Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting deliver all the flavor of your favorite cupcake in a rich, chewy cookie. They’re festive, indulgent, and perfect for sharing at holiday gatherings.

If you want some new fun and delicious cookie recipes, then try my Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies and my Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies.

Why this Red Velvet Cookie with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is a Keeper

I love this red velvet cake cookies with cream cheese frosting recipe because it’s quick, easy and so yummy. I’ve made these cookies for Christmas and Valentine’s day. They are a real hit.

• Perfect Texture: The cookies are often described as soft and chewy in the center with slightly crisp edges, a highly desirable texture combination. Ingredients like cornstarch, an extra egg yolk, or the right ratio of leaveners contribute to this.  
• Classic Flavor Combination: The subtle cocoa and vanilla tang of the red velvet cookie is perfectly balanced by the rich, tangy cream cheese frosting. It’s an iconic pairing.  
• A “Wow” Factor: The vibrant red color and generous white frosting make these cookies visually stunning. love these cookies for holidays like Valentine’s Day or Christmas.
• Ease of Preparation: Many versions, including those made with a cake mix base, are surprisingly easy and quick to frost the cookies with creamy frosting, offering an indulgent result without excessive effort.  

Should the Dough be Chilled Before Baking?

Yes. Cookies tend to spread less when the dough has had time to chill first.

Ingredient Notes For Red Velvet Cookie Dough

You only need a few simple ingredients and many are pantry staples! You need to try my red velvet cookies.

Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.

• Cocoa Powder: I prefer to use a high quality cocoa powder for the best chocolate flavor.
• Red Gel Food Coloring: Gel food coloring coloring tends to have brighter colors than liquid food coloring.
• Cream Cheese: Be sure that you use softened cream cheese so that it easily combines with other ingredients.
  

Variations and Substitutions to Make the Cream Cheese Frosting and Cookie Dough

Feel free to customize red velvet cookies with red velvet cake mix to make them unique. Try different colors, flours, or even frosting.

• Red Food Coloring: Use a different color food coloring, like hot pink or purple, for a different holiday/event theme (e.g., pink for a baby shower).
• Flour: Using cake flour or adding cornstarch to all-purpose flour can result in an even softer, more tender cookie.
• Frosting: Add a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice or zest to the cream cheese frosting for an extra bright, tangy flavor. You could even add a white chocolate drizzle at the end.
• Mix-Ins: Fold white chocolate chips into the dough for added texture and sweetness that complements the red velvet flavor.
• Cookie Type: Instead of frosting the tops, make a sandwich cookie by piping a dollop of frosting between two cookies. Make the cream cheese filling a deep red when you are assembling the cookies.

Special Equipment Needed to Make Red Velvet Cookies

If you have the right tools to make a recipe, the process will go smoother. For this recipe, I recommend using a few different things.

• Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat (Silpat): These prevent sticking and make cleanup much easier.  
• Cookie Scoop: Ensures all cookies are uniform in size, which helps them bake evenly.
• Wire Cooling Rack: Necessary for cooling the cookies completely so the bottoms don’t get soggy and the frosting doesn’t melt.  
• Offset Spatula or Piping Bag: Used for spreading or piping the frosting onto the cooled cookies for a professional look.
• Mixer: You can use a hand-held mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.

How to Make Red Velvet Cookie Recipe

This recipe comes together in just 4 quick and easy steps. This red velvet cookies recipe is so good, it’s a great one to make for Christmas or Valentine’s Day.

Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.

• Mix Dry Ingredients: Preheat the oven and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Set aside.
• Mix the Granulated Sugar: In another bowl, beat together the butter, cream cheese and granulated white sugar. Then add the egg, vanilla, white vinegar and add the red food coloring. Slowly add the dry ingredients, with the cocoa powder.
• Scoop, Roll & Bake: Scoop some dough, roll it into a ball and place on the prepared baking sheet. Gently press the ball flat with your fingers. Bake the cookies until edges are golden brown.

• Cool & Frost: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Beat the butter and cream cheese together, then beat in the vanilla and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Frost completely cooled cookies.

Prep Ahead Suggestions

Help your future self out and prepare steps to these chewy red velvet cookies ahead of time. 

• Dough Preparation: The cookie dough can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored tightly covered in the refrigerator. If chilled, let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before scooping.
• Freezing Dough Balls: Dough for these cookies freeze well. Scoop the dough into balls and flash-freeze them on a baking sheet. Once solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding a couple of minutes to the baking time.
• Frosting Preparation: The luscious cream cheese frosting can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature, then beat the cream cheese frosting briefly to restore its fluffy texture before frosting.

Common Questions to Make the Red Velvet Recipe