These Valentine’s Day red velvet cookies are soft, thick, and beautifully vibrant, topped with a silky cream cheese frosting that makes them feel extra special. The bright red color and smooth swirl of frosting give them a romantic, bakery‑style look, while the flavor balances mild cocoa with tangy cream cheese. They’re simple to make, gorgeous to serve, and perfect for sharing with someone you love.
Ingredients
Cookies:
- Butter: ½ cup (110 g)
- Granulated sugar: ½ cup (100 g)
- Brown sugar: ½ cup, packed (100 g)
- Red gel food coloring: ½ teaspoon
- Egg: 1 large
- Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon
- All‑purpose flour: 1¾ cups (230 g)
- Dutch‑process cocoa powder: 2 tablespoons (10 g)
- Baking powder: ½ teaspoon
- Baking soda: ½ teaspoon
- Salt: ½ teaspoon
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Butter: ½ cup (120 g)
- Cream cheese: 2 oz (¼ block of an 8‑oz brick)
- Powdered sugar: 1¾ cups, sifted (220 g)
- Vanilla bean paste: ¼ teaspoon
Steps
- Preheat the oven
Set your oven to 350°F.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream the butter and sugars
Beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the wet ingredients
Mix in the eggs, vanilla, and red food coloring until the mixture is smooth and evenly colored.
- Combine the dry ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Mix wet and dry
Add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture gradually.
Stir until a thick dough forms – don’t overmix.
- Chill the dough
Refrigerate the dough so the cookies bake thick and don’t spread too much.
- Scoop and bake
Scoop dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet.
Bake at 350°F until the edges are set and the centers look slightly soft.
- Cool completely
Let the cookies cool fully on a rack so the frosting won’t melt.
- Make the frosting
Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
- Frost the cookies
Pipe or spread the cream cheese frosting onto the cooled cookies.
Work Cited
Julie Marie Eats. “Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting.” Julie Marie Eats, 6 Nov. 2025, https://juliemarieeats.com/red-velvet-cookies-with-cream-cheese-frosting/..
