Description
Red velvet thumbprint cookies bring classic Southern charm to holiday desserts, blending rich cocoa and velvety texture. Creamy cream cheese filling nestled in crimson cookie centers offers sweet indulgence you’ll crave with every delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp red food coloring
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Filling:
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Decoration:
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Cream butter and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
- Incorporate egg, red food coloring, and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, blending until smooth and vibrant red.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing until a uniform dough forms.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into smooth balls, placing them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Create a gentle indentation in the center of each cookie using the back of a measuring spoon or your thumb.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set and cookies appear slightly cracked.
- Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
- While cookies cool, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy and smooth.
- Transfer cream cheese filling into a piping bag or small spoon.
- Carefully fill the thumbprint indentations with cream cheese mixture.
- Refrigerate cookies for 15 minutes to set the filling.
- Dust with additional powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
- Experiment with natural food coloring alternatives like beetroot powder for a chemical-free red hue that maintains vibrant color.
- Ensure butter is room temperature for smoother mixing and better cookie texture, preventing dense or tough results.
- Chill dough for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading and create more defined thumbprint shapes during baking.
- Adjust cream cheese filling consistency by adding more powdered sugar for firmer texture or a splash of milk for softer spread.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg