A Valentine’s Delight: Red Velvet Spritz Cookies

There’s a special kind of magic that happens when you use a cookie press. It’s a delightful, nostalgic process that transforms a simple dough into an array of beautiful, intricate shapes in seconds. Now, imagine that classic, buttery spritz cookie, but reinvented with the romantic, beloved flavor of red velvet. That, my friends, is the stunning and delicious charm of these Red Velvet Spritz Cookies. They are the perfect, delicate little bite to share with your Valentine.

I absolutely adore making spritz cookies for holidays, and this red velvet version has become my new obsession for Valentine’s Day. The recipe is a dream—the dough, enriched with both butter and cream cheese, is unbelievably tender and flavorful. A touch of cocoa gives it that classic red velvet taste, and the vibrant red color is simply show-stopping. They are not just cookies; they are tiny, edible works of art that are so much fun to make and even more fun to share.

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Why These Spritz Cookies are Perfect for Your Valentine

You are going to fall in love with this fun, festive, and incredibly easy cookie recipe. It’s a true holiday gem. Here’s why:

• A Beautiful, Romantic Twist on a Classic: We’ve infused the beloved, buttery spritz cookie with the iconic flavor and vibrant color of red velvet.
• Incredibly Tender, Melt-in-Your-Mouth Texture: The addition of cream cheese to the butter and sugar base creates a wonderfully rich, soft, and tender cookie that is simply divine.
• Fun, Fast, and Easy with a Cookie Press: A cookie press makes quick work of creating dozens of beautiful, uniform cookies in a variety of fun shapes. It’s a fantastic and satisfying baking project!
• Perfectly Dainty and Giftable: These small, delicate cookies are absolutely perfect for packaging in a festive box or tin as a thoughtful, homemade Valentine’s Day gift.
• Endlessly Fun to Decorate: A simple brush of egg white and a shower of festive sprinkles is all you need to turn these beautiful cookies into sparkling little gems.

Recipe Snapshot

Your Shopping List for These Red Velvet Beauties

This impressive cookie comes together with a handful of classic baking staples.

→ For the Cookies

• 1 cup butter & 3 ounces cream cheese → Both must be softened to room temperature for the creamiest, fluffiest dough.
• 1 cup sugar → For the perfect sweetness.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract → For classic, warm flavor.
• 1 large egg, separated → The yolk goes in the dough for richness, and the white is used as a “glue” for sprinkles.
• 2 teaspoons red paste food coloring → Gel or paste coloring provides the most vibrant red without thinning the dough.
• ½ teaspoon peppermint extract → Optional, but it adds a lovely, subtle minty note that pairs beautifully with red velvet.

Let’s Get Pressing! Your Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to create the most beautiful and delicate cookies for your Valentine? Let’s get to it!

Part 1: The Tender Red Velvet Dough

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Do not grease your baking sheets for spritz cookies!
2. Cream the Fats and Sugar: In a large bowl, using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, beat the softened butter, cream cheese, and sugar on high speed until the mixture is very light and fluffy. This should take a full 5-7 minutes.
3. Combine the Dough: Beat in the egg yolk, vanilla, red food coloring, and peppermint extract (if using). In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and cocoa powder. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture until it’s just combined.

Part 2: Press, Decorate, and Bake

4. Press the Cookies: Fill your cookie press with the prepared dough and fit it with your desired disk shape (hearts or flowers are perfect for Valentine’s Day!). Press the cookies about 1 inch apart directly onto ungreased baking sheets.
5. Decorate Before Baking: In a small bowl, whisk together the reserved egg white and 1 tablespoon of water. Gently brush this egg wash over the tops of the unbaked cookies. Immediately decorate with your favorite nonpareils or sprinkles.
6. Bake to Perfection: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are set and firm, but not browned. The edges may look just slightly darker, but you want to maintain the vibrant red color.
7. Cool and Enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the pans for 2 minutes before carefully removing them to wire racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container and share with someone you love!

