Inside Out Red Velvet Cookies

Red velvet cookies with a hidden cream cheese cheesecake filling baked inside.

Ingredients

12 oz	340 g	cream cheese, softened (for filling)
1/2 cup	120 ml	powdered sugar (for filling)
pinch		kosher salt (for filling)
6 tbsp	90 ml	butter, softened (for dough)
1/2 cup	120 ml	sugar (for dough)
1/4 cup	60 ml	brown sugar (for dough)
1		large egg
1 tsp	5 ml	pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup	300 ml	all-purpose flour
2 tbsp	30 ml	unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp	2.5 ml	baking powder
1 tbsp	15 ml	red food coloring

Preheat oven to 350° and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Make cheesecake filling: Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and salt in a small bowl. Mix well until mixture is smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until slightly firm, about 30 minutes.
Make cookie dough: In a large bowl using a hand mixer, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, food coloring, and salt. Mix until just combined.
Make cookies: Scoop about a tablespoon of the cookie dough and flatten into a flat, pancake-like circle. Spoon about 2 teaspoons of the cream cheese filling in the center. Form another tablespoon of cookie dough into a flat circle and place on top of filling. Pinch the edges together to seal, then roll the filled dough into a ball. Space cookies about 3" apart on prepared baking sheet.
Bake cookies 15 to 17 minutes. Let cool slightly and serve.