Red Velvet Sugar Cookies
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Nothing says “I love you” like a batch of the BEST soft and moist Red Velvet Sugar Cookies with rich cream cheese frosting!
More cookies are waiting to be made and devoured. Like my Butterscotch Chip Pudding Cookies, Iced Oatmeal Cookies, and Copycat Swig Sugar Cookies.
Ohhhh yeah, we’re gettin’ our red velvet on today, big time.
big. thick. chewy. soft. moist. red velvety and piled high with super rich n’ creamy cream cheese frosting.
I’m in love.
I know it’s a few weeks away but the big mushy gushy sappy love day is coming up and I’m sure you’re making big plans for you and your honey. Or just you – nothin’ wrong with that! I’ve had a few single-lady V-days and they were full of plenty of love to go around.
Lounging on the couch in my favorite sweats with a chick flick, popcorn, and a bag of Twix minis is a night full of love, trust me.
But if Twix’s ain’t yo thing and you crave something a little more homemade, how about cookies? Red velvet sugar cookies. WITH SPRINKLES. Cause yeah.
So all of you red velvet lovers, Happy Valentines Day. 3 weeks early.
You’re welcome.
Red Velvet Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 1 ¾ cup sugar, divided
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 eggs
- 5 ½ cups flour
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring , (adjust to preference)
Frosting
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ cup sour cream , OR plain greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk , (as needed)
Instructions
- In a large bowl cream together butter, vegetable oil, 1 1/2 cups sugar, powdered sugar, water, and eggs.
- In a medium bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until combined. Add red food coloring 1 teaspoon at a time, mixing after each, until desired color is achieved. Cover and chill for 1 hour.
- Remove dough from fridge and uncover. Roll dough into balls (slightly larger than a golf ball) and place on a lightly greased baking sheet about 3-4 inches apart.
- Place remaining 1/4 cup sugar on a plate. Use the bottom end of a tall glass cup (or the bottom of a small jar) for pressing the cookies. Spritz the bottom of the glass/jar with cooking spray then dip the bottom into the sugar. Use the bottom sugar-coated end of the glass to press cookies to about 1/2 inch thickness. Let the edges of the cookie dough squish out past the edges of the glass.
- Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a clean flat surface or a cooking rack. When completely cool, place in airtight containers (if stacking, separate layers with parchment or wax paper) and keep chilled in the fridge.
- For the frosting, cream together butter, sour cream (or greek yogurt) and cream cheese until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and mix until smooth. Store chilled in airtight container.
- Immediately frost cookies.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe adapted from Twigg Sugar Cookies
Hi, I wanted to make these for a co-worker. Can I put the icing on these and then stack them? I am mildly worried about them getting all mushy or the icing running during travel time.
Thanks!
Hi Ali. I recommend frosting immediately before serving but if you really needed to stack them I would frost them, then freeze them, and then stack them with parchment or wax paper in between the cookies.
5 1/2 C flour?? I want to make these but these like way too much
Hi Jami, yes 5 1/2 is correct – this makes a large batch of sugar cookies! You can always start with 5 cups though and go from there if you are nervous about the flour. I always use 5 1/2.
What flour do you use? Thanks
Regular all-purpose flour works great.
These cookies look and sound amazing but I was just reading through the recipe… is 5 1/2 cups of flour accurate? That seems like a LOT to me, and just wanted to double check before I try making these! Thanks!
Yep, there’s a lot of flour in this recipe but it makes a lot of really big cookies!!
I’m pretty sure I followed the recipe for the cookies and icing exactly.
The cookie dough was too dry to even mix and then the cookies turned out super dry.
And the icing is delicious but really runny. It looks nothing like yours in the picture.
I have no clue what happened.
Hi Jocey! I’m sorry that your dough was too try – that’s strange! I use this recipe often and it has never come out too dry. The only thing I can think of is if the container wasn’t very tightly covered when you chilled it? That can dry out cookie dough….
I love Valentine’s day! So much love and sugar!!! A movie + these cookies sounds like the ultimate way to spend this Valentine’s day… These look soooo yummy! Pinned 🙂
yay for red velvet! oh, and cream cheese frosting. These cookies are making my heart race 🙂
I loooooveee Valentine’s Day. And my gift every year to my husband is the gift of cookies. Always the same peanut butter balls each year, butttt I also throw in a couple other goodies. I think these are going to have to be made! So festive!
These are soooo calling my name!
Thanks for the twitter love! 🙂
These look fantastic!
Thanks Rina!