Betty Crocker Strikes Again

I really don't know what has come over me.  Used to be I only baked at Christmas.  Now, it seems like I'm baking all the damn time.  I think it's because I finally have a kitchen that I like and that I have some counterspace.  And having a dishwasher doesn't hurt either.

So Sunday, out of boredome, I was looking at that site that I swore I was never going to look at and found a recipe for Red Velvet Cookies.  And then I found another recipe I wanted to make; off to the store I went.

I bought everything I needed and then, on the way home, I thought, "Red velvet is just chocolate dyed with red food coloring.  I wonder what it would taste like with cayenne?". I called Bill and ran the idea by him, don't know why, because anything with cayenne is good by him.

They turned out pretty good.  I'm not a fan of white chocolate chips - I think they taste waxy and they're pretty gross, so next time I'll use regular chocolate chips, even if the cookies won't look as pretty.

Spicy Red Velvet Cookies

·         2 ¼ c. all purpose flour

·         2 ½ T. cocoa powder

·         1 ½ t. cornstarch

·         ¾ t. baking soda

·         ½ t. salt

·         ½  t. cayenne pepper

·         ¼ t. black pepper

·         ¼ t. cinnamon

·         7 T. butter, at room temp

·         6 T. shortening, at room temp

·         1 ½ c. granulated sugar

·         1 large egg

·         1 large egg yolk

·         1 ½ t. white vinegar

·         1 ½ t. Mexican vanilla

·         1 T. red food coloring

·         ½  c. white chocolate chips (or chocolate, they just won’t be as pretty)

Sift together the dry ingredients (except the sugar), set aside.

In a mixer, mix butter, shortening and sugar approximately 4 minutes until fluffy.  Add egg and egg yolk, mix to combine.  Add vinegar, vanilla and food coloring.  Mix until well blended. 

Slowly add in dry ingredients until just combined.  Add white chocolate chips.

Scoop onto lined cookie sheets and bake at 375 for 10-11 minutes.