I am so excited to share my recipe for Crumbl Copycat Red Velvet Cookies! These are basically red velvet cake in cookie form: soft, moist and velvety cookies topped off with a swirl of cream cheese frosting and decorated with red velvet crumbs. They are super easy to make, and look and taste amazing (especially for red velvet lovers).
Now before we get going, a little disclaimer: I know these cookies don't look as red as they should! The reason is simple: I didn't add enough red food color, and accidentally used Dutch Processed cocoa powder which is a lot darker than natural cocoa powder. However, I did not want to redo all my photos and videos for such a minor change (and actually did not have time as I am traveling internationally). So don't worry - as long as you use enough food color and natural cocoa powder, your cookies will turn out a nice red color.
Read the full blog post below for detailed notes, tips, tricks, photos and videos.
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WHAT DO RED VELVET COOKIES TASTE LIKE?
These red velvet cookies taste like... red velvet! They have a slightly sweet, slightly chocolatey flavor, and a very soft and 'velvety' texture. The cookies alone may not taste tremendous, but that's because red velvet NEEDS cream cheese frosting! The frosting adds a beautiful tanginess and sweetness which brings them to life.
WHY YOU SHOULD TRY THIS RECIPE
If you're a fan of red velvet, I highly recommend making these Crumbl Copycat Red Velvet Cookies! Here are a few reasons why:
- These cookies are very easy to make! They take only about 20 minutes of work, including the decoration, and need no complicated steps
- They taste just like red velvet cake... need I say more?
- The homemade version is much better! It might be controversial to say, but Crumbl cookies are way too sweet and sometimes a bit dry. Not to mention, the homemade version is cheaper and accessible for everyone, unlike Crumbl cookies
- They're really cute. Seriously
VIDEO TUTORIAL
Here's a quick video tutorial for this recipe:
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PROCESS WITH PHOTOS
You can find detailed instructions for these Red Velvet Cookies in the recipe card below, but let's quickly go over the process with photos so you can visualize each step!
First, whisk the butter with the white and brown sugars until a fluffy and light mixture forms:
Next, whisk in the egg, vinegar, red food color and vanilla:
Lastly, sift and fold in the dry ingredients to complete the cookie dough:
Chill the dough until it's firm, then shape into large cookie balls and bake:
While the cookies cool, make the cream cheese frosting:
Transfer the frosting to a piping bag and pipe generous swirls onto the cookies:
Decorate with red velvet crumbs and you're ready to enjoy!
TIPS TO PERFECT THIS RECIPE
While this recipe is very easy, it's also a bit tricky to perfect your very first time. Worry not, as I've got some helpful tips for you:
- Weigh your ingredients, especially flour, for best results
- Make sure your butter is softened to room temperature
- Use gel food color for the best pay-off! I highly recommend this one
- If the dough becomes too sticky at any point, refrigerate it for 10 minutes and it will be easy to handle again
- Make sure to bake a test cookie first! This is really important as every oven is different, and cookies can go from under-baked to over-baked quickly. So first bake one cookie, let it cool for 10 minutes, and taste it. If it's too soft for your liking, bake slightly longer. If you want it softer and more chewy, bake for less time or at a slightly lower temperature
RELATED RECIPES
Here are a few other amazing recipes you should satisfy your sweet tooth with:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You can store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days, or in the fridge for 3-5 days. Just note that they can become a bit dry in the fridge over time
Yes! You can make them 1 day ahead of time and keep in the fridge. Let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving
CRUMBL COPYCAT RED VELVET COOKIES RECIPE
- Total Time: 1 hour with cooling
- Yield: 5 large cookies
Description
Soft and moist Crumbl copycat Red Velvet Cookies topped off with a swirl of cream cheese frosting and decorated with red velvet crumbs
Ingredients
Red Velvet Cookies:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (113g)
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar (70g)
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar, packed (65g) - reduce to ¼ cup for less sweet cookies
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoon red gel food color
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour (163g)
- 2-3 tablespoon of natural cocoa powder (start with 2 and add more if you want more chocolatey cookies)
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened (85g)
- 6 oz cream cheese, room temperature (170g)
- 1 cup icing sugar, sifted
- ½ tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Whisk the butter with the granulated sugar and brown sugar for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is light in color and fluffy and creamy in texture
- Add the egg, vinegar, red food color and vanilla, and whisk until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and whisk again
- Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt, and very gently fold with a rubber spatula until just combined. Do not overmix
- Refrigerate the dough for 15-20 minutes, or until it becomes firmer so you can scoop it
- Pre-heat your oven to 375F, and line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper
- Divide the dough into 5 balls (about ⅓ cup each), leaving a tiny piece aside. Gently shape into balls and lightly flatten them (just a gentle press in the center). Place them onto the cookie sheet leaving at least 3" of space between each (including the tiny piece; this will be used to make crumbs)
- Bake for 10-11 minutes, and let the cookies cool down
- Meanwhile, whisk the cream cheese and butter in a bowl until creamy. Add the icing sugar and vanilla, and whisk until a creamy frosting forms
- Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fit with a round piping tip
- Once the cookies have cooled, pipe the frosting on top in swirls
- Crush the tiny cookie and use the crumbs to decorate the cookies
- Serve & enjoy!
