These delightful Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies are soft, chewy, and perfect for any occasion.

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies: Easy & Delicious Recipe 16

They feature that classic red velvet flavor and a beautiful crinkled powdered sugar coating that makes them as pretty as they are delicious. This recipe is designed for ease, bringing that bakery-quality taste right into your kitchen with minimal fuss.

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting, these cookies are a fantastic choice. Their vibrant color and festive appearance make them a hit at gatherings, but they’re simple enough to whip up for an everyday treat. Get ready to impress with these irresistible crinkle cookies!

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Time Needed From Start To Finish
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This Red Velvet Crinkle Cookie recipe is a true winner for many reasons. First, it’s incredibly straightforward, making it perfect for busy weeknights or when you need a quick dessert. The classic red velvet flavor, with its subtle cocoa notes and tender crumb, is universally loved, ensuring these cookies disappear fast. The signature crinkled powdered sugar coating isn’t just beautiful; it adds a lovely sweetness and texture contrast that makes each bite exciting. This recipe is ideal for families, as kids often love the vibrant color and soft texture. You can serve these cookies for casual get-togethers, potlucks, bake sales, or simply as a special treat to brighten an ordinary day. They’re impressive enough for a party but easy enough for a spontaneous baking session.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients before you start is key to a smooth baking process. This recipe uses common pantry staples, so you likely have most of what you need already.

INGREDIENTS:

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon red food coloring (liquid or gel)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup buttermilk
½ cup powdered sugar, for rolling

For the red food coloring, both liquid and gel work well. Gel food coloring often provides a more intense color with less product, but liquid is perfectly fine if that’s what you have. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can easily make a substitute: pour ½ tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice into a liquid measuring cup, then fill the rest of the way to ½ cup with regular milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using. For the cocoa powder, any unsweetened variety will do; natural or Dutch-processed are both suitable for this recipe.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

This recipe is designed to be efficient, getting delicious cookies into your hands without a long wait.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Chill time: 30 minutes (minimum, can be longer)
Cook time: 10-12 minutes
Total time: Approximately 55-60 minutes

The chill time is important for the dough to firm up, which helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much and ensures that iconic crinkle effect. While 30 minutes is the minimum, an hour or even longer won’t hurt if you have the time.

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Making these Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies is a fun and straightforward process. Follow these steps for perfect results every time.

Prepare Your Workspace and Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a shallow bowl, place the ½ cup of powdered sugar for rolling later.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, usually about 2-3 minutes. This incorporates air, making your cookies tender.
Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the red food coloring and vanilla extract until the color is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. This ensures all dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
Alternate Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk. Start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined, being careful not to overmix the dough. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky.
Chill the Dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step is crucial for the cookies to hold their shape and develop the crinkles.
Shape and Roll the Cookies: Once chilled, scoop out rounded tablespoons of dough. Roll each portion into a ball between your palms. Then, roll each dough ball generously in the powdered sugar, ensuring it’s completely coated. Place the coated balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake to Perfection: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the centers are still slightly soft. The cookies will puff up and then flatten slightly as they cool, revealing the beautiful crinkles. Let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

These Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies are fantastic as is, but you can easily adapt them to fit different tastes or occasions. For a fun twist, consider adding white chocolate chips to the dough for an extra layer of sweetness and texture. About ½ cup mixed in at the end of the dough preparation works well. If you love a hint of mint, a ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract can be added with the vanilla for a festive touch, especially around holidays.

When it comes to serving, these cookies are perfect on their own with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. They make a wonderful addition to any dessert platter for parties or potlucks. For a more decadent treat, serve them alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Kids especially love these cookies, and they’re great for school lunches or after-school snacks. You can even make mini versions by using a smaller scoop for bite-sized delights.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have a few common pitfalls. Knowing what to watch out for can help you achieve perfect Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies every time.

One frequent mistake is not chilling the dough enough. If your dough is too warm, the cookies will spread excessively in the oven, and you won’t get those distinct crinkles. Make sure to chill for at least 30 minutes, or even longer if your kitchen is warm.

Another common issue is overmixing the dough. Once you add the flour, mix only until the ingredients are just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, leading to tougher, chewier cookies rather than the desired soft texture.

Not coating the dough balls thoroughly in powdered sugar is another slip-up. The generous coating is what creates the beautiful crinkled effect as the cookie expands during baking. Don’t be shy with the sugar!

Finally, overbaking the cookies can lead to a dry, hard texture. These cookies are best when they are slightly soft in the center when removed from the oven. They will continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet. Keep an eye on them and pull them out when the edges are just barely set.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

Proper storage is key to keeping your Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies fresh and delicious. Once completely cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. To maintain their softness, you can place a slice of plain white bread in the container with the cookies; the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread, keeping them tender.

If you want to make them ahead, you have a couple of options. You can prepare the dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes to soften slightly before scooping and rolling.

For longer storage, you can freeze the baked cookies. Once completely cooled, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe airtight container or bag, separating layers with parchment paper. They will keep well for up to 2-3 months. Thaw them at room temperature before serving. You can also freeze the unbaked dough balls after rolling them in powdered sugar. Place them on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. When ready to bake, bake directly from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.

Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe

Q: Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk? A: Yes, you can make a quick buttermilk substitute. Add ½ tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup, then fill the rest of the way to ½ cup with regular milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.

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FAQs

Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.