Description
These Red Velvet Spritz Cookies are delightful, tender, and buttery treats with a vibrant red hue enhanced by cocoa powder and red gel food coloring. Perfect for festive occasions or a sweet snack with tea, these spritz cookies are beautifully shaped using a cookie press and can be optionally rolled in sugar for added texture.
Ingredients
Scale
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 (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 until well combined. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add Egg and Flavorings: Beat in the large egg, vanilla extract, and red gel food coloring into the creamed butter and sugar until fully incorporated and smooth. If desired, add the white vinegar to enhance the red color vibrancy.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the dough comes together. The dough should be soft yet firm enough to hold shapes when piped.
- Prepare for Piping: Fill your cookie press with the dough, choosing your favorite shape disc such as stars or hearts for a festive look.
- Pipe the Cookies: Press the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing each cookie about 1 inch apart to allow for slight spreading during baking.
- Add Sugar Topping (Optional): Lightly sprinkle the shaped cookies with granulated sugar if you want them to have a delicate crunch and shimmer.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges become slightly firm but the centers remain soft. Watch closely as these cookies bake quickly and can easily burn.
- Cool the Cookies: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once fully cooled, enjoy your colorful Red Velvet Spritz Cookies with tea, coffee, or package them as festive gifts.
- Optional Decoration: Decorate further with icing or sprinkles if you want to add extra flair and personalization to your cookies.
Notes
- White vinegar is optional but recommended to enhance the red color of the cookies.
- Be careful not to overbake to keep the cookies tender and avoid burning the edges.
- Using a cookie press gives the cookies their classic spritz shapes and textures.
- These cookies freeze well; store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
- For gluten-free variations, substitute with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend and adjust baking time as needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
