Description
These adorable Red Velvet Bear Cookies are soft, mildly sweet, and perfect for red velvet lovers. Decorated with melted chocolate to create cute bear faces, they make a delightful treat especially during holidays like Valentine's Day or winter celebrations.
Ingredients
Dry ingredients:
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
Wet ingredients:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1 egg
- red food coloring (as needed)
Decoration for face:
- 1 tbsp melted milk or dark chocolate
- 3 tbsp melted white chocolate
- oil-based food coloring (pink/red) for tinting white chocolate
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a stand mixer with paddle attachment (or with hand mixer/whisk), mix melted and cooled butter with granulated and brown sugars on medium speed until mixed well. Scrape the bowl to incorporate.
- Add wet flavorings: Add vanilla extract, white vinegar, egg, and red food coloring; mix until the batter is smooth and uniform in color.
- Incorporate dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until just combined. Add more red food coloring as desired to enhance the red velvet color.
- Chill the dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes to let the flour hydrate and the butter re-firm, which helps produce chewy cookies and easier handling.
- Preheat oven and prepare trays: Set oven to 325°F (163°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Form cookies: Using a small cookie scoop (~1 ½ tablespoons dough each), form balls and place them spaced about 3 inches apart on baking trays. Reserve some dough for ears.
- Add ears: Take about 1 teaspoon of dough per cookie, split into two equal pieces, roll into balls, and press lightly on top of each cookie ball to create bear ears.
- Bake: Bake cookies for 9-11 minutes until edges are set and centers are slightly puffy. Slightly underbaking will yield softer, chewier cookies.
- Cool cookies: Allow cookies to cool on baking pans for 5-10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate faces: Using a piping bag or toothpick, decorate bear faces. Draw snouts and ears with melted white chocolate tinted pink/red using oil-based food coloring. Use melted milk or dark chocolate for eyes and noses.
- Chocolate tips: If white chocolate seizes when adding color, stir in a teaspoon of neutral oil at a time until smooth again.
- Serve and store: Enjoy your red velvet bear cookies! Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Notes
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness.
- To make these cookies vegan, substitute vegan butter and vegan chocolate, omit the egg, and optionally add 2-4 tablespoons of alternative milk to bind the dough if crumbly.
- Use high-quality oil-based food coloring to tint melted chocolate without seizing.
- These cookies are perfect for holiday gifting or themed parties thanks to their festive red velvet color and cute bear design.