Video Tutorial:
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="eV4RQLEI" upload-date="2024-02-06T10:12:47.000Z" name="Crumbl Copycat Red Velvet Cookies" description="How to make Red Velvet Cookies" player-type="default" override-embed="default"]
Notes
- This recipe does not require chilling except to make the dough easy to work with. However, you can chill the dough overnight if you want to prep ahead. Chilling always brings out more flavor in cookies!
- Always bake one cookie first to test exactly how long you need to bake it to get it to your desired level of softness vs crispiness. Remember, the cookies will be soft when they're hot but will get firmer as they cool down
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Tami Bonner says
Made these today and they turned out amazing! Doubled the recipe with no trouble.
Zoha says
YAYYY!!! Thank you Tami!!
Safiya says
Nailed it !!
This is truly a copy of crumble cookie recipe.. delicious ..
thanks zoha far sharing ..
jazakAllahukhairan ..💖
Zoha says
Aww thanks so much, Safiya!
Chiara says
Hi Zoha! i was wondering if we could add some add-ins to the recipe, or in that case we should change the quantity of the other ingredients?
In what quantity should add-ins be used?
Also, can this recipe be used as a base for other cookies (e.g. chocolate chip using all flour and no cocoa powder and omitting red colouring and vinegar)?
Thanks!
Chiara
Zoha says
Hi CHiara! What kind of add ins are you thinking of adding? If chocolate chips, you can add them without changing anything. I haven't tested this recipe as a base for other cookies, so you may have to do the testing there 🙂
Hehaa says
Hi,
Can we store the cookie batter and bake them on the day we want it fresh? If yes please tell the storage details and days. Tia
Zoha says
Hi! Yes - shape into balls and keep covered in the fridge for up to a week. There won't be a big different in baking time, maybe 1-2 minutes more.
Mahlet says
made this with three other people and they turned it out so good we ate the whole thing.
Zoha says
AWW thank you!!!!
Hiba Ayub says
Hey Zoha!
I made these today, and they turned out Ahmaazingg!
thank youu!!
Zoha says
AWW THANK YOU!!!
lana says
hi! can i make these using air fryer? and will there be differences if i put white choco chips? ty!
Zoha says
I haven't tried an air fryer so I can't say. Adding white choc chips is totally fine and shouldn't change anything else!
Sophie says
These were so easy to make and so delicious! Just the right amount of sweetness, and the cookies were super soft as well! The cream cheese frosting was a perfect addition.
Zoha says
YAYYY Thank you SO much!
sophie says
these are the best cookies i’ve ever made no exaggeration
Sabrina M Sidamdouane says
Hello! What type of vinegar?
Hazel Newman says
i think white vinegar😊
Misty says
Hi! Can I double this recipe?
Angel says
It was REALLY good! I’m 15 and the instructions were easy to follow. My family loved it too! May God bless you.
Laura R says
Delicious recipe😋
Tess says
So yummy and a great cookies when you want a more decedent sweet treat only wish there were more servings to make for a crowd!
Zoha says
Thank you so much!
Hazel Newman says
hiii i have a few questions...
1. what type of vinegar?
2. can I use normal brown sugar instead of light brown sugar?
Zoha says
Hi Hazel! White vinegar, and I am not fully sure by what you mean by normal brown sugar - could you elaborate?