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Red Velvet Spritz Cookies

These beautiful Red Velvet Spritz Cookies are a perfect Valentine’s treat! A tender, buttery dough with cream cheese and a hint of cocoa gets its vibrant red color from food coloring, then is shaped into festive designs with a cookie press.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 102

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 38

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg, separated, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons red paste food coloring
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract optional
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking cocoa
• 1 tablespoon water
• as needed Nonpareils or sprinkles

Equipment

• Electric Mixer (Hand or Stand)
• Cookie press
• Baking Sheets
• Wire racks

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter, cream cheese, and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5-7 minutes.
2. Beat in the egg yolk, vanilla, food coloring, and optional peppermint extract.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the flour and cocoa. Gradually beat the flour mixture into the creamed mixture until just combined.
4. Using a cookie press fitted with a disk of your choice, press the dough 1 inch apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
5. In a small bowl, mix the reserved egg white and water. Gently brush this mixture over the cookies. Decorate as desired with nonpareils or sprinkles.
6. Bake until the cookies are set, 10-12 minutes. Let them cool on the pans for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Notes

Use Ungreased Pans: Do not grease your baking sheets! Spritz cookie dough needs to stick to a cool, clean surface to release properly from the press.

Room Temperature Ingredients: For the dough to have the correct consistency for the press, ensure your butter, cream cheese, and egg are at room temperature.

Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

WiseRecipes’ Top Tips for Perfect Spritz Cookies

These simple secrets will ensure your spritz cookie project is a flawless, flavorful triumph.

1. Use Room Temperature Ingredients. For the dough to come together smoothly and be the right consistency for the press, your butter, cream cheese, and egg must be at room temperature.
2. Do NOT Grease Your Baking Sheets! This is the most important rule for spritz cookies. The cookie press works because the raw dough needs to stick to the cool, clean surface of the pan in order to release from the press. Greasing the pan or using parchment will cause the cookies to pull away with the press.
3. Cream for the Full Time. Beating the butter, cream cheese, and sugar for a full 5-7 minutes is the key to a light, tender cookie. This step incorporates air and creates a fluffy texture.
4. Chill Your Baking Sheets if Needed. If your kitchen is warm and the dough is having trouble sticking, pop your metal baking sheets in the freezer for about 10 minutes. A cold surface works best.
5. Don’t Overbake. Spritz cookies are delicate. You want to bake them just until they are set and firm to the touch. They should not get brown on the edges, as this will dull the beautiful red color.

Keep Them Fresh! Storing Your Cookies

These beautiful cookies store wonderfully, making them a perfect make-ahead treat for gifting.

• Storage: Once completely cooled, you can store the spritz cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh and crisp for up to a week.

FAQs: Your Red Velvet Spritz Cookie Questions, Answered!

What if I don’t have a cookie press?

While a cookie press is essential for the classic spritz shapes, you can still use this delicious dough! You can treat it like a slice-and-bake cookie. Shape the dough into a log, wrap and chill it until very firm, then slice it into ¼-inch thick rounds and bake. You can also use a piping bag with a large star tip to pipe small rosettes.

Why is my dough not sticking to the baking sheet?

This is the most common spritz cookie problem! It’s almost always because the baking sheet is either greased, lined with parchment, or too warm. Make sure your sheets are cool, clean, and completely ungreased.

Can I add a glaze or frosting after they bake?

Absolutely! These would be delicious with a simple cream cheese glaze (powdered sugar, a little cream cheese, and milk) drizzled over the top after they have cooled.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, this dough can be made and stored in the refrigerator, well-wrapped, for up to 3 days. Just let it sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes to soften slightly before you try to use it in the cookie press, as it will be very firm straight from the fridge.

Final Thoughts: A Cookie from the Heart

There is something truly special about a homemade cookie, especially one that is as beautiful and delicate as these Red Velvet Spritz Cookies. They are a fun, nostalgic baking project that yields stunning results. They are the perfect, dainty treat to share with someone special and say “I love you” in the most delicious way. I hope they bring a little bit of color and a lot of joy to your Valentine’s Day. Happy Baking!