Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies (Printable Version)
Fudgy, red-hued crinkle treats with cocoa and powdered sugar coating, ideal for holidays and celebrations.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
09 - 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon red food coloring
11 - 1/2 cup buttermilk, room temperature
→ Coating
12 - 3/4 cup powdered sugar
# How-To:
01 - Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Set aside for later use.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk melted butter and granulated sugar until well blended. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Incorporate vanilla extract, vinegar, and red food coloring until uniform in color.
03 - Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Begin and end with dry ingredients. Mix only until just incorporated—overmixing will toughen the cookies.
04 - Cover bowl and refrigerate dough for minimum 2 hours or until firm enough to handle. This step is essential for proper cookie shape and texture.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
06 - Place powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Scoop chilled dough by tablespoonfuls, roll into smooth balls, and generously coat each ball completely in powdered sugar.
07 - Place coated dough balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets to allow for spreading during baking.
08 - Bake for 11 to 13 minutes until cookies are puffed and surface shows characteristic crackling. Centers should remain soft when lightly touched.
09 - Let cookies rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes to set. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely before storing.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between the snowy white coating and the deep red crinkle is absolutely stunning on any platter
- These cookies stay soft and fudgy for days thanks to the buttermilk and careful baking time
02 -
- Chilling the dough is absolutely necessary or your cookies will spread into thin puddles
- The powdered sugar coating must be thick and complete for proper crackling
03 -
- Scoop all dough balls before rolling so you can work quickly and keep dough cold
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform size and even baking