Red Velvet Sugar Cookies
A soft and tender sugar cookie with the classic flavor and gorgeous color of red velvet cake. Finished with a rich and creamy cream cheese frosting.
Servings: 16
Ingredients
Cookies
- 2 1/4 cups cake flour
- 3 Tbsp unsweetned cocoa powder
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg white
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar
- Red food coloring*
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese , softened
- 1/4 cup butter , softened (I used salted)
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together cake flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking powder and salt until well blended, set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment whip butter, shortening and sugar until pale and fluffy.
- Mix in egg, then mix in egg white, vanilla, lemon juice and food coloring. With mixer set on low speed, slowly add in dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill 2 hours. Preheat oven to 375 degrees during last 10 minutes of chilling.
- Shape dough into about 3 Tbsp balls and transfer to parchment paper lined baking sheets. Evenly flatten balls with greased hands to about 1/2-inch.
- Bake in preheated oven 9 - 11 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool on baking sheet 2 minutes then transfer to a wire rack.
- Cool completely then frost with cream cheese frosting.
- For the frosting:
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip cream cheese and butter until pale and fluffy.
- Mix in vanilla extract followed by powdered sugar and blend until well combined and fluffy.
Notes
*I used 1 tsp or red gel food coloring and 1 tsp red liquid food coloring.