Name: Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
Yield: Makes about 1 1/2 dozen depending on size
Ingredients: 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg, at room temperature; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 ounce red food coloring (about 2 tablespoons); 2 cups; 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder; 1/2 teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt; 1/2 cup buttermilk; 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature; Pinch of kosher or fine sea salt; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 3 cups confectioners' sugar

Why it works: Butter and cream cheese are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 8% of all ingredient pairs, and 2,747 recipes mention both. Both carry ethyl octanoate, which smells fruity, wine. The science ↓

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The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much aroma chemistry they share, and how many recipes mention both.

Butter + cream cheesetop 8% of all pairs

Aroma overlapmoderate

Mentioned together2,747 recipes

Shared aroma: ethyl octanoate (fruity, wine).
Sugar + vanillatop 8% of all pairs

Aroma overlaplow

Mentioned together35,032 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
Sugar + buttermilktop 9% of all pairs

Aroma overlapstrong

Mentioned together2,973 recipes

Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Vanilla + cocoa powdertop 10% of all pairs

Aroma overlapmoderate

Mentioned together2,189 recipes

Shared aroma: sotolon (curry, maple).
Cocoa powder + buttermilktop 13% of all pairs

Aroma overlapmoderate

Mentioned together249 recipes

Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).

Sugar and vanilla share little aroma chemistry, yet 35,032 recipes mention both: they likely work on texture and structure more than aroma.

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

Red Velvet Whoopie Pies