Soft red velvet thumbprint cookies filled with velvety cream cheese frosting. There is nothing better to satisfy your craving for all things red velvet.
Red velvet is one of my favorite flavors. I would always pick red velvet anything if it was a choice. There's just something about it that I cannot resist. These days, I do try to expand and try new flavors, but red velvet still remains at the top of the best desserts out there.
These red velvet thumbprint cookies have been on my mind for a while and I am so happy I finally got the chance to make them.
How to Keep Thumbprint Cookies From Spreading
Luckily, these cookies do not spread if you follow the directions exactly - and they do not need any chilling!
The first thing to check is that you did not use too much butter or too little flour. Proper measurement is key!
You should also ensure your butter is softened correctly. You should be able to push down on it easy, but it should not be so soft it is practically melting. Any bits of cold butter or butter that is not fully incorporated in your dough can leak and create a mess.
Use a silicone baking mat. The texture on them gives the cookies grip and inhibits spreading.
How do You Make Red Velvet Cookies?
Red velvet desserts are traditionally made by using a chemical reaction that brings out the red hues in cocoa powder. Today, red velvet still uses a bit of that reaction, but the red hue is exaggerated by using red food coloring or red velvet emulsion.
Personally, I prefer to use the emulsion because the color is more concentrated, and the emulsion has flavoring added which boosts the overall flavor of anything you put it into.
These cookies use my favorite thumbprint cookie base slightly adjusted to incorporate the cocoa powder and coloring.
The cookies are then indented and baked fully. Since we fill these cookies with frosting, we do not put them back in the oven. Once they are baked we push down any of the indentations if they've puffed up, and then cool them. Once cool, fill with the frosting.
How Can I Customize My Cookies?
There are so many ways to customize these red velvet thumbprint cookies!
- Roll the unbaked cookies in powdered sugar to make them look like red velvet crinkle thumbprint cookies.
- Fill them with jam (which would need baking like traditional thumbprints).
- Fill them with Nutella or pastry cream. You can add sugar to the top of the pastry cream and torch it for a creme brulee type of red velvet cookie.
- Use a no-bake cheesecake filling.
- Top them with chocolate kisses instead of frosting.
- Try a different food coloring besides red.
How to Store Your Thumbprint Cookies
You should always keep your red velvet thumbprint cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh. They will last up to a week like this.
If you would like to freeze your cookies, store them in an airtight container and leave them in the back of the freezer. They should last up to a month this way. To thaw, leave them in the refrigerator overnight.
Looking for More Red Velvet Recipes?
I've got you covered! You must try my red velvet Nutella-stuffed cookies. You will also love my red velvet churros and edible red velvet cookie dough. If you want to try it in cake form, my red velvet bundt cake is a must-bake!
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