Red Velvet Cookie Sandwiches

These red velvet cookie sandwiches are a soft, rich red velvet cookie stuffed with a cream cheese icing that is sure to satisfy those red velvet cravings! There is something irresistible about this indulgent dessert; cocoa-kissed cookies with a generous layer of smooth, cream cheese icing to perfectly balance the sweetness of this dessert.

Red velvet always reminds me of my sister because she loves any type of red velvet dessert, but I also laugh remembering when I first told her that red velvet was just chocolate died red….. the disappointment!! Anyways, red velvet is still a delicious, nostalgic dessert, and I know these red velvet cookie sandwiches will be just that for you too!

The Recipe

Did you know that red velvet baked goods are cocoa-based baked goods typically died red with food colouring? I know, it is kind of disappointing, but it is the truth! I believe that red velvet originated from a lighter chocolate cake recipe that would appear slightly red from the chemical reaction between the cocoa powder and the buttermilk, but over time, bakers really leaned in to the preferred red colour and starting to use food colouring to achieve same. Most red velvet cake recipes do indeed include buttermilk for the tangy contrast it supplies to the chocolate cake, but with cookies, buttermilk isn’t successful, so we’ve gone without. However, I have tried to recreate that tangy element of the red velvet flavour profile by using the cream cheese icing instead.

Here’s what you’ll need

For the cookies
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
– 3/4 cup white sugar
– 1/4 cup brown sugar
– 2 eggs
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 1 tsp baking soda
– 1/4 tsp salt
– 1/3 cup cocoa powder
– 6-10 drops red food colour, to preference
– 1.75 cups flour

For the icing
– 3.5 cups powdered sugar
– 1/2 cup cream cheese
– 1/4 cup butter
– 1/8 tsp salt
– 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (can sub vanilla extract)

– 1/2 cup red melting wafers to decorate with drizzle, optional!

1. Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F and grabbing all of your ingredients and parchment lined baking tray.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine butter, sugars, vanilla and eggs. Mix well.
3. Sift in the cocoa powder and continue mixing slowly until we’ll combined.
4. Add the red food colour until you start to reach desired colour, but remember this colour will soften as you add flour!
5. Combine the salt, baking soda and flour and gradually add to wet mixture until we’ll combined.
6. Scoop out 2 tbsp sized balls of cookie dough, roll with your hands into a smooth ball, place on parchment, then flatten with the bottom of a glass cup or your palm. These cookies don’t spread a ton so flatten half way to desire size.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Use a wide mouth cup to bring the cookies back to a perfectly round shape. Stick wide mouth over cookie while on parchment sheet and move around in circular direction.
8. Combine all icing ingredients in electric mixer and mix well on medium speed until combined. Add some milk if it is too thick or some icing sugar if too thin.
9. Once the cookies have cooled completely pipe the icing sugar onto the bottom part of the cookie and place another on top. I put the icing in a freezer size ziploc and cut the tip off to make piping easier.
10. Melt red melting wafers and then drizzle on top of cookie. Optional and can use any chocolate you like 🙂

Recipe makes 6 red velvet cookie sandwiches (12 cookies total).

Storing the Cookie Sandwiches

A lot of the recipes I share online can freeze and store quite easily, but because of the icing, these cookies sandwiches are a little different. On their own, the red velvet cookies would freeze no problem either before or after baking the cookie dough. However, the icing wouldn’t be so successful. If you would like to make these ahead of time I would recommend baking and then freezing the cookies. The day before you would like to enjoy these, bring the cookies out of the freezer and let them thaw to room temperature. Whip up the icing, which can be stored in the fridge for a couple days too. Put the cookie sandwiches together when you are ready to enjoy them; they will stay good on the counter or in the fridge for a few days once assembled.

Print Pin

Red Velvet Cookie Sandwiches

Servings 12 cookie sandwiches

Ingredients

For the Cookies

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 6-10 drops red food colour to preference
• 1.75 cups flour

For the Icing

• 3.5 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup cream cheese
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste can sub vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup red melting wafers to decorate with drizzle optional!

Instructions

• Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F and grabbing all of your ingredients and parchment lined baking tray.
• In a large mixing bowl combine butter, sugars, vanilla and eggs. Mix well.
• Sift in the cocoa powder and continue mixing slowly until we’ll combined.
• Add the red food colour until you start to reach desired colour, but remember this colour will soften as you add flour!
• Combine the salt, baking soda and flour and gradually add to wet mixture until we’ll combined.
• Scoop out 2 tbsp sized balls of cookie dough, roll with your hands into a smooth ball, place on parchment, then flatten with the bottom of a glass cup or your palm. These cookies don’t spread a ton so flatten half way to desire size.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes. Use a wide mouth cup to bring the cookies back to a perfectly round shape. Stick wide mouth over cookie while on parchment sheet and move around in circular direction.
• Combine all icing ingredients in electric mixer and mix well on medium speed until combined. Add some milk if it is too thick or some icing sugar if too thin.
• Once the cookies have cooled completely pipe the icing sugar onto the bottom part of the cookie and place another on top. I put the icing in a freezer size ziploc and cut the tip off to make piping easier.
• Melt red melting wafers and then drizzle on top of cookie. Optional and can use any chocolate you like 🙂
• Recipe makes 6 sandwiches (12 cookies total).

I hope you love these red velvet cookie sandwiches just as much as I do. If you do decide to make these at home, please share them on socials and tag me, I love seeing what you come up with!

If you love this recipe, check out my coconut white chocolate sugar cookies here! Watch a full video on how to make these red velvet cookie sandwiches below!