Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Nutriscore Rating: 34/100

Soft, chewy, and vibrantly crimson, these Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting are a decadent way to satisfy your sweet tooth. Featuring the classic tangy cocoa flavor of red velvet cake in a handheld form, these cookies are elevated with a luscious swirl of creamy, homemade frosting. Made with simple pantry staples like all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, and buttermilk, these cookies are irresistibly moist thanks to a perfectly balanced batter, tinted with rich red gel food coloring. Topped with a velvety cream cheese frosting that's whipped to perfection, these cookies are a showstopping treat for holidays, parties, or anytime indulgence. Ready in under 35 minutes with an elegant, bakery-style finish, this recipe is bound to become a favorite. Perfect as a dessert, gift, or centerpiece to brighten up any occasion!

Recipe Information

• Prep Time: 20 min
• Cook Time: 12 min
• Total Time: 32 min
• Servings: 24 servings
• Difficulty: Medium

🥘 Ingredients

15 items

• 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 0.5 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1 unit egg (large)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon red gel food coloring
• 2 tablespoons buttermilk
• 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
• 0.25 cup unsalted butter (softened, for frosting)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)

📝 Instructions

11 steps

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.

4. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and red gel food coloring to the butter mixture. Beat until fully combined, making sure the color is evenly distributed.

5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk. Mix just until combined, being careful not to overmix.

6. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

7. Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the cookies have set around the edges but are still soft in the center.

8. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

9. While the cookies cool, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.

10. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture, beating until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.

11. Once the cookies are completely cooled, spread or pipe the cream cheese frosting onto each cookie. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts

1 serving (62.8g)

Calories		268
% Daily Value*
Total Fat		13.7 g	18%
	Saturated Fat	8.5 g	42%
	Polyunsaturated Fat	0.0 g
Cholesterol		45 mg	15%
Sodium		111 mg	5%
Total Carbohydrate		34.0 g	12%
	Dietary Fiber	0.5 g	2%
	Total Sugars	23.7 g
Protein		2.4 g	5%
Vitamin D		0.2 mcg	1%
Calcium		21 mg	2%
Iron		0.6 mg	3%
Potassium		41 mg	1%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 2965 cal (45.9%%)

Protein: 234 cal (3.6%%)

Carbs: 3266 cal (50.5%%)