Description
Delightful red velvet thumbprint cookies with cream cheese offer a perfect blend of rich cocoa and tangy filling. Classic Southern charm meets sweet indulgence, beckoning you to savor each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup (135 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 4 oz (115 g) cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsps (15 g) cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp red gel food coloring
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup (50 g) powdered sugar (for rolling, optional)
- ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Filling Preparation: Whip cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until achieving a velvety, lump-free mixture that’s smooth and consistent.
- Filling Storage: Transfer the creamy blend into a piping bag or sturdy resealable plastic bag, creating a small corner cut for precise filling distribution, then refrigerate to stabilize the texture and maintain structural integrity.
- Cookie Dough Mixing: Combine flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder in a separate bowl, then cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, gradually incorporating eggs and red food coloring to create a vibrant, rich dough.
- Shaping Cookies: Roll chilled dough into uniform balls, arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets, and gently create thumb indentations in each cookie’s center using the back of a teaspoon or your thumb.
- Baking Process: Slide cookies into a preheated 350°F oven, baking for 10-12 minutes until edges appear set and centers remain slightly soft, allowing cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet.
- Final Assembly: Once cookies have reached room temperature, pipe the chilled cream cheese filling into the center indentations, creating elegant, swirled peaks that complement the rich red velvet base.
- Serving Suggestion: Dust with optional powdered sugar or refrigerate to help filling set, ensuring a delightful texture and presentation for these decadent thumbprint cookies.
Notes
- Chill Cream Cheese Filling: Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes to achieve optimal piping consistency and prevent runny texture.
- Control Color Intensity: Adjust red food coloring amount carefully to maintain vibrant red velvet appearance without artificial taste.
- Prevent Spreading Cookies: Chill cookie dough for 30 minutes before baking to maintain shape and prevent excessive spreading during baking.
- Create Perfect Thumbprints: Use the back of a small measuring spoon or your thumb to create uniform and consistent indentations in cookie centers.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg