Red velvet cookies are everything you love about the iconic cake — but in handheld, chewy form. With their striking crimson color, subtle cocoa flavor, and soft texture, these cookies are both eye-catching and indulgent. They offer a satisfying alternative to traditional chocolate or sugar cookies, and are perfect for everything from holidays to everyday sweet cravings.
What sets red velvet apart is its unique balance of flavors. It’s not quite chocolate, not quite vanilla — but a little bit of both. That soft hint of cocoa combined with the slight tang typically found in red velvet treats (often thanks to buttermilk or cream cheese) gives these cookies their signature taste. The addition of red coloring gives them visual flair that’s especially fitting for Valentine’s Day, Christmas cookie boxes, or anytime you want something a little more dramatic on your dessert table.
Red velvet cookies are often studded with white chocolate chips or finished with a drizzle of cream cheese glaze, both of which highlight the richness of the dough and give the cookies a creamy contrast. They’re thick, soft in the middle, and slightly crisp around the edges — the perfect texture for anyone who loves a bakery-style cookie.
Beyond their flavor, red velvet cookies are also a fun way to surprise guests or make an everyday treat feel a little more special. They look great in cookie tins, pair wonderfully with coffee or milk, and can even be turned into ice cream sandwiches or cookie sandwiches with a cream cheese filling.
If you’re a fan of red velvet cake or just looking to shake up your usual cookie routine, red velvet cookies are a stylish and satisfying choice. They’re a little unexpected, undeniably delicious, and sure to stand out on any dessert table.

Ingredients
- 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon red food coloring
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a separate large bowl, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until creamy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix well. Stir in the red food coloring.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in the white chocolate chips.
- Drop tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are slightly soft.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
My son loved these!! Perfect for a school party. They disappeared fast!
I don’t get why people love these. They taste… just okay to me.
Easy recipe! Just mixed up the order of the ingredients, lol.
LOL, hope mixing it up didn’t ruin anything! I guess we’ll see how they turn out. 😅
Mixing up ingredients isn’t always bad! Sometimes the best recipes come from a little chaos. Can’t wait to try these cookies!
Red velvet is supposed to be cake, not cookies? 🤷♂️
Do we need butter? or can I leave it out? I’m not a baker, lol.
Red velvet? Thought it was just cake! But these cookies surprised me. So delicious!
Yummy! I love white chocolate chips! Seriously, this is a great recipe.
RED VELVET IS MY FAVE!!! Can’t wait to try these. Thanks for the recipe!
I hope these turn out sweet. Red velvet can be hit or miss sometimes. 🤔
Yay! Red velvet cookies sound delish! I can’t wait to indulge in those too!
Red velvet? More like red flop! Didn’t rise at all. What did I do wrong??
I thought red velvet was just for cakes?? Anyway, these cookies are ok, not my favorite. :/
Cookies = Happy! ❤️
These cookies are absolutely divine! Can’t get enough of the white chocolate. 🍪❤️
Turned out too cake-like for my taste. I wanted chewy cookies, not muffins! 😩
I understand how you feel! I prefer my cookies chewy too. Maybe try reducing the baking time next time? 🤔
These cookies are to die for! I could eat the entire batch in one go! YUMM.
These cookies are absolutely delicious! A hit at the party!
Eh, I don’t think these are any better than regular chocolate chip cookies. Disappointing!
Just red food coloring and white chocolate? Seems like a gimmick to me.
I disagree! These cookies have a unique flavor. The red velvet adds something special! ❤️
Made them for a party and they disappeared in minutes! Everyone loved them, especially kids.
Made these for my bf and he didn’t even notice them! Haha, better luck next time. 😂
Looks complicated but actually super easy! Will make again for sure!
I totally agree! They look hard, but the instructions are clear! Can’t wait to try it out myself. 😊
Complicated? Nah, it seems simple to me. Just follow the steps! But how can cookies be red? Is that normal?
I think there’s too much sugar in these – made me feel sick! Won’t try again.
Super easy to make! I substituted the white chocolate chips with dark chocolate. Delicious!
Where’s the red food coloring? I don’t see why I need it…
The red food coloring is key for that classic red velvet look! Without it, they won’t look or taste the same. Trust the recipe! 😊
These cookies are delicious! My kids loved them.
I’m so glad to hear that! These cookies are a hit in my house too. 😊
Really? I don’t know, my kids didn’t like the red food coloring. Thought it was weird. 😕
Best cookies ever!!! I added nuts and they were even better. Yum!
Mmm, I ate them all in one sitting. So good!
Yummy! But my kids didn’t like them much. Too sweet, I guess? 🤷♀️
Maybe try less sugar next time? Kids can be picky about sweetness. 😅
These cookies turned out amazing! Soft and chewy, just how I like them. Thanks!
I was skeptical about the red food coloring. Is it really necessary? They still taste good though.
I get what you mean! The color does look appealing, but it’s mainly for looks. You could skip it if you want, they would still taste great without it.
Nice cookies but too sweet for my taste. I think less sugar would make them better.
I actually think these cookies are perfect as is! The sweetness really brings out the flavors. Maybe try using dark chocolate chips instead of white next time if you want less sweetness?
Are they supposed to be that chewy? Mine weren’t like in the picture.
I think the cookies looked better than they taste. Kinda bland.
I tried making these and it turned into a disaster. I’ll stick to chocolate chip, thanks.
These are the best cookies ever! So soft and chewy, plus the color is stunning. Definitely a keeper!
Totally agree! These cookies are amazing. I’m making them again this weekend!
These look fancy but were sooo easy to make! Will definitely make them again.
I was skeptical at first, but these turned out great! Soft and chewy!
I don’t get it, why add the food coloring? It tastes the same without it…
These cookies are amazing! Perfect balance of flavors. Can’t wait to make them again!
I don’t usually bake, but these are easy and yum!
#NewBaker
Easy? Really? I’ve tried this kind before and they never turn out right. Maybe not all baking is good for beginners. 🤔
I’m glad you found it easy! Red velvet cookies are sooo tasty! Perfect for beginners! 😋
Not what I expected, they were too sweet for my taste.
Too sweet? Nah, that’s the point of red velvet cookies! If you don’t like sweet stuff, maybe stick to plain cookies?
I get it, they can be super sweet, especially with the white chocolate! Maybe next time try using dark chocolate chips instead?
Looks good but I’m skeptical about the red food coloring. Isn’t it bad for you?
Why is it called red velvet? There’s no velvet involved! Just confusing.
I tried making these, but mine turned out a little dry. Not sure what I did wrong. Any tips?