Description
Red velvet thumbprint cookies with cream cheese are perfect for holiday baking when you want something special and sweet. These charming treats combine rich cocoa flavor with creamy filling, making your cookie platter absolutely delightful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring
- ½ teaspoon salt
Filling:
- ½ cup cream cheese
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Whisk 1 cup flour, ½ cup cocoa powder, and ½ teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until completely combined.
- Cream ½ cup softened butter with 1 cup sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture looks fluffy and light.
- Blend 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon red food coloring into the butter mixture until smooth.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing until a consistent dough forms.
- Shape the dough into 1-inch balls, placing them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Press your thumb gently into the center of each dough ball, creating a small well for filling.
- Bake the cookies for exactly 11 minutes at 350F, watching to ensure edges are set but centers remain soft.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
- Whip ½ cup cream cheese with ¼ cup powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Carefully spoon the cream cheese mixture into the center indentations of each cooled cookie.
Notes
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before rolling to prevent sticky hands and help cookies maintain their shape.
- Use a rounded measuring spoon or the back of a small spoon to create perfect indentations in the cookie centers.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend and check that your cocoa powder is certified gluten-free.
- Store these cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to keep the cream cheese filling fresh and creamy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 193 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 92 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg