Irresistible Heart-Shaped Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
These heart-shaped red velvet crinkle cookies feature a tender, fudgy center with a festive powdered sugar coating, perfect for Valentine’s Day treats that are quick, easy, and delicious.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons (about 15g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons red gel food coloring
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
- About 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a large bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In another bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, softened cream cheese, and red gel food coloring until the mixture is smooth and evenly colored.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined. Avoid over-mixing.
- Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Once chilled, scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Roll each ball generously in powdered sugar until fully coated. For heart shapes, gently press each dough ball into a heart cookie cutter or shape by hand.
- Place the shaped cookies on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10–12 minutes until the tops crackle and edges set but centers remain soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Chilling the dough is essential to maintain the heart shape and achieve the perfect crinkle effect. Use gel food coloring for vibrant red color without thinning the dough. Avoid over-mixing to keep cookies tender. If cookies spread too much, chill dough longer. For extra crisp edges, bake a few minutes longer but watch carefully to avoid burning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Protein: 2
Keywords: red velvet cookies, crinkle cookies, heart-shaped cookies, Valentine's Day treats, easy cookies, homemade cookies, festive cookies