The way to the heart is often through the stomach. These Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies are a delightful treat perfect for Valentine’s Day—or any day you want to make someone feel special.
Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies
Whether you’re baking for Valentine’s Day, a classroom party, the office, or simply for yourself, these cookies are an easy way to show love. They’re soft, slightly fudgy from the cocoa, and studded with milk chocolate chips for a classic finish. Top them with cream cheese frosting and sprinkles for a festive look.
Ingredients
These cookies use simple pantry staples. You will need:
- All-purpose flour: The base of the dough.
- Baking soda and salt: For leavening and balance.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Adds that subtle red-velvet flavor.
- Unsalted butter: Softened to room temperature to cream easily.
- Granulated sugar and light brown sugar: For sweetness and chew.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor.
- Large eggs: Added one at a time while mixing.
- Red food coloring: Gives the cookies their vibrant red hue.
- Milk chocolate chips: The essential chocolate bites.
- Cream cheese frosting and sprinkles: For dipping and decorating.
Directions
Scroll down for a printable recipe card section with exact amounts and timing.
1. Prepare: Preheat the oven to 370°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats and set aside.
2. Mix dry ingredients: Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, unsweetened cocoa powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream the softened butter with granulated sugar and light brown sugar until combined. Add the vanilla extract.
4. Add eggs: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing briefly after each addition until incorporated.
5. Combine: Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined—avoid overmixing so the cookies stay tender. A little flour showing is fine.
6. Color and chips: Stir in the red food coloring until the dough turns evenly red. Fold in the milk chocolate chips with a spatula.
7. Scoop and bake: Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion dough into roughly 2-tablespoon balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then rotate the sheet and bake an additional 4–5 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
8. Finish and cool: Immediately after removing cookies from the oven, press a few extra chocolate chips onto the tops. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Frost: Microwave the cream cheese frosting for 10–20 seconds to loosen it. Dip half of each cooled cookie into the melted frosting and add sprinkles while the frosting is still soft.
Tip: Mix the dough only until the ingredients are incorporated to keep the cookies soft and tender.
How to Store
Proper storage keeps these cookies fresh for up to a week:
- Store soft and crisp cookies separately at room temperature.
- Keep soft cookies in airtight containers to preserve moisture.
- To help soft cookies stay moist, place a slice of bread or a piece of apple in the container for a day or two.
- Layer cookies between sheets of wax paper to prevent sticking and preserve shape.
Freezing
You can freeze both dough and baked cookies to extend their life. For best results:
- Freeze baked cookies in a single layer in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to three months. Note that chocolate-dipped cookies can sometimes discolor when frozen.
- Alternatively, roll dough into balls and freeze on a tray, then store in airtight containers for up to two months. Bake from frozen, adding a few minutes to the bake time (about 16–18 minutes).
- Thaw frozen cookies at room temperature before serving.
Packaging Ideas for Valentine’s Day
If you’re gifting these cookies, presentation makes them extra special. Consider simple kraft boxes, heart-shaped treat boxes, individual treat bags for classroom or office parties, a keepsake-style box for a more elegant touch, or a plain cookie box with a window. Personalize with ribbon, a handwritten note, or tissue paper to match the occasion.
More Valentine’s Day Treats
If you’d like other dessert ideas for V-Day, try cut-out sugar cookies, Twix cupcakes, pink heart cupcakes, or cake batter funfetti bars for a variety of sweet options that suit parties and gifts.
If you make this Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe, please rate it in the recipe card and share how it turned out in the comments!
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Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 12 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons red food coloring
- 1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup canned cream cheese frosting
- sprinkles
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 370°F. Line baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.
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Whisk flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt; set aside.
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Cream butter with granulated and brown sugars, then add vanilla.
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Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each.
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Stir in the flour mixture until just combined.
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Add red food coloring and fold in chocolate chips.
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Scoop 2-tablespoon balls of dough onto prepared sheets and bake 10 minutes. Rotate pans and bake 4–5 more minutes until edges are golden.
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Press extra chocolate chips on the hot cookies, cool 5 minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
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Warm frosting 10–20 seconds, dip half of each cookie, and add sprinkles.
Notes
- Store: Cookies stay fresh up to 7 days in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Freezing: Freeze rolled dough balls in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen for 16–18 minutes, depending on your oven.
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