If you are looking for a delightful treat that’s both eye-catching and irresistibly delicious, this Red Velvet Spritz Cookies Recipe is your new best friend. These cookies bring together the classic charm of spritz with the rich, velvety taste of red velvet, resulting in a batch of tender, buttery bites bursting with a hint of cocoa and that beautiful crimson hue. Whether you’re baking for a holiday, a special occasion, or just because, these spritz cookies are sure to become a quick favorite in your cookie jar, impressing friends and family alike with every festive shape and luscious bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this Red Velvet Spritz Cookies Recipe lies in its simple yet essential ingredients that each play a crucial role in crafting the cookie’s crumb, flavor, and signature color. From the richness of butter to the vibrant pop of red gel food coloring, every item enhances the final result in a special way.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure to the cookies, ensuring they hold their shape perfectly when piped.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: Adds a subtle chocolate note that balances the sweetness and deepens the red velvet flavor.
- Baking powder: Helps the cookies rise just enough for a light and tender texture.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances sweetness.
- Unsalted butter, softened: The star for richness and tenderness that melts in your mouth.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens and works with butter to create that perfect cookie crumb.
- Large egg: Binds ingredients and adds moisture for a soft bite.
- Vanilla extract: Infuses classic warmth and depth to the flavor.
- Red gel food coloring: The key to that signature festive red color without watering down the dough.
- White vinegar (optional): Helps boost the red hue, making your cookies stand out even more.
- Sugar for rolling (optional): Adds a sparkling crunch on top to elevate texture and appearance.
How to Make Red Velvet Spritz Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Gather & Prep
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This step is vital because it keeps your cookies from sticking and makes cleanup easy. Having your workspace ready sets you up for success right from the start.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Combining these in advance guarantees an even distribution of flavors and leavening agents, which will give your cookies a uniform texture and taste.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar
Using a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy—usually about three minutes. This process aerates the butter, making your spritz cookies tender and giving them a delicate crumb.
Step 4: Add Wet Ingredients
Mix the egg, vanilla extract, and red gel food coloring into the butter and sugar mixture until smooth and fully combined. If you want to intensify the color, this is the perfect time to add a splash of white vinegar. The vinegar reacts with the cocoa to boost that classic red velvet shade.
Step 5: Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures
Gradually add your dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring just until combined. Overmixing can toughen the dough, so stop as soon as the flour disappears. Your dough should be firm enough to hold shapes but soft enough to pipe easily through your cookie press.
Step 6: Pipe Your Cookies
Fill your cookie press with dough and use your favorite shaped disc—whether stars, hearts, or other festive forms. Press the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing each cookie about an inch apart to allow room for slight spreading.
Step 7: Add Sparkle (Optional)
If you like, lightly sprinkle your cookies with sugar before baking. This step adds a subtle crunch and a pretty sparkle that makes your Red Velvet Spritz Cookies Recipe even more irresistible.
Step 8: Bake with Care
Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are just set. Keep a close eye because spritz cookies can quickly go from perfect to overbaked. They should be slightly firm at the edges but still tender in the center.
Step 9: Cool and Transfer
Once baked, allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Cooling completely ensures they set properly and retain their delightful texture.
Step 10: Enjoy or Decorate
Now the fun part—enjoy your red velvet creations with a warm cup of tea or coffee. Feel free to decorate with icing or festive sprinkles if you want to add a burst of color and personality. Sharing these cookies will definitely bring smiles!
How to Serve Red Velvet Spritz Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
A simple dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of white chocolate can elevate your Red Velvet Spritz Cookies Recipe from good to showstopper. If you want to get creative, colorful sprinkles or edible glitter add a festive touch that’s perfect for celebrations and holidays.
Side Dishes
These spritz cookies pair wonderfully with rich drinks like hot cocoa, coffee, or even a glass of cold milk. If you’re serving at a party, consider adding bowls of fresh berries or a cheese platter to balance the sweetness and create a well-rounded spread.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange your cookies on a decorative plate or tiered stand for instant charm. Packaging them in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon makes an adorable and thoughtful gift, perfect for neighbors or holiday exchanges. You can also sandwich them with cream cheese frosting for a delectable twist.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover cookies store best in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. This keeps them fresh and preserves their tender texture and beautiful color. Avoid stacking them too high to prevent breakage.
