What is red velvet cookie dough made of?

Combining brown sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and buttermilk , these aren't just cookies tinted red—they truly capture the flavor and appearance of both iconic desserts. I originally published this carefully tested recipe in 2013. Is red velvet a mystery flavor to you?

How do you make store bought cookie dough soft and chewy?

Add brown sugar Adding it to the pre-made dough will give it more sweetness, a chewier texture, moisture and that homemade flavor you're craving. You can also melt butter with brown sugar and incorporate it into the dough for extra tender, chewier cookies.

Is red velvet made with chocolate or vanilla?

What flavor is red velvet? While there are cocoa undertones, red velvet is not chocolate cake because it balances both chocolate and vanilla flavors . It contains cocoa but not the same quantity as traditional chocolate cake, resulting in a more subtle cocoa flavor and tanginess due to the buttermilk and vinegar.

What is the secret to making cookies soft and chewy?

Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies . Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

What makes cookies chewy and not hard?

Different types of sugars affect the texture because they absorb different amounts of water . Remember moisture is the key! White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies.

What makes a cookie more soft?

The lower the protein , the softer your cookies will be. All-purpose flour is a medium-protein flour, making for mediumly-soft cookies. Cake flour is low in protein and you can substitute it into cookie recipes for all-purpose flour 1:1. The results will be very tender cookies.

What is red velvet pastry made of?

Today, red velvet cake is made by combining cocoa powder, butter, sugar, eggs, and flour as well as buttermilk, vinegar, and red food coloring that gives the cake its iconic red tint. In a classic red velvet cake, cream cheese frosting is paired but the cake can be really be frosted with anything.

What is cookie dough made of?

When made at home, common ingredients include flour, butter, white sugar, salt, vanilla extract, and eggs . If the dough is made with the intention of baking, then leavening agents such as baking soda or baking powder are added. However, these are often excluded in cookie doughs that are designed to be eaten raw.

What is the red in red velvet cake made of?

The “red” in red velvet cake is multifaceted — historically, the red tint in the cake came from either the chemical reaction between unprocessed cocoa and vinegar (according to Southern Living) or the use of beet sugar .

Is red velvet just chocolate?

Red velvet cake is a Southern American delight that blends a vanilla cake with a striking red hue from food coloring, mixed with several tablespoons of cocoa powder .

Easy Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies are vibrate red, rich with chocolate flavor, and perfectly sweetened with white chocolate chips. These easy and festive sourdough cookies are slightly crispy on the edges with a chewy center and are the perfect dessert for all of your Valentine’s Day celebrations!

Easy Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies Recipe (1)

Indulge your sweet tooth with a delightful twist on a classic favorite – our Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies.

Perfect for any time of year, these treats capture the essence of the beloved Red Velvet dessert in a portable, cookie form.

The subtle chocolate undertones in the dough elevate the experience, providing a satisfying balance of sweetness and depth. Inspired by the iconic flavor of Red Velvet Cake, these cookies offer a comforting and nostalgic taste that’s sure to be a hit with friends and family.

Much like the beloved Red Velvet Cupcakes and the timeless appeal of Sourdough Red Velvet Cake, these cookies bring that same rich, vibrant hue and irresistible flavor to your table.

The addition of sourdough starter discard not only infuses a subtle tang but also contributes to a chewy texture that perfectly complements the cookie’s visual allure.

So, whether you’re craving a delightful treat for a special occasion or simply indulging in a bit of baking therapy, Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies are a delightful choice that promises to satisfy your dessert cravings.

Table of Contents

Pin for Later!

Easy Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies Recipe (2)

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.This post may contain affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosurehere.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Festive

If you’re looking for a simple way to add a little more love to your Valentine’s Day, these Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies are the way to do it! The vibrant red color will be perfect for any classroom party, kid’s lunch, staff room treat, or romantic date dessert.

Flavor

With just a few simple ingredients that you most likely already have in your pantry, you will be able to create the sweetest, most chewy cookies! These Red Velvet Sourdough Cookies are rich in chocolate flavor from the cocoa powder and sweetened with white chocolate chips.

