from The Arizona Republic

Michael McNamara/The Arizona Republic

1 box red velvet cake mix, with ingredients specified on the box
1/2 cup flour
8 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
8 tablespoons butter (room temperature)
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Prepare mix as instructed, blending in an additional  1/2 cup flour. Pour mixture into zip-top bag and cut off one corner of the bag to create a small hole. Squeeze dough onto greased cookie sheets in tablespoon-size portions. They should be shaped slightly like Hershey’s Kisses. Allow 2 inches between each one. Bake 6-8 minutes. Do not over-bake; you want a cakelike texture. Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack.

Cream-cheese filling:
Mix cream cheese and butter until smooth, gradually add powder sugar  1/2 cup at a time. Add vanilla after the first cup of sugar is blended.

[ click to continue adding sugar at The Arizona Republic ]