Description
Delight in these luscious Red Velvet Cream Cheese Stuffed Cookies featuring a tender cocoa-flavored cookie exterior filled with a rich and creamy sweetened cream cheese center. Perfectly balanced with a hint of vanilla and vibrant red food coloring, these cookies are a festive treat that melts in your mouth.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and creamy. Cover and refrigerate the filling to allow it to firm up while you prepare the dough.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color.
- Add Eggs and Food Coloring: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then add the vanilla extract followed by the red food coloring, mixing until the color is uniform throughout the dough.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently just until all ingredients are combined. Avoid overmixing to ensure tender cookies.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the cookie dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 15 minutes to help firm it up, making it easier to handle for assembly.
- Assemble the Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). On a clean surface, flatten a portion of dough into a small disc, place about a tablespoon of the cream cheese filling in the center, then carefully fold the dough around the filling and seal completely to prevent leakage during baking.
- Bake: Place the stuffed cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet spaced evenly apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers remain soft. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese filling is well chilled before stuffing to prevent it from melting too quickly during baking.
- Handle the dough gently to keep cookies tender and prevent toughening.
- You can substitute red food coloring with natural alternatives such as beet juice powder if desired.
- For best results, chill the cookies for a few minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to the wire rack.
- Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days due to the cream cheese filling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: red velvet cookies, cream cheese filling, stuffed cookies, dessert, baked cookies, cocoa cookies, easy cookie recipe
