Inspired by the classic cake, these Red Velvet Shortbread Cookies are rich, buttery and so festive!
I’m at it again folks! I’ve got another yummy cookie to add to your holiday baking list. Tis the season!
Are you up to your eyeballs in cookies yet?! I hope you’re enjoying the bevy of beautiful cookies that have been popping up all over the internet as much as I am. I have never seen so many creative and delicious cookies! I’ve been cranking out at least two to three different kinds of cookies a week since Thanksgiving! Let’s just say in between baking, my treadmill has been getting a workout!
Do you guys have a favorite holiday cookie? I think mine would have to be a shortbread cookie of some kind. There are so many different flavor combinations to pick from. Today’s Red Velvet Shortbread Cookies get their inspiration from the classic red velvet cake. They’re crisp with a hint of chocolate and the festive red color brightens up any holiday cookie tray.
I’m sharing these sweet little mittens as part of this year’s Sweetest Season Cookie Exchange. You can follow along on all social media with the hashtag #sweetestseasoncookies to catch all the tasty recipes. We’ve got your holiday cookie baking covered! These mittens will be a delicious AND adorable addition to your holiday cookie tray, if I do say so myself! Enjoy guys!
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup one stick butter, cut into small cubes
- 1 Tbsp. red food coloring
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 Tbsp. Crisco shortening
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Cover and pulse until well combined. Add butter and food coloring. Pulse until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Continue to process until mixture forms a ball.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/2 inch thick. Cut out dough with desired cookie cutter. Place on prepared sheet 1 inch apart. Reroll scraps and continue to cut until all dough is used. The amount of cookies will depend on the size of your cookie cutter.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until centers are set. Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.
- Place chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave safe bowl.
- Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted and smooth.
- Dip bottom part of mitten into the chocolate and transfer to wax paper or parchment paper. Sprinkle white chocolate with sprinkles. Let cookies stand until set.
Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens
How ADORABLE!? Those are by far the cutest cookies I’ve ever seen. And they look absolutely delicious Mary Ann.
Awww, thanks Alida! They were so much fun to make AND eat!
Mary Ann, these cookies are the cutest!! what a lovely idea!! loving these!
Thanks Gaila! I had so much fun making them!
These are SOOO cute, Mary Ann!! They are almost too pretty to eat. I think shortbread may be my favourite too. I’ve never had a red velvet version, but I bet they are amazing! I’m baking some more this weekend. There’s too many cookies and so little time, but I plan on giving it a good try ;) Pinned! Have a great weekend :) XO
Go for it Dawn! Tis the season! We can all hit the gym in January right?!
So cute Mary Ann! Love the little white fur edging. Your family is lucky to get such beautiful treats from you!
Thanks Karen! I could make cookies every day during the holidays! It’s such fun!
Oh my gawsh, Mary Ann, these are the most adorable cookies ever!! I just love the mitten shape with the frosted and sprinkled cuffs!!! Plus red velvet cake was a favorite of mine before I developed a cocoa allergy, so I’m willing to bet these cute cookies taste even better than they look!! I need to make these pronto! Pinned! Cheers, friend!
When I saw the mitten cookie cutter at the craft store I knew I had to have it! I really loved the way they turned out. Perfect addition to my holiday cookie tray this year!
It’s funny, at Valentine’s Day I get so annoyed by all the red velvet everywhere but at Christmas it’s fun and festive! These are adorable :)
Thanks Gina! So much fun to make and decorate!
I love that you made red velvet shortbread cookies!!! YUMMM! and love the mitten cookie cutters! I need to get cute holiday cookie cutters! I think I have every holiday except Christmas!
I love shortbread around the holidays Alice! It’s a simple cookie and always so rich and buttery! When I saw the mitten cookie cutter I knew I had to have it!
These are absolutely adorable. I’m a huge sucker for shortbread cookies too and I’m hopelessly smitten with red velvet. Sounds like we’re two peas in a pod when it comes to cookies.
Thanks so much Chris. We are two peas in a pod then! I can’t resist holiday shortbread either. I hope baking season is off to a good start at your house!
A match made in heaven, I’d say! Shortbread and red velvet….so festive and delicious! These are almost too cute to eat, my friend! Almost! Pinned!
If you’re a shortbread and red velvet cake fan these cookies are for you Annie!!
Oh my goodness, Mary Ann – these are so clever and adorable. Love them! Also love how flexible short bread cookies are – red velvet is an inspired combination!
Aww, thanks Geraldine! I love all the different flavors of shortbread! My favorite in the summer is key lime with toasted coconut! It’s heavenly!
You had me at red velvet, but then I saw how cute these were… now I HAVE to make them!!
