Description
These Red Velvet Spritz Cookies are buttery, tender, and beautifully festive with a vibrant red color enhanced by cocoa powder and red gel food coloring. Perfectly piped using a cookie press into charming shapes, they bake quickly to a delicate crisp with soft centers, ideal for holiday celebrations or any special occasion.
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)
For Finishing
- 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.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until thoroughly combined. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color, approximately 3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the egg, vanilla extract, and red gel food coloring into the butter and sugar mixture. Beat until smooth and uniformly combined. Optionally, add the white vinegar to intensify the red color.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until the dough comes together. The dough should be soft yet firm enough to hold its shape when piped through the cookie press.
- Pipe the Cookies: Fill a cookie press with the prepared dough using your chosen shape disc (such as stars, hearts, or any festive design). On the prepared baking sheet, use the cookie press to form the cookies, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Optional Sugar Topping: Lightly sprinkle sugar over the piped cookies to add a sparkling texture and subtle crunch.
- Bake the Cookies: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are just firm. Watch carefully to avoid burning, as spritz cookies bake quickly.
- Cool the Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Using red gel food coloring ensures vibrant color without altering dough consistency.
- The optional white vinegar enhances the red color but can be omitted if preferred.
- Be careful not to overbake; cookies should be slightly firm at the edges but soft in the center.
- Cookie press discs allow for a variety of festive shapes—choose according to occasion.
- Sprinkling sugar before baking adds a nice crunch and sparkle but is optional.
