...and to all a good night

I'll spare you the blathering as a holiday present. Let's get to the point. You will definitely scream "whoopie!" and spew red and white winterfulness after taking a bite of these. A light hint of cocoa paired with the biting peppermint is pretty close to perfection. Merry, happy and peace to all.

Peppermint Red Velvet Whoopies

adapted from Paula Deen
Yield: 24 pies

INGREDIENTS
pies
3 C all-purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 C canola oil
1/2 C shortening
One 1-ounce bottle red food coloring
1/2 t vanilla extract
1 1/2 C brown sugar
2 eggs
1 C buttermilk

peppermint filling
5 T all-purpose flour
1 C milk
1/4 C sugar
3/4 C confectioner's sugar
8 T (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 C solid vegetable shortening, such as Crisco
1/2 t vanilla extract
1 t peppermint extract
crushed peppermint candies

DIRECTIONS
pies
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two cookie sheets.
1. Sift the flour, baking soda, and cocoa together. In a separate bowl, combine the oil, shortening, food coloring, and vanilla.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and eggs together until they turn pale and double in volume.
3. Add the oil mixture and beat to combine.
4. Add the flour mixture and buttermilk alternately in five small additions, starting and ending with the flour.
5. 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, 8-10 minutes. Transfer immediately to racks to cool.

filling
1. 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.
2. Cream the sugar, butter, shortening, vanilla and peppermint extracts with an electric mixer.
3. Add the cooled flour mixture and whip until fluffy.
4. Spread onto one cookie and top it with another to make a sandwich; repeat with the remaining cookies and filling. Roll edges in crushed peppermint. Cover the filled whoopie pies with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition: 297 cal, 17g fat, 74mg sod, 34g carb, 20g sugar, .3g fiber, 2.5g protein