RED VELVET CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Red Velvet Christmas Cookies combine the classic flavors of red velvet cake with the beloved texture of a sugar cookie. This easy cookie recipe is perfect for holiday gatherings, offering a soft and rich treat that stands out on any dessert table!

With simple ingredients like sugar cookie mix, cocoa powder, and cream cheese, anyone can create this delightful red velvet cookies recipe at home. Every bite of these frosted cookies transports one to a world of flavor and texture, making them a memorable addition to holiday traditions.

Be sure to check out our updated collection of SANTA APPROVED CHRISTMAS SWEETS & TREATS here!

Red Velvet Cookies- A Recipe the Whole Family Will Enjoy!

Red Velvet Holiday Cookies are a festive treat that can be made easily at home. They combine the classic flavors of red velvet cake in a cookie format, making them perfect for sharing.

To elevate these rich cookies, a creamy frosting made with cream cheese and powdered sugar is essential. The addition of red food coloring not only enhances the festive appearance but also makes these cookies a visually appealing choice for celebrations. Knowing how to balance the richness of the cookies with the sweetness of the frosting results in a harmonious dessert that will impress guests!

Why you’ll love this Holiday Cookie Recipe

• Simply delightful. The combination of cocoa powder and cream cheese contributes to a rich, moist texture that is hard to resist. The added food coloring not only enhances their appearance but adds to the festive spirit.
• Easy steps. Preparation of these cookies is straightforward. With simple ingredients like sugar cookie mix and butter, the dough comes together quickly. The use of softened cream cheese in both the cookies and frosting enhances flavor and texture.
• Switch up the occasion. These cookies are versatile, they can be decorated for various occasions or enjoyed plain. Christmas is an obvious choice for these colorful cookies, but they would also work well for Valentine’s Day, or a themed party as well. Just switch up the sprinkles to match your event!

Ingredients for Red Velvet Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookie mix: For the base of this easy Christmas cookie recipe, you need one 12-oz package of sugar cookie mix. Any brand you love or have on hand will work great.

Butter: Add ½ cup (1 stick) of butter, softened, to create soft, rich tasting cookies.

Egg: Give the cookies great texture and help bind the ingredients together by adding 1 egg.

Cocoa powder: You need ⅓ cup of cocoa powder to create incredibly flavorful treats.

Cream cheese: Adding 4-oz of cream cheese, softened, makes the cookies soft and airy.

Food coloring: Give the cookies a colorful appearance by using 3 tsp of red food coloring.

Cream cheese frosting

Cream cheese: The base of this amazing frosting is 4-oz of cream cheese, softened.

Butter: Add 2 tsp of butter, softened, to provide the structure and spread ability, allowing the frosting to be smoothed onto the cookies easily.

Powder sugar: Sweeten the topping perfectly with 1 cup of powdered sugar.

Milk: Thin the mixture out by adding 2-3 TBSP of milk, possibly more to reach the level of consistency desired.

Vanilla extract: Enhance all the flavors by adding ½ tsp of vanilla extract.

How to Make Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep

To start, get the oven preheating to 375 degrees F. Then line two baking sheets with parchment paper, or silicon mats, and set them aside.

Cookie dough

Next in a medium-sized bowl, stir together the cookie mix, butter, egg, cream cheese, and the red food coloring until all the ingredients are well blended.

Drop rounded tablespoons of cookie dough at least 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.

Now spray the bottom of a drinking glass with nonstick cooking spray and gently press down on the dough to flatten them into 2.5-inch diameter circles.

Bake

Proceed to place the cookies in the preheated oven and bake for 9-10 minutes. Let the cookies cool completely after baking, before topping with the frosting.

Cream cheese frosting

To make the cream cheese frosting, beat the cream cheese and butter using an electric mixer, until the mixture is smooth and lump free.

After that add in the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Continue mixing until smooth.

Then spread the frosting onto each cookie and top with holiday sprinkles, if desired.

Serve cookies immediately and enjoy!

Serving suggestions for Red Velvet Christmas Cookies

Red Velvet Sugar Cookies pair wonderfully with a variety of beverages and occasions. Consider serving them during festive gatherings or holiday parties.

Beverage Pairings:

• Coffee: A warm cup of coffee complements the sweet and rich flavors of the cookies.
• Milk: Classic milk enhances the cookie experience, especially for children.
• Hot Chocolate: This rich drink accentuates the chocolate notes in the cookies.

Presentation Ideas:

• Platter Display: Arrange cookies on a decorative platter for an eye-catching presentation.
• Gift Wrapping: Package cookies in festive boxes or bags as thoughtful gifts.
• Cookie Tower: Stack cookies on a tiered stand for a dramatic dessert display.

Do cookies made with cream cheese need to be refrigerated?

Using cream cheese as an added ingredient does reduce the shelf life of baked goods. As such, placing the cookies in an airtight container within the fridge can be a great way to get a few more days out of the cookies. But that’s optional as these cookies can do just fine at room temp for up to 3 days.

What Do Red Velvet Cookies Taste Like?

Red velvet is a unique flavor that is brought on by cocoa powder and some sort of acidic addition. In most cases, it’s the addition of buttermilk or vinegar. With these red velvet cookies, however, the acidic ingredient is actually cream cheese. This not only gives you that famous red velvet flavor but also helps to produce light and airy cookies you can’t resist!

Should Butter be Softened for Cookies?

Using softened butter for cookies is an easy way to get a great cookie. The temperature of your butter actually has a huge effect on the end results when it comes to cookies. If your butter is too melted, your cookies will be flat and have more crispness and chew. If your butter is too cold, it won’t fully incorporate into the batter and will have chunks of butter resulting in uneven cookies. Softened butter, is ideal because it can create perfectly fluffy and consistently shaped cookies.

Can you freeze cookies with cream cheese?

With or without the frosting, these cookies can be frozen for up to 1 month. I recommend freezing them until solid on a flat cookie sheet before transferring to a Ziploc bag. Alternatively, the dough can also be frozen before use for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge and then use it as directed.

How do you store cookies with frosting?

You may already know that it can be difficult to store frosted cookies due to the frosting bonding cookies together during the time they spend sitting. There’s a nifty little trick to help bypass this unfortunate side effect though. In an airtight container, lay an even (nonoverlapping) layer of frosted cookies. Place a cut sheet of parchment paper on top, and then another layer.

Repeat until the cookies are all stacked and the container is sealed closed. Now the cookies are easy to grab, and as a worst-case scenario, you can scrape the frosting off the parchment paper and put it back on the cookie before eating. Or lick the frosting off like a cupcake wrapper, I won’t judge.

Want more great Red Velvet recipes? Check these out!

• Red Velvet Oreo Balls 
• Red Velvet Valentine Cookies 
• Patriotic Red Velvet Trifle
• Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies 
• Red Velvet Whoopie Pies 
• Oreo Red Velvet Brownies
• Mini Red Velvet Bundt cakes
• Homemade Red Velvet Brownies

With these red velvet Christmas cookies topped with cream cheese frosting, you’ll have a winning cookie recipe for your holiday cookie exchanges or yourself. The rich flavors and bright colors make them perfect for any festive occasion.