Red Velvet Cookies with cream cheese frosting are a rich decedent cousin to its sister, the Red Velvet Cupcake, but with an added crunchy, chewy element. This Red Velvet Cookies recipe will quickly become a classic for the holidays.
Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting have that refined taste that we have come to know and love. In fact, it is a distinctive chocolate flavor that is so delicious.
Many make a red velvet cake mix cookies, but, to be sure this recipe is so easy and the taste is so much better, you will want to make this recipe all the time.
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MORE RED VELVET RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
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What We Love About This Recipe
Really Red Velvet Cookies are created by a chemical reaction. Therefore, they differ from regular chocolate cookies. Because the vinegar and buttermilk causes the reaction and gives it it’s distinctive red color.
To learn more about Red Velvet, check out this story.
- 25 Minute Cookie: These homemade cookies take little time to create.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or in the fridge. So easy!
- Adaptable: Can make it with nuts and chips to create your own special cookie.
- Makes Great Gifts: Perfect for parties or cookie exchanges, you will love them!
Ingredient Notes
- Flour: All purpose flour – make sure you level off each scoop
- Cornstarch: The cornstarch makes for a nice soft cookie
- Red food coloring: It is what gives the cookie the unique color – we prefer gel food coloring
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Use a good quality cocoa
Variations and Substitutions
- Soften Your Butter and Cream Cheese. It incorporates better.
- Measure Your ingredients carefully.
- Use Parchment or a Silpat so the cookies do not stick
- Make Sure that your oven is the correct temperature. Use a good oven thermometer.
- Use a cooling rack. So that your cookies do not overcook.
How to Make Red Velvet Cream Cheese Cookies
These are the basic steps for making red velvet cookies. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and nutrition information. Check Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for more.
STEP 1: PREP
First, preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
STEP 2: COOKIE DOUGH
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, all purpose flour, baking powder, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. Set aside. Then, in a separate bowl, with an electric mixer beat together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar. Add the vanilla extract, vinegar, egg, and food coloring and beat to combine.
STEP 3: COMBINE
Using the hand mixer ( A stand mixer works great too), beat in the cocoa powder. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients until they are combine. Next, use a tablespoon to scoop out dough and roll into a ball. Place the ball on the cookie sheet and press flat with your fingers.
STEP 4: BAKE
Place the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the center is still soft. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
STEP 5: FROSTING
Lastly, while the cookies are cooling, make the icing by beating together the butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and well combined. Finally, spread over the top of the cooled cookies.
Prep and Storage Tips
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
These cookies will last about two weeks in the refrigerator, therefore you can make these a few days in advance.
HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE
Store the Red Velvet Cake Cookies in an air tight container in the refrigerator and you can layer them by using wax paper. It is the safest way due to the cream cheese icing unless you are going to serve immediately.
HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE
You can freeze the cookies for up to two months in an air tight container. Therefore, you can pull out the amount you need and keep the rest frozen.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use a low fat butter and cream cheese for these cookies.
Use a gel food coloring about 2 teaspoons but adjust as you like. A liquid food coloring can also be used.
Of course, this recipe can be great for a Christmas party or Valentine’s day celebration.
Because of the cream cheese icing, these cookies should not be stored at room temperature.
Expert Tips for Making This Recipe
- Chips: Add some beautiful white Chocolate Chips
- Sandwiches: Add Cream cheese Frosting to the bottom of one cookie and add another to make sandwiches.
- Sprinkles: Everyone loves a few colorful sprinkles, add red and white!
- Sandwich: Try making a sandwich cookie by placing the frosting on the bottom of one cookie and then creating a sandwich.
- Drizzle: Drizzle with white chocolate or dark chocolate.
What to Serve with Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
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Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Cookies
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 1 egg
- 2 ounces red food coloring
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Frosting
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, beat together the butter, cream cheese, and sugar. Add the vanilla, vinegar, egg, and food coloring and beat to combine.
- Beat in the cocoa powder.
- Use a tablespoon to scoop out dough and roll into a ball. Place the ball on the baking sheet and press flat with your fingers.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the center is still soft.
- Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- While the cookies are cooling, make the icing by beating together the butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and well combined. Spread over the top of the cooled cookies
Expert Tips
- Chips: Add some beautiful white Chocolate Chips
- Sandwiches: Add Cream cheese Frosting to the bottom of one cookie and add another to make sandwiches.
- Sprinkles: Everyone loves a few colorful sprinkles, add red and white!
- Sandwich: Try making a sandwich cookie by placing the frosting on the bottom of one cookie and then creating a sandwich.
- Drizzle: Drizzle with white chocolate or dark chocolate.
Estimated Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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These cookies couldn’t be better. My daughter is a huge red velvet fan and she loved these even more than the cake! The frosting was my favorite, LOL!
These are on the christmas cookie exchange list! Thanks for the recipe.
Love these cookies! Great recipe!
Thanks a lot for this very easy and delicious velvet cookies! The kids really loves it and also my friends! Will make it again!
The red velvet cookies were delish and that cream cheese frosting sealed the deal. So good!
I need about a dozen!! Thse were so good and incredibly easy!
I love red velvet recipes. I like that maybe I can control the portion but……doubtful. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! These look fantastic! What a treat!
This red velvet cookies looks yummy