Description
Delight in these charming Red Velvet Cookie Cups filled with smooth and tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfectly baked to form a tender, cocoa-infused cookie base with a vibrant red hue, they bring festive elegance to any dessert table or holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Cookie Dough
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin pan or line it with paper liners to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
- Create Cookie Dough Base: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, milk, vanilla extract, and red food coloring into the creamed mixture until thoroughly incorporated and the dough turns a vibrant red color.
- Combine Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms with consistent color and texture.
- Form Cookie Cups: Scoop approximately 1½ tablespoons of dough into each muffin cup, pressing gently in the center to create a small well that will hold the frosting.
- Bake: Bake the cookie dough cups in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers puff slightly, indicating they are done.
- Shape the Cups: Remove the pan from the oven and, while the cookies are still warm, use the back of a spoon to press down the centers again gently to reinforce the cup shape.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cookie cups to cool entirely in the pan to set their shape before removing them carefully.
- Prepare Frosting: In a bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating until the frosting reaches a creamy consistency.
- Fill and Serve: Pipe or spoon the cream cheese frosting into the cooled cookie cups just before serving for a delightful treat.
Notes
- Customize your cookie cups by garnishing with sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or a light dusting of cocoa powder for extra flavor and decoration.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
