I guess it would be kinda blasphemous as a Southern girl to admit that I don’t really like red velvet cake. In my defense, I don’t really like ANY cake. But if I were going to pick one, this one would be a little lower on my list than my mother would like.
Still, I cannot deny my southern roots. I grew up watching Steel Magnolias and have it memorized word for word. It may very well be the infamous red velvet armadillo cake that sealed the deal, but like it or not, red velvet holds a place in my heart and needed to be cookie-fied.
When I first got the idea to make red velvet cookies I searched online for a recipe, but the reviews were so iffy that I didn’t waste the butter. I wanted to create my own recipe with all of the traditional ingredients found in red velvet cake. It took a few tries, but I finally came up with the perfect combination.
The secret to these cookies is this. Do you know what it is?
It’s POWDERED BUTTERMILK! And we all know, red velvet cake MUST have buttermilk.
If it weren’t for my mother-in-law, I’d never even had known that such a thing existed. It’s the perfect way to add buttermilk flavor without softening the dough with extra liquid.
The second secret ingredient is THIS AWESOME RED VELVET EMULSION from Lorann Oils. When I picked it up, I had no idea it would come in so handy. The emulsion has such a deep red color that I didn’t have to add any additional food coloring to the dough, which is good for my conscience, especially since I have mixed feelings about adding a load of red dye to my baked goods.
Combined with cocoa powder, it created the perfect red velvet hue!
This is red velvet at it’s finest…in COOKIE form.
They are wonderful WITH or WITHOUT frosting but it’s been said by some that red velvet cake is nothing more than a vehicle for another Southern specialty, cream cheese frosting. I found great recipes via i am baker, Annie’s Eats, and Glorious Treats.
For those of you who agree, these are AMAZING topped with exactly that. However, if you plan on decorating these babies, try flavoring simple royal icing with a combination butter vanilla, buttery sweet dough {or creme bouquet}, and a splash of almond extract. The texture is a little different, of course, but it compliments the red velvet cookie nicely.
Makes about 3 dozen 3 1/2 inch cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups confectioners sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste {or extract}
- 1 tbsp Lorann red velvet emulsion
- 2-3 tbsp milk
- 1/2 cup Hershey’s Cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup buttermilk powder
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- splash {about 1/2 a tsp} apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Cream together butter and confectioners sugar.
- Add the egg, vanilla, red velvet emulsion, and milk and mix well.
- Start with 2 tablespoons of milk, then add the rest if the dough is a little dry after adding the flour mixture.
- Sift together the cocoa, buttermilk powder, flour, baking powder and salt and add to the wet ingredients.
- As the dough begins to form add a splash of apple cider vinegar. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
- After mixing, let it rest for five to ten minutes, then roll out on parchment paper to 1/4 inch thickness dusting lightly with flour if needed.
- Cut into desired shapes and bake at 400 degrees for 6-7 minutes.
Notes
A few tips to help you along the way:
1. You can mix flour and cocoa powder together for rolling. It doesn’t show up as badly as white flour and adds a little extra flavor.
2. If you can’t get Lorann emulsion, use a teaspoon or two of plain red gel paste, depending on how deep of a color you’d like. Just make sure to keep the amount of liquid the same, meaning you’d need to add a tbsp. of vanilla bean paste rather than 2 tsp.
3. I am not sure what the pint of the vinegar is, especially since there is no baking soda in this recipe, but it didn’t feel right leaving it out, so it’s there.
4. Watch the baking time on these cookies. when the tips are smooth and not shiny, they are done.
5. For tips on baking the perfect cookie click HERE.
So, I have to ask. Red velvet…love it, or hate it?!
I did it! My nephew got engaged and his fiance is a big fan of red velvet cake. so I said why not? They came out great. The only problem that I had was they were sticky and I had to incorporate more flour/cocoa each time I rolled out portions. My hands had a thick layer of dough on them by the time I was done. I think my problem was putting a whole Tbspn of red gel as opposed to the 1 tsp and mentioned and the very bottom of your instructions. Maybe. But thanks. Everyone loved them.
I bet that was it! I put the maximum liquid possible in the original recipe so even a teaspoon or two could make it quite a bit more sticky. Glad they liked them
OK, I’ve said it before but….YOU ROCK CALLYE!!!!!! As a true Southern Belle myself, I won’t say I don’t like Red Velvet Cake, let’s just say I usally pick the other cake available. HOWEVER, I thought these would be pretty for Valentine’s day. I tasted one and they are my favorite cookies ever!!!! That’s saying alot because I bake cookies almost daily and I play around with every emulsion created. You are my cookie heroine, I love you!
Hi! Is there any substitute for the powder buttermilk because that isn’t sold here in Puerto Rico?
Those look wonderful! I love the colour!! I wonder what kind of cookies you made with them after… Hmmmm… Probably something wonderful!
I could tell when I tasted the dough that these were going to be awesome!! And I was right! I made these for Valentine’s Day for individual fruit pizzas, using a large heart cookie cutter, as well as for cookies for friends. Thank you for sharing this!
I made these cookies for valentines and they got RAVE reviews! Everyone absolutely adored them. Your website is great, all your recipes I have tried so far, have been absolutely perfect. Thank you! Thank you!
Would love to try these, they look amazing! You are a true genius!!!! Now the question is…where do I get powdered buttermilk in South Africa?
I noticed on the tips under the Red Velvet Roll-Out Cookies the last line mentioned on how to have the perfect cookie. I tried to go to the link, but a link did not come through. Is there someone that could lead me to this? THANKS!
http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/blog/category/recipes/basic-sugar-cookie-recipe/
I wanna know can you use any red coloring if so how much?
Cant wait to make these i have everything but the coloring you ask us to use…i have the regular Mcormick brand coloring.
Use the same amount as the red velvet emulsion =)
I’ve FINALLY got around to making these yesterday, and they are INSANELY good!!!! The dough was easy to handle and rolled out great — used the tip about cocoa/flour combo for rolling out. And they baked perfectly. To frost them I tried using my regular modified RI and added a touch of the Lorann oil Cheesecake flavor. Yum. Thanks for a keeper, Callye!!