Why You’ll Love Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies Recipe

These Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies are the perfect mashup—soft and chewy like a cookie, yet rich and indulgent like a cupcake. With their striking red color, subtle cocoa flavor, and creamy frosting on top, they’re festive enough for holidays, birthdays, or just when you want something special.

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp cocoa powder (unsweetened)
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp red food coloring (gel preferred)

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, milk, vanilla, and red food coloring. Mix well.
Gradually add dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined.
Scoop tablespoon-sized dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet. Slightly flatten with your hand.
Bake 9–11 minutes, until edges are set but centers are soft. Let cool completely.
For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; mix until creamy.
Spread or pipe frosting onto cooled cookies.

Servings and Timing

Servings: 18–20 cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Variations

Sandwich Style: Place frosting between two cookies.
Sprinkle Fun: Add festive sprinkles for holidays or birthdays.
Chocolate Drizzle: Drizzle melted white or dark chocolate over the frosting.
No Frosting Option: Roll cookies in powdered sugar before baking for a soft crinkle effect.

Storage/Reheating

Store cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Unfrosted cookies can be frozen for up to 2 months; thaw before frosting.
For best flavor, let chilled cookies sit at room temperature 15 minutes before eating.

FAQs

Q: Can I use natural food coloring?
Yes—beet powder or liquid beet juice concentrate works as a natural alternative.

Q: Can I double the batch?
Absolutely! Just bake in batches so cookies don’t overcrowd.

Q: Do they taste like traditional red velvet cake?
Yes—soft, slightly tangy from the cream cheese frosting, and with a hint of cocoa.

Conclusion

These Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies are a beautiful twist on two classic desserts. They’re soft, rich, and topped with a dreamy cream cheese frosting that makes every bite irresistible. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or any time you want a cookie that stands out!

Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies

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These Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies are the perfect mashup—soft and chewy like cookies, but with the rich flavor and velvety crumb of cupcakes. Finished with a creamy frosting swirl, they’re festive, decadent, and sure to steal the spotlight at any gathering.

Author: Emily
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Yield: 20–24 cookies
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Make the dough: In a large bowl, mix cake mix, eggs, oil, and vanilla until a thick dough forms.
Shape cookies: Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough and roll into balls. Place on baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 10–12 minutes, until edges are set but centers look slightly soft. Let cool completely.
Make frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
Decorate: Pipe or spread frosting onto cooled cookies. Sprinkle with red sprinkles or white chocolate if desired.
Serve and enjoy your cupcake-style cookies!A

Notes

Chill dough for 20 minutes before baking if it feels sticky.
Store cookies in the fridge (airtight container) for up to 5 days.
For extra indulgence, sandwich two cookies together with frosting in between!