Red velvet cake is a beloved dessert, known for its rich flavor, soft texture, and signature red hue. But have you ever thought about transforming this classic into a bite-sized cookie? Red velvet snowball cookies combine the iconic flavor of red velvet cake with the charm of melt-in-your-mouth snowball cookies.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Easy to Make: Despite their fancy appearance, these red velvet snowball cookies are surprisingly easy to prepare. With just a few basic ingredients and simple steps, you can have a batch ready in no time.
Perfect for Holidays: The bright red color and snowy powdered sugar coating make these cookies an excellent choice for holiday celebrations. They add a pop of color to any dessert table, making them ideal for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or any other festive occasion.
Melt-in-Your-Mouth Texture: These cookies have a soft, crumbly texture that practically melts in your mouth. The combination of butter and powdered sugar gives them that signature snowball cookie feel, while the cocoa powder and buttermilk add richness to the flavor.
Versatile and Customizable: While this recipe features red velvet as the star flavor, it can easily be customized. You can add a touch of chocolate chips, or make them smaller for bite-sized treats that are perfect for snacking. The snowball shape is also fun to make, and kids will love helping shape the dough into little snowballs.
Eye-Catching Presentation: These cookies are not only delicious but also visually stunning. The deep red hue of the dough contrasts beautifully with the white powdered sugar, making them a standout on any dessert platter.

Ingredients

To make these red velvet snowball cookies, you’ll need the following ingredients:

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup powdered sugar (for the dough)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1 tbsp buttermilk
2-3 tbsp red food coloring
Additional powdered sugar for rolling the cookies

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat Your Oven

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier. The parchment paper also ensures the cookies bake evenly, giving them a smooth, soft texture.

2. Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, and salt. This helps prevent clumping and ensures that the dry ingredients are evenly distributed in the dough. Set this mixture aside while you prepare the wet ingredients.

3. Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until light and fluffy. This will take about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer on medium speed. The fluffy butter mixture will provide a tender crumb for the cookies.

4. Add the Wet Ingredients

Add the egg, vanilla extract, and buttermilk to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until everything is well combined. You should have a smooth, creamy batter. Then, slowly add the red food coloring and mix until the dough turns a vibrant red hue. You can adjust the food coloring depending on how deep you want the red color to be.

5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, and salt mixture) into the wet ingredients. Mix until the dough comes together and is fully incorporated. The dough will be soft but not too sticky, and you may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is evenly mixed.

6. Shape the Cookies

Using your hands or a cookie scoop, form small balls of dough (about 1 inch in diameter). Roll each dough ball between your palms to form smooth, round shapes. This will give the cookies that classic snowball look.

7. Bake the Cookies

Place the shaped dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are set. The centers will remain slightly soft, which is perfect for the melt-in-your-mouth texture.

8. Cool and Roll in Powdered Sugar

Once the cookies have finished baking, remove them from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. After cooling slightly, roll the cookies in powdered sugar to coat them. Make sure the cookies are still slightly warm, as this helps the powdered sugar stick and creates the classic “snowball” appearance.

9. Let Them Cool Completely

Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack. The powdered sugar will set as the cookies cool, giving them a beautiful snowy finish.

Variations

While these red velvet snowball cookies are delicious on their own, here are a few ways you can put your spin on them:

Add Chocolate Chips: For an extra burst of chocolate, add a handful of mini chocolate chips to the dough before baking. This will give the cookies a richer flavor and a fun texture.
Use Pink Food Coloring: For a softer look or to make them more suitable for Valentine’s Day, use pink food coloring instead of red to give the cookies a lighter hue.
Stuff with Cream Cheese: For a creamy center, you can stuff the cookies with a small amount of cream cheese before baking. This creates a delicious surprise when you bite into the cookies.

How to Serve

These red velvet snowball cookies make the perfect treat for any occasion. They’re great for holiday parties, as a gift for friends and family, or simply for indulging on a cozy afternoon.

Pair them with a cup of hot cocoa or a glass of milk for a delightful treat. You can also display them on a festive platter with other holiday sweets, creating a beautiful dessert spread that’s as visually appealing as it is delicious.