Red velvet cookies have a hint of cocoa and are sweetened up with chunks of white chocolate.

It’s great for Christmas cookie tins,Valentine’s Day desserts, or football parties.

Learn how to make red velvet cookies.

Southern Living Red Velvet Cookies on a cake plate ready to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Then try other red velvet favorites likered velvet Bundt cakeorred velvet mug cake.

Here’s a brief outline of the process.

)white chocolate baking bars(6 oz.

Southern Living Red Velvet Cookies ingredients

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total), divided

3/4cupgranulated sugar

1/2cup(4 oz.

)unsalted butter, softened

1largeegg

1/2tsp.vanilla extract

1 1/4cups(about 5 3/8 oz.

Set aside, and reserve for folding into cookie dough batter.

Southern Living Red Velvet Cookies chopping the chocolate

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Coarsely chop remaining 1/2 (4-ounce) white chocolate baking bar.

Set aside, and reserve for pressing into cookie dough balls.

Add flour mixture to butter mixture.

Southern Living Red Velvet Cookies beating together the butter and sugar and egg yolkss

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Beat on low speed until smooth and combined, about 2 minutes.

Add red food coloring gel; beat on medium speed until just incorporated, about 30 seconds.

Fold reserved chopped whole white baking bar into batter.

Southern Living Red Velvet Cookies whisking together the dry ingredients

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Cover bowl with plastic wrap; chill until firm, at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.

Preheat oven to 350F.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Southern Living Red Velvet Cookies adding the flour mixture to the butter mixture

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Remove dough from refrigerator.

Scoop 12 dough balls by heaping tablespoonfuls; shape into 1 1/2-inch balls.

Arrange at least 2 inches apart on 1 prepared baking sheet.

Southern Living Red Velvet Cookies adding the food coloring to the cookie dough

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(Store remaining dough in bowl in refrigerator until ready to bake.)

Press about half of the reserved chopped 1/2 white chocolate baking bar into tops of dough balls.

Bake cookies:

Bake until tops are crackled and edges are set, 9 to 10 minutes.

Southern Living Red Velvet Cookies folding some of the white chocolate into the cookie dough

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Remove from oven; let cool on baking sheet 15 minutes.

Repeat process with remaining dough and chopped white chocolate baking bar.

Southern Living Red Velvet Cookies scooping out the cookie dough

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Red Velvet Cookies pressing the white chocolate into the cookie dough balls

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Red Velvet Cookies on cookie sheet after baking

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Red Velvet Cookies on the cooling rack after baking

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox