Oh, Christmas baking! It’s just pure magic, isn’t it? The smells, the cozy vibes, and of course, the gorgeous treats that fill your home with cheer. This year, I’ve got a real showstopper for you, something that looks absolutely stunning but is surprisingly speedy: my Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies! Seriously, they bake up in just 13 minutes, which is a lifesaver when you’ve got a million other festive things to do. I remember the first time I made these, my kitchen looked like a little winter wonderland explosion of pink, and everyone went wild for them! If you’re looking for even more easy holiday treats, I’ve got you covered too!
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies
These cookies are just the sweetest little things, and trust me, they’re going to be a hit! Here’s why you’ll want to whip up a batch:
- They’re unbelievably easy to whip up, perfect for even beginner bakers!
- Seriously speedy: they’re ready in about 13 minutes of baking time, leaving you more time for holiday fun.
- The prettiest pink color makes them super festive and fun for your Christmas cookie platters. Kids absolutely adore them!
- That slightly crackly, powdered sugar coating and moist, cakey inside? Pure deliciousness.
- They’re a fantastic twist on the classic red velvet flavor, bringing a unique touch to your holiday spread.
- They make a delightful edible gift for neighbors, teachers, or anyone who’s been nice this year!
Gather Your Ingredients for Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies
Alright, let’s get our mise en place ready for these gorgeous Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies! You won’t need anything too fancy, just good old pantry staples with a little sprinkle of holiday magic.
Here’s what we’ll need:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened: Make sure it’s nice and soft, not melted! This is key for creaming.
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar: Just your standard white sugar for sweetness.
- 2 large eggs: Make sure they’re at room temperature if you remember, it helps them incorporate better.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: Because no cookie is complete without it!
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder: This gives us that subtle red velvet flavor base.
- 1 teaspoon red food coloring: This is what gives our cookies their festive pink punch! Feel free to add a tiny bit more if you want a deeper color.
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar: Don’t worry, you won’t taste it! It reacts with the baking soda to help the cookies rise just a bit.
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda: Our leavening agent.
- 1/4 teaspoon salt: Balances out all the sweetness.
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour: The backbone of our cookies.
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar for rolling: This gives them that beautiful snowy finish!
Step-by-Step Guide to Your 13 Minute Christmas Baking Recipe
Alright, let’s get down to business and make these little pink beauties! You’ll be amazed how fast these come together, making them the perfect Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies. Just follow along and you’ll have a batch of holiday cheer faster than you can say ‘Ho Ho Ho!’
Creaming the Base for Perfect Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies
First things first! Grab your softened butter and that granulated sugar. You want to cream these together until they’re super light and fluffy. Seriously, this step is key for that perfect texture. Mine usually look kind of like pale yellow clouds when they’re ready!
Incorporating Wet Ingredients and Color
Now, let’s add the eggs, one at a time, really beating them in well after each addition. Then, stir in that lovely vanilla extract for flavor. Next comes the fun part: in a separate little bowl, whisk together your cocoa powder, that vibrant red food coloring (add a little more if you want them *really* pink!), and the vinegar and baking soda. Pour this gorgeous, colorful mixture into your butter and sugar bowl and mix until it’s all combined. It’s going to look so pretty!
Adding Dry Ingredients and Chilling the Dough
Gently add your flour to the wet ingredients. Mix it in *just* until it all comes together. Seriously, don’t go crazy mixing here; we don’t want tough cookies! Once it’s just combined, wrap that dough up and pop it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step is super important, trust me. It makes the dough so much easier to handle and bake up just right.
Shaping and Rolling Your Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies
Okay, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper. Time to grab your dough! Roll it into little 1-inch balls – I like to use a cookie scoop for this so they’re all the same size. Then, roll each little ball through the powdered sugar until it’s completely coated. It’s like giving them a snowy hug! Also, if you love red velvet, make sure you check out these easy Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies or even these classic Red Velvet Cookies!
Baking Your 13 Minute Christmas Baking Recipe
Pop those sugar-coated balls onto your prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space between them. Now for the magic of your 13 Minute Christmas Baking Recipe! Bake them for about 10 to 13 minutes. You want the edges to look set, but the centers should still feel a tiny bit soft. They’ll firm up as they cool!
Cooling and Finishing Touches
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for just a few minutes – this is important so they don’t fall apart! Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them get that perfect texture. And that’s it! You’ve made Christmas magic!
Tips for Perfect Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies Every Time
Okay, so you’ve got the recipe, but sometimes, you just want that *extra* little something to make your baking perfect, right? I totally get it! Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks for getting my Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies just right, and I’m happy to share them.
First off, ingredient temperature is your friend! Make sure that butter is truly softened – you should be able to dent it easily with your finger, but it shouldn’t be greasy or melting. If it’s too cold, your cookies might spread too much. And that vinegar? It’s not just for fun! It reacts with the baking soda to give the cookies just the right amount of lift, so don’t skip it. Also, when you’re mixing in the flour, resist the urge to overmix. Just stir until it’s *barely* combined. Overmixing develops the gluten, which can make your cookies tough instead of tender. For more cookie wisdom, check out my insanely good cookies list or grab some inspiration from these Levain Bakery Red Velvet Cookies!
Oh, and about that powdered sugar coating – make sure the balls are really well-coated before baking. It gives them that beautiful, snowy look and a lovely sweet crunch!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Let’s chat a bit about these ingredients, shall we? Sometimes a little detail can make all the difference. For the cocoa powder, I always reach for a good unsweetened one. You can use natural or Dutch-process, but Dutch-process might give you a slightly darker color base for that pink to pop. If you’re out of white vinegar, a little apple cider vinegar will work in a pinch – just a teaspoon is all you need!
Now, about that red food coloring: I prefer gel food coloring because a little goes a long way and it won’t add extra liquid to the dough. But liquid food coloring works too! Just adjust the amount as needed until you get that pretty pink you’re after. And for the butter, yeah, it really needs to be softened. If you forget and it’s cold, try microwaving it for just 5-10 second bursts, stirring in between, until it’s pliable but not melted. Trust me, it’s worth the little extra effort!
Storing Your Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies
Okay, so you’ve made these absolutely adorable Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies, and you want them to stay perfectly yummy, right? My biggest tip is an airtight container. Seriously, pop them into a good quality container with a lid that seals tight. This keeps all that lovely moisture locked in and stops them from going stale.
They’re generally best eaten within 3-4 days, but honestly, they’re so good, I doubt they’ll last that long! If you want to keep them longer, you could probably freeze them, just like my classic apple crisp!
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies
Got questions about these adorable pink treats? I’ve got answers! It’s totally normal to wonder about little things when you’re baking something new, so let’s clear things up.
Can I make Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies without red food coloring?
You totally can, but they won’t be pink! They’ll just be lovely little shortbread-like cookies with a hint of cocoa. They’ll still taste great, just without that iconic pink velvet look.
Why are my Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies spreading too much?
Usually, this happens if your butter was too warm when you started creaming, or if you overmixed the dough after adding the flour. Try chilling the dough for a bit longer, and make sure your butter is just softened, not melted!
How long can I store Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies?
Stored properly in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies should stay delicious for about 3 to 4 days. They tend to disappear way faster than that, though!
Estimated Nutritional Information
Now, I’m not a nutritionist or anything, but based on the ingredients, here’s a rough idea of what you’re looking at per cookie. Remember, these are just estimates, and they can definitely change based on your specific ingredients and how big you roll your cookies!
Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 150
Fat: 7g
Protein: 1.5g
Carbohydrates: 20g
Sugar: 15g
Sodium: 50mg
