Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

Looking for a festive and delicious treat to make at home? Red velvet crinkle cookies are a wonderful choice. These delightful cookies combine the rich flavors of red velvet cake with the fun and texture of crinkle cookies. Whether you’re baking for the holidays, a special occasion or just because, these cookies will impress family and friends. Plus, they’re easier to make than you might think!

A crinkle cookie gets its iconic appearance from being rolled in powdered sugar before baking. As the dough bakes, it expands and cracks, causing the sugar coating to separate and create a crinkled effect. 

This recipe takes it to another level by incorporating red food coloring and a hint of cocoa powder, giving the cookies a festive look and a rich, slightly chocolaty flavor that sets them apart from traditional crinkle cookies.

Ingredients for Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

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• Butter: This ingredient adds richness and helps create a tender cookie.
• Sugar: Sugar sweetens the dough and helps achieve a crinkly top.
• Large eggs: These ensure that the dough mixes together well and they provide the cookie’s structure.
• White vinegar: The vinegar reacts with the baking powder to give the cookies their lift.
• Red paste food coloring: Red food coloring gives the cookies their signature red velvet look.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor of the cookies.
• All-purpose flour: Flour provides the bulk for the recipe.
• Baking cocoa: Baking cocoa adds a mild chocolate flavor that is classic to red velvet.
• Baking powder: Baking powder helps the cookies rise and become fluffy.
• White baking chips: These white baking chips add a sweet, creamy contrast to the rich, chocolatey dough.
• Confectioners’ sugar: You’ll roll the dough in sweet, powdery confectioners’ sugar to create the crinkle effect.

Directions

Step 1: Cream the butter and sugar

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In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, five to seven minutes. This step is crucial for creating a light texture in your cookies.

Step 2: Add the eggs and wet ingredients

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Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then, mix in the vinegar, red food coloring and vanilla extract until well combined.

Step 3: Combine the wet and dry ingredients

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Whisk together the flour, baking cocoa, baking powder and salt in another bowl. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet mixture, beating until just combined. Stir in the white baking chips.

Step 4: Chill the dough

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Cover the dough and refrigerate for about one hour or until firm. Chilling makes the dough easier to handle and shape.

Step 5: Shape the dough

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Preheat your oven to 350°F. Shape the chilled dough into 1-1/2-inch balls. Roll each ball in powdered sugar until it’s fully coated. This coating creates the distinctive crinkle effect as the cookies bake.

Step 6: Bake and cool

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Place the dough balls 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the tops are cracked and the edges are set. Allow the cookies to cool on the pans for five minutes before moving them to wire racks to cool completely.

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Red Velvet Crinkle Cookie Variations

• Substitute chocolate chips: Instead of white baking chips, try semisweet chocolate chips to achieve a richer chocolate flavor.
• Add peppermint extract: Mix a teaspoon of peppermint extract into the dough for a festive twist.
• Incorporate cream cheese frosting: Add a dollop of cream cheese frosting in the center of each cookie before baking to create a pocket of creamy goodness.

How to Store Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

Store your red velvet crinkle cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. This keeps them fresh and chewy.

Can you freeze red velvet crinkle cookies?

Yes, you can freeze these cookies! Once cooled, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze. After they are frozen, store them in an airtight container or freezer bag. They can be frozen for three months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookie Tips

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What makes a cookie crinkle?

A cookie crinkles because of being rolled in confectioners’ sugar before baking, which causes the dough to crack and the sugar to separate, creating a distinctive crinkled effect.

Why are my crinkle cookies not crinkling?

If your cookies aren’t crinkling, it could be due to not using enough leavening or not rolling the dough balls thickly enough in confectioners’ sugar.

Can I use liquid food coloring instead of paste?

While you can use liquid food coloring, paste food coloring is more concentrated and provides a deeper, richer color without altering the dough’s consistency.

Why did my crinkle cookies spread too much?

If your crinkle cookies are spreading too much, it could be due to the dough being too warm. Chill the dough thoroughly before shaping and baking to prevent excessive spreading.