If you’re looking for a fun, festive, and absolutely delicious treat to make for Valentine’s Day, look no further than these Red Velvet Cookies. These soft, chewy cookies are a beautiful shade of red, just perfect for the holiday, and they’re packed with the classic flavor of red velvet cake—without all the fuss of a full-sized cake! Whether you’re baking for a special someone, hosting a Valentine’s party, or just indulging in a sweet treat, these cookies are sure to steal the show.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
There’s something irresistible about the combination of rich, velvety chocolate flavor and a slight tang from the buttermilk in these cookies. They’re not overly sweet but have just the right amount of richness, and the vibrant red color adds the perfect pop for a Valentine’s Day treat. Plus, they come together quickly and require no special decorating skills. These cookies are perfect for sharing, but you may just want to keep them all to yourself!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make these delightful Red Velvet Cookies:
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Unsalted butter (softened)
- Eggs
- Cocoa powder
- Baking soda
- Buttermilk (or buttermilk substitute)
- Red food coloring
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- White chocolate chips (optional, for extra sweetness)
For the full list of ingredients and measurements, you can check below. But these are the essentials that will create the most beautiful and delicious red velvet cookies.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the Cookie Dough
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes with a hand mixer or stand mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, add the vanilla extract and buttermilk.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until combined. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to get everything evenly incorporated. Finally, add a few drops of red food coloring, stirring until the dough reaches your desired shade of red. If you want a deeper red, feel free to add more food coloring.
Step 2: Chill the Dough
Once the dough is ready, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Chilling the dough helps the cookies hold their shape while baking and ensures they come out soft and chewy. This step is crucial for getting the perfect cookie texture, so don’t skip it!
Step 3: Scoop and Shape the Cookies
After chilling the dough, scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. If you’d like, you can gently press down on each cookie dough ball with the back of a spoon or your fingers to slightly flatten them, but they will naturally spread a little as they bake. If you’re adding white chocolate chips, press a few into the top of each cookie before baking.
Step 4: Bake the Cookies
Bake the cookies in your preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops look slightly cracked. Don’t overbake—these cookies are meant to be soft and chewy. Remove them from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Once your Red Velvet Cookies are completely cool, they’re ready to serve! These cookies are perfect for a sweet Valentine’s treat or as part of a gift basket for your loved ones. If you like, you can drizzle them with a little melted white chocolate for an extra special touch.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Don’t skip the chilling step: Chilling the dough is key to preventing the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. If you want a thicker cookie, chill the dough for even longer—up to 2 hours if you can!
- Adjust the red color: Different brands of red food coloring vary in strength. Start with a small amount and add more until you get the desired shade of red.
- Add texture: If you want to add some texture and extra sweetness, fold in some white chocolate chips or even mini chocolate chips for a fun twist.
- Avoid overbaking: The cookies will continue to cook a little bit after you take them out of the oven. Keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t get too dark.
Recipe Variations and Possible Substitutions
- Buttermilk substitute: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to 1 cup of milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using it in the recipe.
- Chocolate chips: Instead of white chocolate chips, you could use semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips to complement the red velvet flavor.
- Add-ins: To make these cookies even more festive, you could fold in heart-shaped sprinkles, or mini marshmallows, or drizzle them with a bit of chocolate ganache after baking.
Serving and Pairing Suggestions
These Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cookies are perfect on their own, but they also pair beautifully with a cup of coffee, hot chocolate, or even a glass of cold milk. They’d make an adorable addition to a Valentine’s Day cookie box or dessert platter. If you’re having a special dinner or party, they would be great as part of a dessert table or alongside a rich chocolate cake.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store these Red Velvet Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you’d like to keep them fresh longer, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Simply place the cookies in a freezer-safe bag or container, and when you’re ready to enjoy them, let them thaw at room temperature for a few hours. To reheat, pop them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to soften them up again.
FAQs
1. Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the dough in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days before baking. You can also freeze the dough for up to a month and bake them when you’re ready.
2. Can I use a different type of food coloring?
Absolutely! If you prefer, you can use gel food coloring, which is more concentrated and gives a deeper red color without affecting the dough’s texture.
3. Can I make these cookies without cocoa powder?
While cocoa powder is a key ingredient in giving these cookies their signature red velvet flavor, you could try using all-purpose flour and adding a little bit of melted chocolate in place of the cocoa powder. The flavor will be different, but still delicious!
4. Can I freeze these cookies?
Yes, these cookies freeze very well! Just make sure they are fully cooled before storing them in an airtight container or freezer bag. To enjoy, thaw them at room temperature or warm them up for a few seconds in the microwave.
Conclusion
These Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cookies are the perfect way to show someone you care this holiday. With their soft, chewy texture and beautiful red color, they’re sure to brighten anyone’s day. Whether you’re sharing them with a loved one, giving them as a gift, or simply enjoying them yourself, they’re the ultimate sweet treat to celebrate the season of love. Happy baking!
Print
Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cookies: A Sweet Treat for Your Loved Ones
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour (including chilling)
- Yield: 24–30 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These soft, chewy Red Velvet Cookies are a festive and delicious treat for Valentine’s Day. Packed with the rich flavor of red velvet cake and a vibrant red color, these cookies are perfect for sharing or gifting to loved ones.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup buttermilk (or buttermilk substitute)
- 2–3 tbsp red food coloring (adjust for desired shade)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time, then add vanilla extract and buttermilk.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until fully combined.
- Add red food coloring, stirring until dough reaches desired color.
- Chill dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls. Place them on the baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Optionally, press white chocolate chips into the top.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are set and tops are slightly cracked. Do not overbake.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Chill the dough: Chilling helps the cookies hold their shape and ensures they are soft and chewy.
- Red coloring: Adjust the amount of food coloring based on how vibrant you want the cookies to be.
- Optional add-ins: For extra sweetness and texture, fold in white or dark chocolate chips.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg