Description
These Red Velvet Blossom Cookies are a festive and delightful treat featuring a soft, red velvet cookie base topped with a chilled Dove Chocolate Heart. Rolled in vibrant red sprinkles, these cookies combine the rich flavors of cocoa and vanilla with a fun, romantic presentation perfect for special occasions or holiday gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
Chocolate Hearts
- 36 Dove Chocolate Hearts (1 8.87 ounces package)
Cookie Dough
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring
- 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Red sprinkling sugar and/or sprinkles for rolling
Instructions
- Freeze Chocolate Hearts: Place the Dove Chocolate Hearts into the freezer for at least one hour. This step helps prevent the chocolate from melting quickly when placed onto the warm cookies.
- Prepare Oven and Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the room temperature butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. This step incorporates air for a tender cookie texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, milk, red food coloring, and pure vanilla extract until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and evenly colored.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and kosher salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the butter mixture, beating until just combined—avoid overmixing to maintain a soft crumb.
- Shape and Roll Cookies: Using a tablespoon, shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in red sprinkling sugar and/or sprinkles until fully coated, then place them on the prepared baking sheet spaced evenly apart.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven until the edges are set but centers still appear slightly soft.
- Add Chocolate Hearts: Immediately upon removing the cookies from the oven, press one frozen Dove Chocolate Heart into the center of each warm cookie. The heat will slightly soften the cookie, helping the chocolate adhere without melting it completely.
- Cool Completely: Transfer the cookies carefully from the baking sheet to a wire rack. Allow them to cool fully so the cookies firm up and the chocolate sets properly.
Notes
- Dove Chocolate Hearts are preferred due to their smaller size and better ratio of chocolate to cookie, but Hershey’s Chocolate Hearts can be used if preferred.
- For easier handling, it may help to chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for about an hour before shaping; however, the sprinkles may not adhere as well when the dough is cold. Rolling at room temperature may yield better sprinkle coverage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1.2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
