Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg (50g), room temperature
  • 1 tsp (5ml) vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp (10ml) red gel food coloring
  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tbsp (15g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp (5g) baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp (1.5g) salt
  • 4 oz (115g) full-fat cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup (30g) powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp (1.25ml) vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp (1.25ml) lemon juice

Instructions:

  1. Whisk together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon juice until smooth.
  2. Drop 12 small teaspoons of the cream cheese mixture onto a parchment-lined tray and freeze for at least 60 minutes until hard.
  3. Cream the softened butter and granulated sugar using a mixer until pale and fluffy.
  4. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and red gel food coloring until the color is uniform.
  5. In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
  6. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a soft crimson dough forms.
  7. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  8. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  9. Scoop approximately 2 tablespoons of dough, flatten into a disc in your palm, place one frozen cream cheese ball in the center, and wrap the dough around it to seal.
  10. Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges are set.