Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies feature soft, chewy, buttery cookies, tinged with cocoa for smooth chocolate flavor, and the wells are filled with ultra-creamy, luscious, tangy cream cheese frosting. Featuring an iconic and irresistible duo, these Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies have earned a prominent spot on your cookie trays for the holidays.
Course Cookies
Prep Time 25 minutesminutes
Cook Time 30 minutesminutes
Total Time 55 minutesminutes
Servings 24cookies
Author Sarah
Ingredients
For red velvet thumbprint cookies:
1/2cupbuttersoftened
2/3cupgranulated sugar
1eggyolk
1tbsp.milk
1tbsp.vanilla extract
4-5dropsred food gel pasteor 1 tbsp. red food coloring
1cupall-purpose flour
1/3cupcocoa powder
1/4tsp.salt
1/2cupred or pink sugar crystals or sprinkles
For cream cheese frosting:
4oz.cream cheesesoftened
1/2cupbuttersoftened
1tsp.vanilla
3-4cupspowdered sugar
Instructions
For red velvet thumbprint cookies:
In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.
Beat in egg yolk, milk, vanilla, and red food color.
In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, and salt.
Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the mixing bowl, and beat until just combined.
Refrigerate for 1 hour or until dough is easy to handle.
Shape into 1-inch balls.
Roll each ball in sprinkles, thoroughly coating.
Arrange two inches apart on parchment paper or silicone mat-lined baking sheets.
Press an indentation in the center of each dough ball using your thumb or the end of a wooden spoon.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until cookies appear set.
Remove from heat, and if desired, repress the indentation while cookies are still warm.
Remove cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
Meanwhile, prepare cream cheese frosting.
For cream cheese frosting:
In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
Add 3 cups powdered sugar, and beat until combined. Frosting should be thick, fluffy, and pipeable - I sometimes need it thicker. Add additional powdered sugar, as needed, 1/4 cup at a time.
Fit a decorating bag with a star tip, and pipe cream cheese frosting into the center of each thumbprint, about a rounded tablespoonful.