It's feeling like winter in Austin today, so why not go with snowflakes. We don't usually get snow here, but it's chilly and wet and about as close as we are going to get before it warms up to 70 degrees this week. For day 9 of the 12 Days of Christmas Baking, we decided to go with red velvet cookies. This is an easy recipe for Red Velvet cookies with a rich red velvet taste and a sweet powdered sugar icing.
"Kindness is like snow, it beautifies everything it covers." -Kahlil Gibran
Red Velvet Cookies
I'm a big red velvet fan, just like a lot of people out there. I saw this Red Velvet cookie recipe from Created by Diane and had to give it a try. We made a few minor adjustments to the recipe, but the inspiration came from her red velvet cutout cookies that she made for a valentines heart cookie.
The red color of the cookie pairs perfectly with the confectioners sugar icing. The white contrast of the icing really makes these red velvet cookies stand out in a tray of cookies. You could easily frost these with royal icing and decorate several cookie cutouts for a variety. Even edible glitter would look beautiful on these cookies.
Drop Cookies or Cut Out Cookies
Since we are making these cookies for holiday gifts I liked the elegant look of the cut out shape. If we were to make drop cookies, they are made by simply dropping a scoop of dough onto the cookie sheet and letting it spread while cooking. The cut out cookies give us an elegant shape.
Ingredients
- Butter
- Confectioner's Sugar
- Eggs
- Red Velvet Emulsion
- Vanilla Extract
- Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder
- Chocolate Chips
- All Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Dry Buttermilk
- Salt
- Milk
- Light Corn Syrup
Where to Find The Red Velvet Emulsion
The recipe calls for a red velvet emulsion from LorAnns. Usually you can find this at baking supply stores, or if you are having no luck there, you can order directly from Amazon as well.
How to Make Red Velvet Cookies
First, heat your oven to 400° F. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and confectioner’s sugar. Mix in red velvet emulsion, egg, vanilla, cocoa powder and melted chocolate. Next, blend in flour, baking powder, dry buttermilk, and salt. Mix until the dough pulls away from the paddle and begins to form a ball. Roll the dough out between two sheets of parchment. Then cut out shapes with a cookie cutter. Place the cut out cookie dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment. Bake for 9 minutes or until tops of the cookies are no longer shiny and appear smooth.
How To Make The Icing
In a bowl combine confectioners sugar, corn syrup, and milk. The consistency will be very thick and hard to stir. Place icing in a pastry bag and pipe the icing onto the cookies after they have cooled.
Pro Tips For Red Velvet Cookies
- Watch baking times on this recipe. The cookie is done when the tops are no longer shiny and they are smooth.
- Roll your dough between two sheets of parchment paper. This helps to prevent things from sticking to it.
- If you can find LorAnns red velvet emulsion, grab it. If not, you can order red velvet emulsion from Amazon too. It's so much better than having to dye your dough with food coloring.
- Chill the dough before removing the cut-out cookies from the bottom layer of parchment paper. This keeps the shapes in tact while they are moved to the cookie sheet.
FAQ
No, not at all. These cookies are quite delicious all on their own.
No, you can leave these in an airtight container on the counter for up to a week.
Yes, either use a silpat or parchment paper.
If you have missed days 1 - 8 of the 12 days of baking, you can find all the recipes here. I'm still declaring the peppermint bark as my favorite, but we still have three more days, and more yummy recipes to come.
Give these Red Velvet Cookies a try. We would love to hear how you do with it. And don't forget to save some for yourself!
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Red Velvet Cookies
Ingredients
Red Velvet Cookies
- 1 cup butter
- 1 ½ cups confectioner's sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon red velvet emulsion
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon Dutch processed cocoa powder
- ¼ cup chocolate chips melted
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons dry buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon salt
Confectioner's Sugar Icing
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
Instructions
Red Velvet Cookies
- Heat oven to 400°F.
- Cream butter and confectioner's sugar in a stand up mixer with paddle attachment.
- Add egg, mix in red velvet emulsion, vanilla, cocoa powder and melted chocolate.
- Blend in flour, baking powder, dry buttermilk, and salt.
- Mix until dough pulls away from paddle and begins to form ball.
- Roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper. Then cut dough with cookie cutter.
- Bake on parchment lined baking sheet for 9 minutes.
Confectioner's Sugar Icing
- Combine confectioners sugar, corn syrup and milk in a bowl. The consistency will be very thick and hard to stir. Place in a pastry bag and pipe the icing onto the cookies.
Notes
Nutrition
Here are a few of our favorite Christmas cookie recipes:
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Oscar says
This looks so good. Can’t wait to try this recipe.
serena says
I hope you enjoy the cookies Oscar!
Jamie says
I love how festive these look!
serena says
Thank you 🙂
Angela says
Such a beautiful Christmas cookie!
serena says
Thanks Angela!
Teresa Eckard says
How thick do you roll the dough? Will definitely try these this year!
serena says
I'd go with about a 1/4 inch
Nailil says
These cookies look amazing and perfect for the holidays. I'll be saving the recipe to try it.
Sara says
Oh my goodness! These are so beautiful, I don't even know if I'd have the guts to eat them.
Jeanine says
Yum! Red velvet cookies! These sound incredible. I’ve never had any cookies like this and I don’t even think I’ve had red velvet anything before. I need to give these a try!
serena says
Everyone needs to try red velvet 🙂 Enjoy!
UtMinh says
A great idea for shaping your pie. This is the recipe I'm looking for Christmas cakes. I think I can not be as beautiful as you, try!
serena says
Thanks!
Amber Florek says
These look absolutely delish! I love the icing decorating too. So wintery and festive! I’ll have to make them with my step daughter.
serena says
I love how these look. The dark red with that frosting is my favorite
Shannon Gurnee says
I've never made Red Velvet Cookies before, but they turned out so cute! I would love to try these sometime.
serena says
Give them a try. Super simple and delicious.
Cindy Ingalls says
These cookies are so beautiful and very well decorated. I like that they are red velvet instead of the traditional sugar cookie. It's an unexpected and delicious surprise.
Quirky Homemaker says
These red velvet snowflake cookies are very pretty. I bet they would stand out on a cookie tray! Hope you at least have cool weather for Christmas! We are WAY too cold here, and I'd be happy to send some your way.
kimberly lewis says
I have a daughter that loves red velvet! she would love these cookies so much and they are so pretty.
Melissa @primpandprimebeauty says
These look amazing! Too gorgeous to eat (almost lol) I wish I was better at baking so that way I can make these to bring to my families houses this Holiday.
AnnMarie John says
I've never seen more elegant looking cookies than that! I really love how you decorated them. It's perfect and it would be so nice to have it during the Holidays!
Pam says
These look yummy! I love red velvet cake and can imagine that they taste just as good (if not better with the confectioner's icing!). We'll have to give these a try- I'd love to try something new this Christmas.
serena says
Enjoy 🙂
Krystel | Disney on a Budget says
These cookies look really good. I know nothing about backing but do you use a shaped sheet for this?
serena says
We used a cookie cutter to get the shape.
Melissa Chapman says
Those cookies look amazing. I love red velvet and the shape and look of those cookies really make them look like snowflakes. If I do any baking I will try these.
Krystal Butherus says
Beautifully made and oh so delicious looking! I bet they taste every bit as good as the pictures show!
Laura @ MommyDearest says
These are beautiful. They are simple yet elegant and I bet they taste delicious. Another recipe to add to my ever growing list