Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies (Printable)
Tender cocoa cookies with vibrant red hue, filled with smooth cream cheese centers for a stunning dessert.
# What You'll Need:
→ Cookie Dough
01 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 1/4 tsp baking soda
04 - 1/4 tsp salt
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1 large egg yolk
08 - 1 tbsp whole milk
09 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
10 - 1 tsp red food coloring
→ Cream Cheese Filling
11 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
12 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
13 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well blended.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Add egg yolk, milk, vanilla extract, and red food coloring to the butter mixture. Beat until fully incorporated and uniform in color.
05 - Gradually mix in the dry ingredient mixture on low speed until just combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.
06 - In a small separate bowl, whisk together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Set aside until ready to use.
07 - Roll dough into 1-inch balls, approximately 24 cookies total. Place on prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
08 - Using your thumb or the back of a teaspoon, gently press a deep indentation into the center of each dough ball, being careful not to press through to the baking sheet.
09 - Spoon approximately 1/2 teaspoon of the cream cheese filling into each indentation, mounding slightly above the cookie surface.
10 - Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, or until edges are set and centers are slightly puffed. The filling may still appear soft but will firm upon cooling.
11 - Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely before serving or storing.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The combination of chocolate and cream cheese filling creates the perfect balance of tangy and sweet
- These cookies look stunning on any dessert platter and fool everyone into thinking you spent hours on them
02 -
- Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before shaping helps prevent the thumbprints from losing their indentation in the oven
- If your food coloring is liquid rather than gel, you may need to add a teaspoon more flour to compensate for the extra moisture
03 -
- If your thumbprints puff too much and lose their wells, gently press them down again immediately after removing from the oven while they're still soft
- Room temperature ingredients incorporate more easily, so set everything out about 30 minutes before you start mixing