It isn’t too late to make something delicious and heart-felt for your love for Valentine’s Day. Forget spending the big bucks on over-priced blooms or shelling out for mediocre chocolates: these red velvet cookies make a perfect Valentine’s Day gift or dessert.
I was inspired by a recipe on Sally’s Baking addiction – see it here:
http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/12/13/red-velvet-chocolate-chip-cookies – but instead of adding chocolate chips I crowned my cookies with heart-shaped candies. These are readily available from supermarkets and add that lovin’ feeling to these excellent cookies. I also reduced the sugar and omitted salt.
For the red colouring I urge you to be a gel colour, rather than a weaker and cheaper liquid version. The gel gives you the deep red without watering down the batter.
You will need to rest the batter in the fridge for at least an hour (and up to overnight) so allow time for this.
Feeling a bit bah humbug about V Day? Make the cookies and eat them yourself, and remember that you are loved.
GATHER:
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
115g unsalted butter, diced, at room temperature.
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup caster sugar
1 egg, at room temperature
1 tablespoon milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1.5 tablespoons gel red food coloring
LET’S GET TO IT:
Sift flour and cocoa together in a small bowl, set aside.
In bowl of electric mixer beat butter on high speed until pale for two minutes. Scrape down sides, reduce speed to medium and tip in both sugars beat until combined, add in vanilla, egg, vanilla and red food colouring.
Scrape down sides again, tip in flour and beat together until combined.
Cover bowl with cling film and place in fridge for at least an hour.
Remove, preheat oven to 180C and line two baking sheets with non-stick paper.
Roll dough into walnut-sized balls and place on trays, and gently flatten.
Bake for 8 minutes, remove from oven and gently place candies on top, then return to oven for another 2-3 minutes.
Allow to cool on trays before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
the hungry mum 
Happy Valentines Day for tomorrow! I hope you have a great day 😀
Thanks – hope your day was lovely, too.
mmm. . . These look perfect for Valentine’s Day.
This looks good, I love how you incorporated the hearts in them. very unique 🙂
Thanks Clair, hope your V Day is full of love.
Thank you 🙂 I hope yours is too!
Looks very good!!! Happy Valentine’s Day Weekend!
These are so cute! I love the chocolate hearts you used on top. So perfect for Valentine’s Day!
thanks Shari 🙂
Love this cute cookie!
aww, ta! Hope your V Day is full of love.
Happy Valentines Day!
These are absolutely gorgeous, I will have to make them next year 🙂
I’m yumming 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
Yumming! I love it 🙂 I may need to borrow that phrase x
Happy Valentine’s Day. Your cookies are perfect for the occasion.
Thank you Karen. Hope your V Day was full of love.
These are gorgeous!!!!! I’ve made red velvet cakes before, but never cookies. Genius!
Awww, ta! They were so moist and delish.
I have yet to make any red velvet recipe, whether it’s pancakes or yummy cookies like these. Nice finishing touch with the hearts on top 🙂
Awww … How cute! I would go through them like a bowl of popcorn but it is/was Valentine’s Day. A little overindulgence is to be expected.