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An overhead shot of a stack of chewy red velvet cookies from scratch, showcasing their vibrant color and soft texture.

Red Velvet Cookies Recipe (Chewy & Easy)

The ultimate Red Velvet Cookies Recipe for perfectly soft, chewy, and intensely flavorful treats. This easy-to-follow guide delivers bakery-quality cookies with a vibrant red hue and a classic tangy cream cheese frosting.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 27 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 165
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 1.5 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 0.25 tsp Salt
  • 0.5 cup Unsalted Butter softened
  • 0.75 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 0.25 cup Brown Sugar packed
  • 1 Large Egg room temperature
  • 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 tsp Distilled White Vinegar
  • 1.5 tsp Red Gel Food Coloring
  • 4 oz Cream Cheese softened
  • 0.25 cup Unsalted Butter softened
  • 2 cups Powdered Sugar sifted
  • 0.5 tsp Vanilla Extract

Equipment

  • 2 Baking sheets
  • 1 Electric mixer (hand or stand)
  • 2 Mixing bowls

Method
 

Cookie Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Beat in the egg, followed by the vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and distilled white vinegar. Mix in the red gel food coloring until the color is uniform.
  4. On low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing only until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop 1.5-tablespoon balls of dough onto the sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar, then mix in the vanilla extract.
  2. Once cookies are completely cool, spread or pipe the frosting on top.

Notes

Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading and to develop flavor; do not skip this step.
Use gel food coloring for the most vibrant red color without thinning the dough.
Store frosted cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.