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    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Cookies » Red Velvet Cookies

    Red Velvet Cookies

    Published: April 16, 2020 · Modified: Apr 16, 2020 by John Kanell

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    These soft and chewy red velvet cookies have a luscious cream cheese frosting inside and a drizzle of white chocolate on top. I love the play of flavors and the cookies themselves are just plain delicious. They might be the perfect treat for Valentine's day, Christmas, or any day ending in "Y"!

    Red velvet cookies arranged on a copper wire rack.
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    red velvet cookies on a cooling rack
    red velvet cookies on a cooling rack
    red velvet cookies on a plate
    red velvet cookies on a plate
    red velvet cookies on a plate
    red velvet cookie on a plate
    red velvet cookies on a plate
    red velvet cookies on a plate
    red velvet cookies on a plate
    red velvet cookies on a cooling rack
    red velvet cookies on a cooling rack
    red velvet cookies on a cooling rack
    red velvet cookie on parchment
    red velvet cookies on a paper
    red velvet cookies on a silpat
    red velvet cookies on a plate
    red velvet cookies with cream cheese frosting
    rolled red velvet cookie dough on a silpat
    red velvet cookies on a silpat

    I always laugh when people say “red velvet’s not a flavor.” That just means they haven’t had good red velvet! Technically, red velvet’s dominant flavor is chocolate, but all too often, it’s not chocolatey enough for me. I fixed that with these cookies by hitting them with a triple punch of chocolate—cocoa, chopped semisweet chips, and a little bit of coffee to bring out the chocolate flavor. Paired with a just-sweet-enough cream cheese filling and a drizzle of sweet white chocolate, these red velvet sandwich cookies are big on flavor, and beautiful too! If you’re a cookie lover, then you may also want to try out my peanut butter chocolate chip cookies recipe or thumbprint cookie recipe. 

    How to Make Red Velvet Cookies

    Flour and coccoa getting sifted to make red velvet cookies.

    1. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda and baking powder into a bowl then whisk together and set aside.

    2. Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy then mix in the egg and vanilla. Scrape down the bowl then mix once more.

    Red velvet cookie dough getting mixed in a stand mixer with chocolate chips.

    3. Add the dry mixture to the butter mixture and mix until almost combined. Add the coffee and food coloring and mix until distributed.

    4. Scrape the bowl down one last time and then fold in the chocolate chips. Chill dough for 30 minutes of more.

    Red velvet cookies on a baking sheet ready to go into the oven.

    5. Roll approximately 2 tablespoon-sized portions of dough into into balls and place about 2 inches apart on a parchment paper or silicon-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes.

    6. While the cookies are baking make some cream cheese frosting! Cream the room temperature butter and cream cheese together then beat in the powdered sugar. You can add milk or cream a tablespoon at a time to thin the consistency out if needed. 

    Red velvet cookie sandwiches being filled with cream cheese frosting.

    7. Once the cookies have cooled you can pipe the cream cheese frosting on and sandwich them together.

    8. A drizzle of melted white chocolate is a nice finishing touch but these cookies are delicious without as well. 

    Red velvet cookies with cream cheese frosting on a wire rack.

    Pro Tips for making these cookies

    • A spring-loaded cookie scoop is a great tool for making these cookies. The scoop helps you get uniform balls of dough, which bake into evenly sized cookies. 
    • To make sure the sandwich cookies have a nice round shape, gently roll them between your hands into smooth balls before baking. 
    • For the prettiest drizzled cookies, drizzle the tops of the cookies with chocolate first, then pop them into the freezer to set. Spread the cream cheese filling on the cookie bottoms, then top with the drizzled top cookies.
    • Feel free to add additional powdered sugar to the cream cheese filling if you want these cookies to be extra sweet.
    • Measure your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to the recipe is the most common mistake. The best, and easiest way to measure flour is by using a scale. If you don’t have one then fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off.
    • For on demand cookies later you can roll the dough into balls then freeze on a cookie sheet. Transfer the frozen cookie dough balls to a sealable bag and store. 
    • You can also use beet powder to achieve the red color in this cookie recipe

    A group of red velvet cookie on a plate with one having a bite taken out.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make these without the filling?

    Yes! They’re quite delicious on their own. If you want a little cream cheese flavor then make a glaze with cream cheese, milk and powdered sugar, which you can drizzle on top or dip the cookies in.