So glad you like red velvet Jennifer! Hope you enjoy them if you give them a go!
Mary Ann! These are so stinking cute!! Love the red velvet twist. Absolutely darling. <3
Thanks so much Tessa! They were so fun to make!
You have really outdone yourself, Mary Ann! I think I audibly gasped when I saw these beautiful mitten cookies!
I’ll swap you some for some of your caramels! Deal??
These have got to be the cutest cookies!! I love this red velvet twist on your favorite holiday cookie :) I love chocolate peppermint cookies, so I think I should make a red velvet peppermint cookie next ( well, after I make these of course ;) )
Thanks Megan! The red velvet was something I saw in Better Homes and Gardens and I knew I had to try it! They’re delish!
As I said on Instagram … the absolute cutest cookies ever! I love everything about not just the cookies, but your beautiful photos, too. Off to hunt down a mitten cookie cutter :)
Thank you so much Jennifer! I got mine at the local craft store. I’m not sure if you have Targets, but they have them too! Happy cookie making!! I saw the snow you’re getting, so it’s the perfect weather for staying in and making cookies!
These are just the cutest! So fun for Christmas!
Thanks Tieghan! I thought you might like these!
These are stunning! So fun and holiday perfect!
Thanks Naomi! Cutouts are always so fun!
Wow, MaryAnn, gorgeous!
Thanks Matt!
I think we all agree that these are the cutest cookies ever . They are darling Mary Ann, just right for a fancy bakery.
Thank you Gerlinde! They were so fun to make! (And eat!)
It’s easy and delicious recipe. My kids will love this :). Thank you very much for your sharing!!!
Enjoy making them Emma! Perfect for holiday teacher’s gifts in little cellophane bags with pretty ribbon!
Just pinned. Your cookies are absolutely adorable…you decorated them perfectly.
Thanks for pinning Karen! These were so fun to make and decorate! Hope you enjoy!
I am gushing with my sisters about this recipe. Love the sweet mittens and the red velvet. Clever! I think I will make these for teacher xmas gifts this year. So glad you shared these, thanks for the West Coast!
They are perfect for teacher’s gifts Cindy! Wrapped in a little cellophane bag with pretty ribbon! Enjoy!
These are just adorable, Mary Ann! Love the little mittens… almost too cute to eat :)
Thanks Laura! I can never get enough shortbread, so I’m eating them!
I am up to my eyeballs in cookies and I need to get on my treadmill a whole lot more! These little mittens are so adorable! They would get gobbled up quickly just on the cuteness factor! :) Although I’m sure everyone would keep coming back for more on the yumminess factor!
Thanks Kathy!!
These are seriously adorable, Mary Ann – I’m adding to my Christmas Pinterest Board! My favorite cookie at Christmas and every other time will always be my grandma’s molasses cookies. Sweet memories! :)
They sound delicious Kate! Shortbread is probably my favorite but there is also a Hungarian cookie called Kifli that was my Dad’s favorite! So many choices!
OMG!! these are the cutest and i love that they’re red velvet. these would be dangerous at my house. we’re all red velvet fans so I don’t think we’d want to share them with our guests!
I had a hard time sharing too! Enjoy Cathy!
These are hands down the most adorable cookies I have seen this season.. and as you pointed out, there are a LOT of cookies out there. I would be so delighted if I received these in a cookie exchange!
Awww, thank you so much Jenny! Your sweet comment made my day!!
You are killing me with cuteness, Mary Ann! These might be the most adorable cookies ever and I’m sure they’re super delicious! Love, love, love!
Thanks Jessica! These were so much fun to make! I can’t get enough shortbread during the holidays!
I absolutely LOVE this recipe and the fact that you turned cake into cookies and made them into little mittens! So festive! So perfect! So delicious!
Thanks so much for participating in this year’s Sweetest Season! I’ve loved seeing all the recipes, getting in the spirit and feeling inspired to bake EVERYTHING this month (and consequently also give the treadmill a workout, haha.)
Thank you so much Erin! I’m so happy you like them! I think January is going to be a very busy month at the gym for me!!
These are just the cutest, who could resist? Not me, so a Baker’s Dozen please!
Thanks Kevin! Wish we lived closer. I’d bring some right over!
oh my gosh so cute!
Thanks so much Mary!! Happy Holidays!
Sounds like a great recipe to have on hand Mary. I will be making these soon :)
Enjoy Vickie!
Did these spread very much when you baked them? That would influence my cutter choice.
Hi David. No, they didn’t. You can chill the tray of cutouts before baking if you’d like too. That always helps prevent spreading. Enjoy!