Freezing
You can freeze these cookies to enjoy later by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze individually. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag. They’ll keep well for up to three months and thaw quickly at room temperature when you’re ready to eat.
Reheating
There’s rarely a need to reheat spritz cookies, but if you prefer them slightly warm, pop them in a low oven (about 300°F) for 3-5 minutes or microwave briefly for 10 seconds. This softens them slightly without sacrificing any of their classic spritz crispness.
FAQs
Can I use regular liquid food coloring instead of gel?
While you can use liquid food coloring, gel is recommended because it provides a more vibrant color without adding extra moisture, which could affect dough consistency.
Do I really need the white vinegar?
The white vinegar is optional but it helps enhance the red color by reacting with the cocoa powder. If you prefer, you can omit it, though your cookies may not be as brilliantly red.
What if I don’t have a cookie press?
If you don’t have a cookie press, you can shape the dough with a piping bag fitted with a large star tip or simply roll and cut cookies with small cookie cutters. The classic shapes might differ but the flavor stays amazing.
How do I prevent these cookies from spreading too much?
Make sure your dough isn’t too warm before piping. Chilling your dough slightly can help maintain shapes. Also, spacing cookies about an inch apart on the baking sheet ensures they bake evenly without sticking together.
Can I add sprinkles or icing before baking?
Sprinkles can be added before baking for a festive look, but icing is best applied only after the cookies have fully cooled to avoid melting or bleeding of colors.
Final Thoughts
Trying out this Red Velvet Spritz Cookies Recipe is like welcoming a joyful burst of color and flavor into your kitchen. Each step invites you to embrace the process of creating something simple yet extraordinary. So grab your cookie press, gather your ingredients, and bake up a batch these cookies that are guaranteed to brighten any day and bring smiles all around!
Print
Red Velvet Spritz Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 3 dozen cookies
- Category: Cookie
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Red Velvet Spritz Cookies are festive, buttery, and rich with a hint of cocoa and classic red velvet flavor. Piped into fun shapes using a cookie press and lightly sprinkled with sugar for a delightful sparkle, they’re perfect for holiday gatherings or gifting. Soft yet crisp around the edges, these cookies pair beautifully with tea or coffee and can be decorated further for added flair.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp red gel food coloring (adjust to desired color intensity)
- 1/2 tsp white vinegar (optional, helps enhance color)
Optional
- Sugar for rolling or sprinkling (optional, for added texture)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set this mixture aside for later incorporation.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This process usually takes about 3 minutes and helps create the perfect texture for the cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the large egg, vanilla extract, and red gel food coloring into the creamed butter and sugar. Beat until everything is smooth and fully combined. Add a splash of white vinegar if you’re using it to enhance the red color intensity.
- Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients while mixing gently. Stop mixing as soon as the dough is combined to avoid overworking it. The dough should be soft but firm enough to hold shape when piped.
- Pipe the Cookies: Fill a cookie press with the prepared dough. Choose your favorite shape disc such as stars, hearts, or other festive shapes. On the prepared baking sheet, press the dough into shapes spaced roughly 1 inch apart.
- Add Optional Sugar: If desired, lightly sprinkle the cookie shapes with sugar to add a subtle crunch and sparkle to the finished cookies.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges start to become slightly firm. Watch closely as spritz cookies bake quickly and can burn easily.
- Cool the Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes so they set properly. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once fully cooled, serve these charming Red Velvet Spritz Cookies with tea or coffee. You can also decorate them further with icing or sprinkles for added festivity or package them as thoughtful homemade gifts.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of red gel food coloring to achieve your preferred shade of red.
- Using white vinegar is optional but helps intensify the red color of the cookies.
- Use a cookie press for the characteristic spritz shapes; otherwise, you can roll and cut the dough if preferred.
- Keep an eye on baking time to prevent the cookies from browning too much.
- Cookies will firm up as they cool; handle gently when transferring from baking sheet to wire rack.
- For added variety, decorate cookies with icing, sprinkles, or edible glitter after cooling.