Easy

You can’t get easier than this red velvet cookie recipe! The dough comes together quickly in a stand mixer and the cookie dough only needs a short 30 minutes chill time before baking. These easy red velvet cookies are a sweet and simple way to celebrate the day of love, or any day for that matter!

Flour –I used all-purpose flour for this recipe.

Cocoa Powder –I prefer using unsweetened natural cocoa powder over Dutch-processed cocoa powder. Unsweetened natural cocoa powder has more acidity and helps to aid in these cookies’ natural red tint.

Baking Soda –Since we are using sourdough discard, baking soda will help to leaven these Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies.

Salt –Any unrefined salt will do, but my favorite isRedmond’s unrefined saltfor some extra minerals!

Butter –Unsalted butter adds a rich and creamy flavor to the cookies. Make sure it is at room temperature for easy mixing!

Sourdough Starter –For sweet recipes, like these cookies, I prefer to use sourdoughdiscard that is no older than two weeks.

Supplies

Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer

Baking Sheet

Parchment Paper

Cookie Scooper

Wire Rack

How to Make Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies

DRY INGREDIENTS

In a large bowl, gently whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set to the side.

WET INGREDIENTS:

In a bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter and the brown sugar together, for about 2 minutes, at medium speed.

Add the egg, scraping the sides of the bowl when necessary. Mix for 2-3 minutes or until the mixture is soft and fluffy.

Stir in the sourdough discard, red coloring, and vanilla extract until combined.

Easy Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies Recipe (3)

COMBINE

Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture while the mixer is stirring at low speed. Stop mixing when the flour is just incorporated. Be careful not to overmix, otherwise, the cookies will be dense.

Pour in the white chocolate chips and stir in by hand.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes or overnight in the fridge.

BAKE

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees f and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Each cookie dough ball will be about 2 Tablespoons or 45g. Roll the portioned dough into a rounded ball shape, then place them at least 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.

Bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are crispy and the center is just soft and golden brown.

Helpful Hint: While baking, the cookies will puff up. Once they cool, the cookies will flatten.

While the cookies are cooling, top them with more white chocolate chips.

How to Store

Store leftover Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

You could also freeze cookie dough balls for an easy dessert in a pinch! Scoop 2 T of cookie dough and place it on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Place the baking sheeting in the freezer to quickly flash-freeze the cookie dough. Once solid, remove the frozen mounds off the baking sheet and store them in a freezer-safe bag until ready to bake. Bake for 2-3 extra minutes.

Easy Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies Recipe (5)

FAQs:

What kind of cocoa powder should I use for Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies?

I prefer using natural cocoa powder over Dutch-processed cocoa powder. Natural cocoa powder has more acidity and helps to aid in these cookies’ natural red tint. Natural cocoa powder also has a richer flavor.

Can I substitute chocolate chips for the white chocolate chips?

Absolutely! I love the pop of color white chocolate chips have against the Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies, but milk or dark chocolate chips would be just as heavenly in this cookie dough.

Why are my Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies cakey/not spreading at all?

The most common culprit for cakey cookies is too much flour. Therefore, I highly suggest using a kitchen scale when you are prepping this cookie dough. It will give you the most exact measurement of flour every single time. If you do not have a cookie scale, be sure to fluff the flour and place it into the measuring cup with a spoon. This will give you a more accurate measurement of flour.

Happy baking!

Easy Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies Recipe (6)

More Recipes Like This:

Sourdough Red Velvet Cake Recipe

Chewy Brown Sugar Cookie Recipe

Sourdough Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Recipe

Easy Sourdough Red Velvet Cookies Recipe

Yield: 20 cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Chill Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 57 minutes

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (175g)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (30g)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda (3g)
1/4 teaspoon salt (3g)
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar (240g)
1 egg
1/2 cup sourdough discard (140g)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (6g)
2 teaspoon red food coloring (8g)
1 1/2 cup white chocolate chips