Heavenly Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Red velvet cookies have become my unexpected culinary obsession lately.

Soft, velvety textures with rich crimson colors create intense cravings for this delightful treat.

My kitchen experiments led me to develop a recipe that captures classic southern charm in every sweet bite.

Cream cheese frosting adds luxurious smoothness that perfectly complements the cocoa-infused cookie base.

Subtle chocolate undertones dance across your palate with each delicate morsel.

These cookies bring magic to afternoon tea or midnight snacking adventures.

Why settle for ordinary when you can indulge in something extraordinary that sparks pure deliciousness?

Why Red Velvet Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting Feel Like A Treat

• Quick Weekend Treat: Whip up these vibrant red velvet cookies in under an hour, perfect for satisfying sudden dessert cravings without complicated steps.
• Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: These sandwich-style cookies deliver a delightful combination of rich cocoa flavor and creamy frosting that appeals to both kids and adults at gatherings, parties, and potlucks.
• No-Fuss Baking Experience: The recipe requires basic baking skills and common ingredients, making it accessible for home bakers of all experience levels who want to create impressive-looking treats with minimal effort.
• Festive Color Pop: The striking red color makes these cookies an eye-catching addition to holiday spreads, Valentine's Day celebrations, or any event needing a touch of culinary drama.

Ingredients Needed For Red Velvet Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting

• All-Purpose Flour: The main structure for the cookie base, providing necessary texture and stability.
• Cocoa Powder: Adds rich chocolate flavor and deep red color to the cookies.
• Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and creates a soft, tender texture.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Butter, Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Creates a rich, sweet base with deep caramel undertones.
• Eggs: Binds ingredients together and provides moisture.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, classic flavor to the cookies.
• Red Food Coloring: Gives the signature red velvet color.

• Cream Cheese, Butter: Provides creamy, tangy base for the frosting.
• Powdered Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create smooth, spreadable consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the frosting's flavor profile.

How To Make Red Velvet Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting

Step 1: Mix Wet Ingredients

• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar

Blend until super creamy and light. Gently add eggs one by one, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Pour in vanilla extract and red food coloring, stirring until everything looks vibrant and smooth.

Step 2: Combine Dry Components

• All-purpose flour
• Cocoa powder
• Baking soda
• Salt

Slowly fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender.

Step 3: Shape and Bake Cookies

Warm oven to 350°F. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop rounded dough balls, placing them two inches apart. Slide into oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. Cookies should have set edges but soft centers. Let them rest on baking sheet for five minutes, then transfer to cooling rack.

Step 4: Whip Creamy Frosting

Beat cream cheese and butter until silky smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until fluffy. Stir in vanilla extract for extra flavor.

Step 5: Create Cookie Sandwiches

Once cookies completely cool, spread generous frosting layer on half the cookies. Gently press matching cookies on top, creating delightful sandwich treats.

Tips To Bake Red Velvet Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting Just Right

• Maximize Color Vibrancy: Use gel food coloring instead of liquid for a more intense, deeper red hue without altering the cookie's texture or consistency.
• Perfect Texture Trick: Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and ensure thick, soft cookies with crisp edges.
• Frosting Stabilization Hack: Add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the cream cheese frosting to create a firmer, more spreadable consistency that won't slide off the cookies.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Swap butter with coconut oil and use vegan cream cheese for a plant-based version that maintains the cookie's rich flavor and texture.
• Storage Smart Tip: Store frosted cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to preserve their freshness and prevent frosting from getting soggy.

How To Keep Red Velvet Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting Fresh

• Refrigerate cooled cookie sandwiches in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 5 days.
• Layer cookies between sheets of parchment paper to prevent frosting from sticking together.
• Keep cream cheese frosting sensitive to temperature, so store in the refrigerator to preserve its creamy texture.
• For longer storage, freeze unfrosted cookies in a sealed freezer bag for maximum 3 weeks, thawing at room temperature before adding frosting.

