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Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies: A Sweet Bite of Comfort

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Red velvet crinkle cookies are a fun and delicious treat that’s perfect for beginners. With their vibrant color, crackled sugar coating, and rich cocoa flavor, these cookies are simple to make and always a hit. Whether you’re new to baking or looking for an easy yet impressive recipe, these cookies are a great choice for any occasion. Let’s get started and bake these perfect bite-sized delights!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour – This forms the base of the cookie dough, providing structure and stability. Be sure to measure the flour accurately to avoid a dense dough. Use the spoon-and-level method when measuring to ensure the correct amount of flour is used.
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder – Unsweetened cocoa powder gives these cookies their rich, chocolatey flavor. It’s essential to use unsweetened cocoa powder, as sweetened cocoa could alter the balance of sweetness in the recipe.
  • 1 tsp baking powder – Baking powder is the leavening agent that allows the cookies to rise slightly and gives them a soft, tender texture. It’s crucial for achieving that perfect balance between chewy and cake-like.
  • 1/4 tsp salt – Salt is often an underrated ingredient in baking, but it helps enhance and balance the flavors. It cuts the sweetness slightly and deepens the richness of the chocolate.
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened – Butter adds richness and helps create the perfect texture in your cookies. Using unsalted butter allows you to have full control over the amount of salt in the dough.
  • 1 cup granulated sugar – Sugar is the sweetener in the dough, and it also contributes to the cookies’ chewy texture. It helps the cookies spread slightly as they bake, which is key to creating those lovely cracks.
  • 2 large eggs – Eggs provide moisture and help bind the dough together. They also contribute to the cookies’ structure, helping them hold their shape during baking.
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract – Vanilla extract adds depth to the flavor of the cookies, complementing the chocolatey and slightly tangy red velvet profile.
  • 1 tbsp red food coloring – Red food coloring is what gives these cookies their signature vibrant hue. Be sure to use gel or paste food coloring instead of liquid, as it will not alter the dough’s consistency.
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar (for rolling) – Powdered sugar creates the signature crackled effect as the cookies bake. It’s an essential part of what makes these cookies so visually striking.

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven and Prepare Your Baking Sheets

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This step ensures that the cookies won’t stick to the pans, and the parchment paper makes for easy cleanup.

2. Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Whisking ensures the dry ingredients are evenly distributed and helps to prevent any lumps in the cocoa powder. Set this dry mixture aside while you work on the wet ingredients.

3. Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat for about 2-3 minutes, until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This process is key to creating the soft, chewy texture of the cookies. The air incorporated into the butter and sugar will give the cookies their lightness.

Once the butter and sugar are well combined, add in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. This will help the eggs emulsify into the butter mixture and ensure that your dough comes together smoothly.

Stir in the vanilla extract and red food coloring. The red coloring will give the dough its beautiful red velvet hue, but be sure to mix it thoroughly so that the color is evenly distributed.

4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients in small batches. Use your mixer on low speed to avoid flour flying out of the bowl. Mix just until combined—do not overmix, as this can cause the cookies to become tough. At this stage, the dough will be soft and a little sticky, which is perfectly fine!

5. Chill the Dough

Cover the dough with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container, and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. Chilling the dough is an important step because it helps the cookies maintain their shape while baking. It also makes the dough easier to handle and less sticky when forming cookie balls.

6. Shape the Cookies

Once the dough is chilled, it’s time to shape the cookies. Using a tablespoon or a cookie scoop, scoop out small portions of dough and roll them into 1-inch balls. The dough should be soft but firm enough to hold its shape. If the dough sticks to your hands, dust them lightly with flour or use parchment paper to handle the dough.

7. Coat the Dough in Powdered Sugar

Place the powdered sugar in a small bowl. Roll each dough ball in the powdered sugar until it is completely coated. This will create the crackled appearance as the cookies bake. Don’t skimp on the sugar coating—this is the key to achieving that perfect crinkle effect.

8. Bake the Cookies

Place the dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. The cookies will spread as they bake, so it’s important to leave room between each ball. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the cookies have a beautiful cracked appearance. The centers should still be soft to the touch.

9. Cool and Enjoy

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from breaking apart while they’re still warm. Enjoy them as a sweet treat with a cup of coffee, milk, or hot cocoa!

Notes

  • Accurate Measuring: Always measure your ingredients accurately. For flour, use the spoon-and-level method to avoid adding too much, which can make your cookies dense.
  • Chill the Dough: Don’t skip the chilling step! Chilling helps the dough firm up and prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
  • Proper Baking Time: Be careful not to overbake the cookies. They should be soft in the center when you remove them from the oven. They will continue to cook slightly as they cool.
  • Make Even Dough Balls: Use a cookie scoop to ensure all the cookies are the same size, which helps them bake evenly.
  • Rolling in Powdered Sugar: Don’t be shy when rolling your dough balls in powdered sugar. A generous coating creates the signature crinkle effect.

Find it online: https://paularecipes.com/red-velvet-crinkle-cookies-a-sweet-bite-of-comfort/