Best Ever Red Velvet Cookie Recipe (Really!)
Red velvet-anything is one of my weaknesses. It’s right up there with peanut butter as being one of the best dessert flavors of all time — and yet, I somehow haven’t shared a classic red velvet cookie recipe before now. It’s a totally from-scratch recipe, no cake mix here. To me, the best red velvet cookies are chewy around the edges but still soft and slightly fudgy in the center. I want the cookies to have a rich cocoa flavor and be have an alluring red color. These quick and easy cookies are winners on all counts! Because I love pairing my red velvet desserts with some kind of chocolate element, I folded white chocolate chips into the cookie dough. White chocolate chips are sweet and creamy, and they go perfectly with the rich red velvet cookies but you can use milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips. Best of all, there are no special ingredients required to achieve that classic red velvet flavor! To color the cookie dough, I used liquid food coloring. You can make these as subdue or intensely red as you like. Red velvet desserts are especially perfect for Valentine’s Day and Christmas, but these red velvet white chocolate chip cookies can be enjoyed any time of year!
Red Velvet Cookies Ingredients
This recipe is very simple and calls for no special ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to make red velvet cookies with white chocolate chips:
All-purpose flour Unsweetened natural cocoa powder Salt Unsalted butter Light brown sugar Granulated sugar Egg Milk (any kind) Vanilla extract Liquid red food coloring White chocolate chips (optional)
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Red Velvet Cookies From Scratch
It doesn’t get much easier than this recipe for red velvet cookies! Make sure to plan accordingly because the cookie dough MUST chill in the fridge for one hour before being scooped into balls and baked. In these cookies I use liquid food color because I didn’t make them extremely red nor a fire-engine vibrant red. If that’s what you’re trying to accomplish, I would consider gel because you don’t need as much (it’s more concentrated). In certain recipes (think brownies which are already dark), you may need to add nearly the entire 1-ounce bottle of liquid food color to ‘override’ the chocolate color and get the batter as red as you will from a fraction of the quantity of gel food color. Here’s a look at how the red velvet white chocolate chip cookies are prepared:
Recipe Tips
Bake time: You want the cookies to be chewy around the edges but remain soft in the middle. You’ll know they’re ready to be pulled out of the oven when the edges are set and the centers have just barely set. Remember that cookies finish setting up as they sit on the baking sheet exposed to room temp air. White chocolate chips: The white chocolate chips are optional, so feel free to omit them entirely if you don’t like them or don’t have any on hand. They can also be replaced with another kind of chocolate chip. Make-ahead option: Consider making a batch of red velvet cookie dough, scooping it into balls, and then freezing to bake off later. I always bake my cookie dough from frozen and add 1 to 2 minutes to the total time, as needed.
Recipe Variations to Try
This is such a simple red velvet cookie recipe that there’s not a whole lot you can do in the way of ingredient swaps or substitutions. However, there are a few delicious ways you can customize these cookies:
Replace the white chocolate chips with another kind, such as dark, milk, or semi-sweet. Use another mix-in entirely such as crushed Oreo pieces, M&M’s, peanut butter chips, toffee chips, or even finely chopped candy bars could all work! Top with frosting. Homemade or store-bought would both work, and you can either frost classic red velvet cookies or white chocolate chip red velvet cookies. Some frosting ideas include chocolate frosting, chocolate ganache, and cream cheese frosting. Create cookie sandwiches by adding a spoonful of frosting (any kind!) between two red velvet cookies.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover red velvet cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Or, store the baked cookies in a zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. You can also scoop the cookie dough into balls and freeze for up to 3 months. I recommend baking the cookie dough balls from frozen – no need to thaw first – noting that you will likely need to add a minute or two to the total bake time.
More Easy Red Velvet Recipes:
Chocolate Chip Red Velvet Cookies — These chocolate chip red velvet cookies have a secret ingredient — cake mix! These cookies are super ooey gooey and ultra rich! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies — Rich, decadent, red velvet brownies topped with tangy cream cheese swirls!! PERFECT for Valentine’s Day, the Christmas season, or anytime you’re craving red velvet! EASIER than you think to make!! Chocolate-Swirled Red Velvet Brownies — These FROM SCARTCH easy red velvet brownies are topped with an abundance of chocolate and are velvety soft and smooth! They don’t call it red velvet for nothing! Red Velvet Poke Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting — If you like red velvet, you’re going to LOVE this EASY red velvet cake recipe!! Super soft, moist, topped with luscious cream cheese frosting and chocolate chips! Perfect for holidays and special events! Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting — If you’ve ever wanted to make red velvet cupcakes from scratch that are as good as those you’d find in a bakery, try this hassle-free recipe! The BEST Red Velvet Truffle Cupcakes — Tender fluffy red velvet cupcakes stuffed with chocolate truffles and topped with sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting! EASY to make and the PERFECT Valentine’s Day or holiday treat sure to impress your family and friends! Red Velvet Cream Cheese Muffins – Cream cheese in the batter keeps the muffins so soft! The buttery crumb topping is just irresistible!! Christmas Red Velvet Poke Cake — The EASIEST and most impressive red velvet Christmas cake! You’ll have your friends and family thinking you’re a rock star pastry chef! Moist red velvet cake is infused with white chocolate pudding, then topped with whipped topping, sprinkles, and white chocolate curls! Ready in ONE HOUR and uses shortcut ingredients to make your job as easy and hassle-free as possible!
