5: Pipe the Hearts
Transfer the batter into a piping bag fitted with a ½-inch round tip. If you don’t have one, a zip-lock bag with a corner snipped off works perfectly. Pipe a “V” shape inside each heart outline; the batter will spread during baking to fill the shape.
6: Bake the Cookies
Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes or until the centers are set. Allow the cookies to cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
7: Make the Filling
In a bowl, beat together the softened butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix until fluffy.
8: Assemble the Whoopie Pies
Pair the cookies by shape and size. Pipe the filling onto the flat side of one cookie, leaving a little space around the edges. Top with another cookie (flat side down) and gently press until the filling spreads to the edges.
9: Store and Serve
Store the assembled whoopie pies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. For the best flavor, let them sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.
FAQs
These whoopie pies are crafted into heart shapes and feature a vibrant red color, making them the perfect thematic treat for Valentine’s Day. The combination of red velvet flavor with a creamy filling adds a touch of indulgence suited for celebrating love and special moments.
Red gel food coloring is recommended because it provides a much deeper and vibrant red color without altering the texture of the cookies. If you use regular liquid food coloring, you may need to use more to achieve the same rich color, which could impact the consistency of your dough.
Store the whoopie pies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should last for up to 5 days when stored properly. For the best flavor and texture, let them sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving if they have been chilled.
If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a simple substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a ½ cup of milk and letting it sit for about 5 minutes before use. This mixture won’t be as thick as buttermilk but will provide a similar acidity to react with the baking powder.
Yes, you can prepare the red velvet cookies up to two days in advance. Keep them stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Fill and assemble the whoopie pies on the day you plan to serve them to ensure they are fresh and the filling is firm.
Related Recipes to Try
Looking for more Valentine’s Day inspiration? Check out these recipes:
Strawberry Kiss Cookies Recipe
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cookies Recipe
Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Show Your Love with Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
There’s something so special about baking for the people you care about. These heart-shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pies are an easy yet thoughtful way to spread love this Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re gifting them or enjoying them yourself, these delightful treats are sure to warm hearts.
If you loved this recipe, don’t forget to pin it on Pinterest and share it with your friends. Happy baking, and Happy Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: About 10 whoopie pies 1x
Description
Heart-shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pies are the perfect Valentine’s Day dessert. Soft red velvet cookies with creamy filling make a sweet, thoughtful gift or treat for loved ones.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon red gel food coloring
For the Filling:
- 6 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Prepare the Baking Sheets
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Trace small heart shapes onto the paper using a cookie cutter or template, leaving space between each. Flip the parchment so the marks are on the underside. - Mix the Dry Ingredients
Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. - Cream the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy (1 minute). Add brown sugar and beat until fluffy. Mix in the vanilla extract and egg. Add buttermilk and red gel food coloring, blending until smooth. - Combine and Make the Batter
Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix. - Pipe the Hearts
Transfer the batter to a piping bag with a ½-inch round tip (or use a zip-lock bag with a corner cut). Pipe “V” shapes inside the heart outlines on the parchment. - Bake the Cookies
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until centers are set. Let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. - Make the Filling
Beat together butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until fluffy. - Assemble the Whoopie Pies
Pair cookies by size and shape. Pipe filling onto the flat side of one cookie, leaving space around the edges. Top with another cookie (flat side down) and press gently. - Store and Serve
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Substitute buttermilk with a mix of ½ cup milk and 1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice if needed.
- Decorate edges with sprinkles, powdered sugar, or drizzle with white chocolate for extra flair.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 whoopie pie
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: Red Velvet Whoopie Pies, heart-shaped Valentine desserts, easy Valentine’s Day recipes