If you’re a fan of Crumbl cookies, you’re in for a treat! These Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies are a delicious and fun twist on the traditional red velvet cupcake, combining the rich flavor of red velvet with a soft, chewy cookie base and topped with a decadent cream cheese frosting. This easy-to-follow recipe gives you the perfect balance of sweetness, tang, and indulgence that will impress anyone lucky enough to taste them.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies
These Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies are the perfect combination of soft, chewy texture and rich flavor. The cookie itself is infused with the iconic red velvet taste, while the cream cheese frosting on top adds the finishing touch. Unlike other cookies, this recipe includes a few secret ingredients like cornstarch, which makes them extra soft and tender.
Making these cookies at home allows you to avoid the hefty price tag of purchasing them from the bakery. Instead, you can create these delicious treats in your own kitchen with ingredients you likely already have on hand. They’re perfect for family gatherings, BBQs, or just as a sweet treat when you’re craving something special.
Ingredients for Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies
To make these mouth-watering cookies, you’ll need a few basic ingredients that combine to create the perfect cookie dough and frosting:
- Butter: Adds richness and moisture to the cookie dough. You can use either salted or unsalted butter.
- Brown Sugar: Gives the cookie its soft texture and deep sweetness.
- Granulated Sugar: Balances the sweetness of the brown sugar and helps the cookies spread during baking.
- Egg: Provides structure and binds the dough together.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a subtle depth of flavor.
- White Vinegar: Reacts with the baking soda to make the cookies tender and helps brighten the red color.
- Red Gel Food Coloring: Gives the cookies their iconic vibrant red color.
- Cocoa Powder: Essential for the classic red velvet flavor, contributing richness without overpowering the other ingredients.
- All-Purpose Flour: The base of the dough, providing structure.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
- Cornstarch: Helps create a soft, tender texture in the cookies.
- Baking Powder: Provides leavening to ensure the cookies rise properly.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream Cheese: The star ingredient for the frosting, offering a creamy and tangy flavor.
- Butter: Adds richness and helps the frosting achieve the right consistency.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the frosting without making it grainy.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a hint of sweetness and complements the tangy cream cheese.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Whisk in the egg, vanilla extract, white vinegar, and red gel food coloring. Mix until everything is well combined.
- Mix in Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Mix until the dough forms and all the dry ingredients are incorporated. Be careful not to overmix.
- Scoop the Dough: Use a large cookie scoop to portion out the dough into 9 equally sized balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheet and gently flatten them to about ½ inch thick.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. After baking, allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 10-15 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
- Make the Cream Cheese Frosting: While the cookies cool, make the frosting. In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, whipping for 3-5 minutes until light and airy.
- Frost the Cookies: Once the cookies are completely cool, pipe or spread the cream cheese frosting on top of each one. For a decorative touch, top with crushed red velvet cookie crumbs.
Tips & Tricks
- Don’t Overmix: Be gentle when mixing the dough. Overmixing can result in tough cookies.
- Use Gel Food Coloring: Gel food coloring works best in this recipe, providing a rich red color without affecting the dough’s consistency.
- Chill the Dough: If you prefer thicker cookies, you can chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes before baking.
- Store Properly: Store your Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For the best results, enjoy them within 2 days, as they tend to soften a bit in the fridge.
Pairing Ideas and Variations
These Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies are delicious on their own, but they also pair wonderfully with a cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk. For a fun variation, try making mini cookies instead of large ones. Simply divide the dough into smaller portions, bake for about 7-8 minutes, and frost them as usual.
For a slightly different twist, you can add chocolate chips to the dough for a chocolatey surprise inside each cookie. Another variation is to sprinkle the cookies with chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to add a crunchy contrast to the soft, chewy texture.
Final Thoughts
These Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies are an indulgent treat that captures the flavors of a classic red velvet cupcake in cookie form. The tender cookie base, combined with the creamy frosting and red velvet flavor, makes these cookies irresistible. Perfect for any occasion, this homemade version is not only cost-effective but customizable to suit your preferences. Try them today and enjoy the sweet satisfaction of freshly baked cookies that taste just like your favorite Crumbl treat!
FAQ: Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes, you can easily make these Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies gluten-free by swapping the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Just ensure that your flour blend has a 1:1 ratio to regular flour to maintain the texture of the cookies.
How can I make the cookies less sweet?
If you prefer a less sweet cookie, you can reduce the amount of sugar in the dough by about ¼ cup. However, keep in mind that the cream cheese frosting will still add sweetness, so you may want to adjust it as well.
Can I use regular food coloring instead of gel food coloring?
While gel food coloring is preferred for its vibrant color and concentrated nature, you can use regular liquid food coloring. However, be aware that liquid food coloring may affect the dough’s consistency and produce a slightly lighter color.
More Relevant Recipes
- Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies: A Festive Treat for Every Occasion
- Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Pumpkindoodle Cookies: The Ultimate Fall Treat
Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 9 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies combine the rich, tangy flavor of red velvet with a soft, chewy cookie base and a decadent cream cheese frosting. Perfect for any occasion, they’re easy to make and taste just like your favorite bakery treat.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (salted or unsalted), softened
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1–2 tsp red gel food coloring
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 3 tbsp butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together in a large mixing bowl until smooth and fluffy.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, white vinegar, and red gel food coloring. Mix until combined.
- Gradually add the flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Mix until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overmix.
- Using a large cookie scoop, scoop out 9 evenly sized dough balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Flatten each ball slightly to about ½ inch thickness.
- Bake the cookies for 10 minutes. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 10-15 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- For the cream cheese frosting, cream together the cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and whip for 3-5 minutes until light and airy.
- Once the cookies have cooled, frost them with the cream cheese frosting and decorate with crushed red velvet cookie crumbs, if desired.
Notes
- Gel food coloring is recommended for the best color. Liquid food coloring can work, but it may slightly affect the consistency of the dough.
- If you want thicker cookies, chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes before baking.
- To avoid overbaking, check for doneness at the 10-minute mark, as the cookies continue to set as they cool.
- You can freeze the cookies by flash-freezing them on a baking sheet and then storing them in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