    Do these need to be refrigerated?

    The assembled red velvet cookies should be kept in the refrigerator because of the dairy in the cream cheese frosting.

    How long will they keep for?

    • The unassembled cookies can be stored at room temperature in a sealed container for up to a week.
    • The assembled cookies can kept in the fridge for up two days, but are best when freshly made.
    • The cookie dough will keep in the freezer for up to two months. I like to roll the cookie dough balls out then freeze them on a sheet pan and finally transfer to a freezer bag. 

    If you love this recipe try these out!

    • A photo of a group of Red Velvet Donuts on a copper cooling rack with a light pink linen underneath

      Red Velvet Donuts

    • A stack of snickerdoodle cookies on a marble counter.

      Snickerdoodle Recipe

    • A photo of a group of red velvet cupcakes with a big dollop of cream cheese frosting.

      Red Velvet Cupcakes

    • Cake Mix Cookies

    • A cake stand with a slice of red velvet cake cut out and placed on a plate in front.

      Red Velvet Cake

    If you’ve tried this Red Velvet Cookies recipe then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! 

    Two red velvet cookies next to a glass of milk.
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    5 from 172 votes

    Red Velvet Cookies

    These amazing red velvet cookies have big notes of chocolate, are soft and cakey, and filled with a luscious cream cheese frosting!
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American, British, english
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
    Chill Time 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time 55 minutes minutes
    Servings 12 cookies
    Calories 304kcal
    Author John Kanell

    Equipment

    • Baking Sheet

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup unsalted butter 226g
    • 1 cup granulated sugar 200g
    • 1 egg
    • 2 tsp vanilla extract 10mL
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour 240g
    • ¼ cup cocoa powder 25g
    • ½ tsp baking soda
    • ½ tsp baking powder
    • ¼ tsp kosher salt
    • 1 Tbsp hot brewed coffee 15mL
    • 1 Tbsp liquid red food coloring 15mL
    • 3/4 cup chopped semisweet chocolate chips 130g
    • 12 ounces cream cheese softened, 340g
    • 1 cup powdered sugar sifted, 100g
    • 2 Tbsp milk or heavy cream 30mL
    • 1 cup white chocolate chips 150g

    Instructions

    • Sift the flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda, and baking powder into a bowl then whisk together and set aside.
    • Using a stand or hand mixer, beat butter and sugar in a bowl until creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined.
    • Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating on low speed until just combined.
    • Add coffee and red food coloring until evenly combined. (do not overbeat).
    • Fold in 1 cup chopped chocolate.
    • Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
    • Scoop dough using a 1 tablespoon scoop; gently roll between your hands to make smooth balls. Place dough balls on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.
    • Bake at 350° until edges are firm, 10 to 12 minutes.
    • Let cool on pan 10 minutes; transfer cookies to a wire rack, and let cool completely.
    • Using a stand or hand mixer, beat cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in milk or heavy cream, if desired.
    • Spread about 1 tablespoon filling onto bottom sides of half of cookies. Top with remaining cookies, bottom-sides down.
    • Microwave white chocolate in a small bowl in 30-second intervals until smooth (about 3 times).
    • Spoon melted white chocolate into a ziploc plastic bag. Snip the corner off the bag, and drizzle cookies as desired. Freeze cookies for about 15 minutes to let chocolate set.

    Video

    Notes

    -A spring-loaded 1-tablespoon scoop is a great tool for making these cookies. The scoop helps you get uniform balls of dough, which bake into evenly sized cookies.
    -To make sure the sandwich cookies have a nice round shape, gently roll them between your hands into smooth balls before baking.
    -For the prettiest drizzled cookies, drizzle the tops of the cookies with chocolate first, then pop them into the freezer to set. Spread the cream cheese filling on the cookie bottoms, then top with the drizzled top cookies.
    -Feel free to add additional powdered sugar to the cream cheese filling if you want these cookies to be extra sweet.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 107mg | Potassium: 108mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 478IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg
    *Nutrition Disclaimer
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preppykitchen and tag #preppykitchen!
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    Thanks for stopping by! I’m John Kanell, a husband, dad to twins Lachlan and George, Los Angeles native, and an avid baker and cooker of all things delicious thanks to a life long education from my mother. This blog is where I share all of my kitchen creations!

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