Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons cocoa
• 2 tsp red food color
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk

Filling

• 2 egg whites
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 4 cups confectioners sugar
• 1 1/2 cups shortening

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees lightly oil a large baking sheet.
2. Mix cocoa and food color and set aside.
3. Mix baking soda and vinegar; set aside.
4. Combine shortening, sugar, eggs, salt and vanilla. Mix in cocoa and food color mixture; blend in flour and buttermilk. Add baking soda and vinegar mixture.
5. Place tbsp size rounds of dough on cookie sheet.
6. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. let fully cool before filling between two pies.
7. Filling: Cream together egg whites, vanilla extract, flour and milk. Add confectioners sugar, two cups at a time, and the shortening.