Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

These chewy red velvet crinkles are festive, delicious, and, best of all, homemade! These cookies are rich with that pop of red we all recognize and that fluffy powdered sugar crackle top.

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Many people use cake mix for crinkle cookies, but I promise the extra effort to make these treats from scratch is worth it. The best part? They put you in the Christmas spirit and are perfect for celebrating love on Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day or any day.

Most of the ingredients used can be easily found in your pantry, making this recipe simpler than ever.

Crinkle Cookie Ingredients

• Flour – All-purpose flour will work perfectly.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder – This hint of cocoa powder provides a decadent flavor.
• Baking powder – Can’t forget your leavening agent!
• Salt – Most baked goods need a pinch of salt. It really brings out all of the other flavors.
• Unsalted butter – You don’t want your cookies to be overly salty, so unsalted is best. Make sure it is at room temperature.
• Granulated sugar 
• Eggs – always use large eggs for baking.
• Milk – Whole milk is best.
• Red food coloring – For that deep red color. I prefer to use liquid food coloring for this recipe.
• Vanilla extract – Use a good quality vanilla for best results, or make your own homemade vanilla.
• Powdered sugar –  Also known as confectioners’ sugar, is used to coat the cookies and create the crinkle effect. You can also use homemade powdered sugar.

How to Make Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

This is such a super simple recipe, especially since it’s made with pantry staples that are easy to find. I can guarantee most of them are in your cabinets right now. 

Rich and a bit chocolatey desserts are some of my favorite things to make, and this crinkle cookie recipe is no exception. They are soft and cake-like inside while maintaining a slightly crunchy exterior.

Step 1: Combine your dry ingredients in a medium bowl and mix them up using a wire whisk.

Step 2: Cream the softened butter and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer. It should only take a few minutes for it to become light and fluffy.

Step 3: Beat in the eggs one at a time.

Step 4: Add in the milk, food coloring and vanilla and mix until just combined.

Step 5: Slowly pour in the flour mixture. Beat together until thoroughly combined, just be careful not to overmix. 

Step 6: This cookie dough needs to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, but no longer than 24 hours, to make it easy to scoop and to prevent the cookies from spreading while baking.

Step 7: Heat your oven to 350 degrees F and prep your baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.

Step 8: Have your powdered sugar ready in a small bowl. Scoop out the dough and roll it in the powdered sugar until completely covered.

Crackle cookie tip 1 ~Be very generous when rolling the ball of dough in the powdered sugar. I roll them in the sugar twice to get a good coating for those beautiful cracks.

Crackle cookie tip 2 ~Use a cookie dough scoop if you have one to ensure all the cookies are the same size so they bake more evenly. For these cookies, a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop works the best.

Step 9: Place the cookies on the baking sheet and bake for 12-14 minutes or until the tops of them start to crack. (Be sure not to overbake so the cookies don’t dry out)

Step 10: Cool completely before enjoying.

Cookie variations

• Since food coloring doesn’t alter the flavor, try different colors! Green for St. Patrick’s Day or pink instead of red for Valentine’s Day would be great ideas for a holiday cookie.
• Swap the vanilla extract for peppermint extract for a fun holiday flavor. It goes so well with the chocolate.

Cookie Questions

Try These Seasonal Treats

• As mentioned, these red crinkle cookies are the perfect Christmas cookies and Valentine’s Day treats. Making cookies from scratch is a present that comes straight from the heart. This other Red Velvet Cookie would be fun to serve with these crinkles.
• Maple syrup is one of my favorite flavors during fall, and these Maple Syrup Walnut Muffins are a great snack or breakfast.
• A tasty Christmas treat is these minty and creamy Party Mints. These red and green candies are festive and no-bake treats.
• Make these Irish Cream Truffles for a festive St. Patrick’s Day treat.

More Delicious Red Desserts

First published: Dec. 14, 2022. Last updated: January 18, 2025, for better readability.

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About Jere’                             

From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending.  Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.