Description
These Crumbl Copycat Red Velvet Cookies are soft, moist, and perfectly balanced with a subtle cocoa flavor and a creamy cream cheese frosting. They replicate the popular gourmet cookie with a rich red color and a luscious, sweet finish topped with cookie crumbs for texture and visual appeal.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (113g)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar (70g)
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed (65g) – reduce to 1/4 cup for less sweet cookies
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vinegar
- 1–2 tsp red gel food color
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (163g)
- 2–3 tbsp natural cocoa powder (start with 2 and add more for more chocolate flavor)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened (85g)
- 6 oz cream cheese, room temperature (170g)
- 1 cup icing sugar, sifted
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Whisk Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, whisk together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is light in color, fluffy, and creamy in texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add the egg, vinegar, red gel food coloring, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Whisk until fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and whisk again to ensure an even mixture.
- Sift and Fold Dry Ingredients: Sift the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the wet mixture. Gently fold using a rubber spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to keep cookies tender.
- Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the cookie dough for 15-20 minutes until it firms up enough to scoop and shape easily.
- Prepare Oven and Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Shape Cookies: Divide the chilled dough into 5 equal balls (about 1/3 cup each), reserving a tiny piece aside. Shape each ball gently into a round and lightly flatten with a gentle press in the center. Place them on the parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing at least 3 inches apart to allow for spreading. The tiny reserved piece will be used to make crumbs later.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies for 10-11 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on the baking sheet.
- Make the Frosting: While the cookies cool, beat the cream cheese and butter together in a bowl until smooth and creamy. Add the sifted icing sugar and vanilla extract, then whisk until you achieve a smooth, fluffy frosting.
- Prepare Piping Bag: Transfer the cream cheese frosting to a piping bag fitted with a round piping tip for easy decorative application.
- Pipe Frosting on Cookies: Once the cookies have cooled completely, pipe the frosting onto each cookie in attractive swirls or circles.
- Create Cookie Crumbs: Crush the tiny reserved piece of cookie dough into fine crumbs to sprinkle over the frosted cookies for added texture and visual appeal.
- Serve and Enjoy: Present your beautifully frosted cookies and enjoy this irresistible Crumbl-style red velvet treat fresh or store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Reduce the brown sugar to 1/4 cup if you prefer less sweet cookies.
- For a deeper red color, add up to 2 teaspoons of red gel food coloring.
- Do not overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added to avoid tough cookies.
- Chilling the dough ensures easier handling and helps cookies keep shape while baking.
- Use room temperature cream cheese for smooth, lump-free frosting.
- Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Allow refrigerated cookies to come to room temperature before serving for best texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: red velvet cookies, Crumbl copycat cookies, cream cheese frosting, homemade cookies, red velvet dessert
