Description
Indulgent red velvet thumbprint cookies blend rich cocoa and velvety texture, creating a delightful dessert that melts in your mouth. Creamy chocolate ganache nestled in each buttery cookie center promises pure bliss for holiday gatherings and sweet moments you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup butter (room temperature)
- 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
Flavoring and Coloring Ingredients:
- 4 teaspoons red food coloring
- 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Finishing and Binding Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolks (room temperature)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine cocoa powder, flour, and salt in a mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of dry ingredients.
- Using an electric mixer, cream butter with brown sugar until light and airy, then incorporate egg yolk and vanilla extract, beating until smooth and fluffy.
- Gradually fold dry ingredient mixture into wet ingredients, then introduce red food coloring to achieve a vibrant dough consistency.
- Shape dough into a compact disc, encase in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Preheat oven to 300°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper for even heat distribution.
- Scoop dough into small spheres, gently roll in granulated sugar, and arrange on baking sheet with adequate spacing.
- Create a central indentation in each cookie using your thumb, ensuring a consistent depth for filling.
- Bake cookies for 10 minutes, allowing edges to slightly set while maintaining a soft center.
- Remove from oven and carefully reinforce thumbprint indentations if needed, then prepare filling mixture.
- Pipe or spoon filling into cookie centers, ensuring even coverage.
- Return cookies to oven for an additional 12 minutes until filling stabilizes and edges turn golden.
- Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for few minutes, then transfer to wire cooling rack to complete cooling process.
Notes
- Prevent Dryness Sift cocoa powder and flour together to ensure a lighter, more tender cookie texture.
- Color Precision Add food coloring gradually to control the intensity and achieve a vibrant red without affecting dough consistency.
- Filling Flexibility Swap traditional filling with cream cheese or ganache for alternative flavor profiles that complement the chocolate base.
- Storage Strategy Store cookies in an airtight container with parchment between layers to maintain softness and prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 153
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 43 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 36 mg