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Red Velvet Cookies Recipe

Red Velvet Cookies Recipe

This Red Velvet Cookies Recipe makes soft chewy cookies with cocoa, butter, cream cheese, and vanilla for an easy homemade dessert.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 2 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 18 cookies
Calories 180 kcal

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls (large and medium)
  • Hand mixer or stand mixer
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Rubber spatula
  • Cookie scoop (optional but helpful)
  • Cooling rack

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon red food coloring
  • 4 oz cream cheese softened

Optional Mix-ins

  • White chocolate chips
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • Cream cheese chunks

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prepare the Dry Ingredients

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt.
  • This step looks simple, but it actually matters a lot. The first time I made this Red Velvet Cookies Recipe, I skipped proper mixing and ended up with uneven cocoa spots in a few cookies.
  • Set the bowl aside.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy.
  • This usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes with a hand mixer.
  • The mixture should look pale and slightly airy. If it still looks dense, keep mixing a bit longer.

Step 3: Add Cream Cheese

  • Add the softened cream cheese and mix until fully combined.
  • This is what gives the cookies that soft, slightly tangy red velvet flavor.
  • At this point, the mixture might look a little unusual, but don’t worry — it comes together once the dry ingredients are added.

Step 4: Add Egg, Vanilla, and Color

  • Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and red food coloring.
  • The dough will turn a deep red color right away.
  • I noticed the color looks brighter before baking and deepens slightly in the oven.

Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

  • Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
  • Mix on low speed or fold gently with a spatula until just combined.
  • Try not to overmix here. Overmixing can make the cookies tough instead of soft.
  • If you’re adding chocolate chips, fold them in now.

Step 6: Chill the Dough

  • Cover the bowl and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
  • This step is important.
  • The first time I skipped chilling in this Red Velvet Cookies Recipe, the cookies spread way too much and lost their shape.
  • Chilling helps the butter firm up and keeps the cookies thick and chewy.

Step 7: Shape the Cookies

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Scoop out dough using a cookie scoop or tablespoon and roll into balls.
  • Place them on the baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie because they will spread slightly.

Step 8: Bake

  • Bake for 10–12 minutes.
  • The edges should look set, but the centers will still look slightly soft.
  • That’s exactly what you want.
  • Don’t overbake them or they’ll lose that chewy texture.

Step 9: Cool

  • Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
  • At first they will feel soft, almost underbaked, but they firm up as they cool.

Notes

  • Use room temperature ingredients for smoother mixing.
  • Chill dough longer if your kitchen is warm.
  • Use a cookie scoop for even baking.
  • Add white chocolate chips for extra sweetness.
  • Slightly underbake for softer cookies.
  • Let cookies cool fully before storing.
Keyword Red Velvet Cookies Recipe