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Easy Red Velvet Christmas Cookies Recipe

These red velvet pan-banging cookies are bakery-style perfection with crisp, rippled edges, soft fudgy centers, and a classic red velvet flavor finished with cream cheese icing. A stunning cookie for holidays and special occasions.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 12 large cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cookies
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon red gel food coloring
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Icing
  • 3 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
  • 2 –4 tablespoons water
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 –1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • Festive sprinkles optional

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and cream of tartar in a bowl.
  3. Cream butter on medium speed until smooth, then beat in sugar until light and fluffy.
  4. Add egg and mix just until combined.
  5. Mix in cocoa powder, red food coloring, and vanilla until evenly colored.
  6. Add dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined.
  7. Form dough into 3 oz balls and place 4 per baking sheet.
  8. Bake 8 minutes, remove pan, lift and bang gently on oven rack.
  9. Return to oven and repeat pan-banging every 2 minutes, 2–3 times.
  10. Total bake time should be 13–16 minutes with soft centers.
  11. Cool cookies on pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to rack to cool completely.
  12. Whisk icing ingredients until smooth.
  13. Dip half of each cookie into icing and decorate as desired.

Notes

Pan-banging creates rippled edges and soft centers. Cookies should look slightly underbaked in the center when removed from the oven.