Description
Delight in these moist and tender Red Velvet Cookies topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting. Perfectly balanced with a hint of cocoa and classic red food coloring, these cookies bring the iconic red velvet cake flavor into a convenient cookie form, ideal for sharing or enjoying as a sweet treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp red food coloring (adjust to preference)
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly mixed.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender texture.
- Add Egg, Vanilla, and Food Coloring: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and red food coloring thoroughly to achieve the signature red velvet color and flavor.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain cookie softness.
- Chill Dough: Chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for 30 to 45 minutes. This step firms the dough and helps prevent spreading during baking.
- Shape Cookies: Using approximately 1.5 tablespoons of dough per cookie, scoop onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them to allow for slight spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are set but the centers remain soft. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and a pinch of salt, beating until the frosting is fluffy and spreadable.
- Frost Cookies: Once cooled, frost the cookies with a swirl or dollop of cream cheese frosting. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Adjust red food coloring to achieve desired intensity of color.
- Chilling the dough is essential for maintaining cookie shape and texture.
- For best results, use room temperature ingredients to ensure proper mixing.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- Allow frosted cookies to reach room temperature before serving if stored chilled for optimal texture and taste.