What Tastes Good With Red Velvet Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting

• Pair with Chilled Milk: Enjoy the rich, velvety red velvet cookies alongside a cold glass of milk. The creamy, smooth beverage perfectly balances the sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting, creating a classic comfort food combination.
• Match with Sparkling Rosé: Elevate your dessert experience with a light, bubbly rosé wine. The wine's subtle sweetness and effervescence complement the decadent cookies, cutting through the richness and providing a refreshing contrast.
• Serve with Vanilla Bean Latte: Indulge in a warm vanilla bean latte that echoes the cookie's creamy frosting. The smooth espresso and aromatic vanilla create a delightful harmony with the red velvet's cocoa undertones.
• Complement with Fresh Berries: Add a bright, tart element by serving the cookies with a small side of fresh strawberries or raspberries. The fruit's natural acidity helps balance the sweetness and adds a pop of color to your dessert plate.

Try These Changes To Red Velvet Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting

• Chocolate Chip Red Velvet Cookies: Fold in semi-sweet chocolate chips into the dough for extra richness and texture, creating a decadent chocolate-studded version of the classic red velvet cookie.
• White Chocolate Drizzled Version: After cooling the cookies, drizzle melted white chocolate over the cream cheese frosting for an elegant and sweet enhancement that complements the red velvet flavor.
• Nutty Red Velvet Sandwich: Mix chopped pecans or walnuts into the cookie dough for a crunchy element, adding depth and a subtle nutty undertone to the soft, velvety cookies.
• Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling: Swirl some raspberry preserves into the cream cheese frosting before sandwiching the cookies, introducing a tangy fruit note that balances the sweet base.

FAQs About Red Velvet Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting

• What gives red velvet cookies their distinctive color?

The vibrant red color comes from red food coloring added directly to the cookie dough. The cocoa powder also contributes to the rich, deep red-brown undertone that makes red velvet so recognizable.

• Are red velvet cookies different from regular chocolate cookies?

Yes! Red velvet cookies have a subtle cocoa flavor with a hint of tanginess, unlike traditional chocolate cookies. They’re lighter, more delicate, and have a signature red color that makes them special and eye-catching.

• Can I make these cookies less sweet?

Absolutely! You can reduce the granulated and brown sugar amounts slightly. The cream cheese frosting provides natural sweetness, so you can adjust the cookie’s sweetness to your preference without compromising the overall flavor profile.

• Do I need any special equipment to make these cookies?

Not really. You’ll just need basic baking tools like a mixing bowl, electric mixer, cookie scoop or spoon, and baking sheets. A wire cooling rack helps, but you can also use a clean countertop to cool the cookies.

Red Velvet Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Indulgent Red Velvet Cookies with cream cheese frosting bring classic Southern charm to your dessert table. Chocolate-kissed cookies topped with silky frosting promise a delightful sweet escape you won’t want to miss.

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Ingredients

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Primary Ingredients:

• 1 cup (226 grams / 8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 ½ cups (320 grams) all-purpose flour
• 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened to room temperature

Sugars:

• 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (220 grams) packed light brown sugar
• 2 cups (240 grams) powdered sugar

Flavor and Enhancing Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (25 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon red food coloring
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. Blend softened butter with granulated and brown sugars until airy and voluminous. Incorporate eggs individually, ensuring thorough mixing after each addition. Infuse vanilla extract and vibrant red food coloring into the mixture, creating a uniform crimson batter.
2. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate vessel. Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined without overmixing.
3. Heat oven to 350F (175C). Arrange parchment paper on baking sheets. Portion dough into uniform rounded globes using a cookie scoop, positioning them with ample spacing to prevent merging during baking.
4. Slide trays into preheated oven, baking for 10-12 minutes until edges stabilize and centers remain slightly tender. Allow cookies to rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes, enabling gentle cooling and structural setting.
5. Transfer cookies to wire cooling rack, permitting complete temperature reduction. Meanwhile, whip cream cheese and butter until silky and uninterrupted in texture.
6. Incrementally introduce powdered sugar, blending until frosting achieves luxurious, cloud-like consistency. Enhance with vanilla extract, stirring until fully integrated.
7. Once cookies have reached ambient temperature, apply generous frosting layer to cookie base. Delicately sandwich with complementary cookie, creating elegant, indulgent red velvet cookie confections.

Notes

• Adjust the food coloring intensity to achieve your desired vibrant red hue, remembering that color can deepen during baking.
• Chill the dough for 30 minutes before scooping to prevent excessive spreading and maintain a perfect round shape.
• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth mixing and consistent cookie texture.
• Swap regular flour with gluten-free blend for a celiac-friendly version without compromising taste or structure.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 246
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 170 mg
• Fat: 11 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 36 mg