Red Velvet Cookies

Being back home for so long, I thought it'd be nice to bake some cookies for everyone at my job here! I didn't want to make anything too difficult or too time consuming though, so I baked one of my old recipes: Cake mix cookies.
This time, I went for red velvet cake! With cream cheese frosting, these were a very decadent little dessert.

...Hm. My brain is a little on the tired side, so that's all I can think to say about these!
I can say though, that you can either roll these out and cut them into shapes, or drop them onto the pan by 1/2 tbsp full. What I did was scoop them with the 1/2 tbsp, then roll that into a nice ball.

Then I used the back of a spoon and pressed them down so they were about 1/4" thick.
Red Velvet Cookie Recipe

• One box red velvet cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 c vegetable oil

Preparation

• Beat together cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. Scrape sides/bottom of bowl often, until everything is incorporated.
• Roll into a log and wrap with cling wrap, and refrigerate for an hour.
• Cut slices to bake, or roll out and cut out shapes, or scoop dough with a 1/2tbsp spoon.. however you want to form these, do it!
• Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are just beginning to firm.
• Cool completely, then frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

• 2 - 8oz packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 cups powdered sugar

Preparation

• Cream together cream cheese and butter.
• Beat in vanilla, and then gradually add in powdered sugar.
• Note: I like my cream cheese frosting less sweet than some, so add powdered sugar to taste.
• Frost cookies!

Red Velvet Cake

CONGRATS, DEREK AND NYSSA!

My co-worker Derek proposed to his girlfriend on the 9th, and she said yes!

He actually asked me to take anniversary pictures and engagement pictures for them (He asked her the day of their 5.5 year anniversary) and requested that I also make her favorite dessert -- Red velvet cake -- as a bonus. Typically, I'd whine about how much stress I'd be under to do it all, but this was a big day, you know?
So I took a page out of the "Semi-homemade" book, and bought a boxed cake mix but made the frosting myself.

Since I've really started focusing on baking, I've had a hard time eating those jarred frostings you buy at the store. Now, if I'm in the right mood I can gobble down the chocolate frosting with no problem. But the canned cream cheese frosting.... ugh. Just ugh.
The frosting I made was AMAZING. I almost kept the cake for myself, but that wouldn't be right.. I like my cream cheese frosting much more cream-cheesy, and less sugary-sweet. Apparently it's the same recipe my mom uses, except she uses a few cups more of powdered sugar.

This was also my first time decorating a cake!! I don't make them often (ever) so it was fun! I'm surprised at how pretty it came out. Very regal, or at least I'll convince myself that it is.
Red Velvet Cake Recipe

• One box red velvet cake mix
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/4 c water
• 1/3 c vegetable oil

Preparation

• Prepare cake according to box directions.
• Let cool completely. If needed, cut off the rounded tops (for 2 - 9in cakes) before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

• Note: I mixed the recipe to have 1.5 the amount it originally called for, in order to have enough to pipe the decor on. If you don't plan on this, remove a third of the recipe from your measurements.
• 3 (8oz) packages of cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 c butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Preparation

• In large bowl (medium if using 2/3 of the recipe) cream together the cream cheese and butter.
• Mix in vanilla.
• Slowly add in powdered sugar, stirring the edges constantly to make sure it's evenly distributed.

Note: You should store this cake in the fridge because of the frosting. Enjoy!