Valentine's Day has become more a kid holiday in our house. Homemade baked goods and cute hand written Valentines. This is my way of avoiding years of guilt.
Let me explain. My husband, bless his heart, always tries to buy me something with hearts or romantic. Note to self: make sure to not let him read this post. Our first Valentine's Day, he bought me a Swatch which was really sweet because it was my first year in Switzerland and he wanted me to have something Swiss. Except, it was plastic and covered in hearts. Needless to say, I never wore it and still hear about it 11 years later.
Last year, I apparently had been talking about a teddy bear that I had when I was a child named Columbus. I used to take that thing everywhere! Well, he thought that having a Vermont Teddy Bear customized for $100 dollars, would fill my empty, lost heart (cause I guess he thought I felt that way since I no longer had Columbus?).
Now don't get me wrong, I do my best to put on my thankful, happy, surprised face, but that man can read me like nothing else! So we have just come to the conclusion that Valentine's Day is about crafts and baking, and that totally works for us.
On to the cookies. I am not a big red velvet fan, but my kids love it. It is probably because of all the red dye! Before my "from scratch" days, I used to make these with cake mixes. They turn out kind of cakey, but kind of cookie like at the same time. The chocolate is subtle, but there and paired with cinnamon cream cheese frosting, they are delicious. I am going to give you guys the from scratch version as well as the cake mix version.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 1 cup cocoa
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup cold butter , cut into cubes
- 1 Batch Homemade Chocolate Cake Mix
- 4 eggs
- ¾ vegetable oil
- Red food coloring
- 1 box Red Velvet cake mix (18.25 oz)
- 2 eggs
- ½ vegetable oil
- 8 ounces unsalted butter , softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
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In a food processor, combine all of the dry ingredients and pulse a few times to mix them up.
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Add the butter and pulse until it has been incorporated.
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Keep in mind, it will still be pretty dry.
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You can also do this with a pastry cutter.
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Add all ingredients and mix until combined.
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Your going to need a lot of red coloring, so start with 1 tbsp, and keep adding until you have obtained your desired color. Using a cookie scoop, scoop out balls and place on a lined cookie sheet.
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Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
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Add all ingredients and mix until combined.
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Using a cookie scoop, scoop out balls and place on a lined cookie sheet.
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Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
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Cream cream cheese and butter together until fluffy.
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Turn mixer to low and beat in powdered sugar, cinnamon and add vanilla.
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Beat on high for 5 minutes.
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Frost cookies and enjoy!!!!
MonkeyBreadandSweetPea
I love the Valentine gift attempts! haha And I'm making red velvet cupcakes today & you just gave me the idea to add cinnamon to the cream cheese frosting for them! Awesome!! Thanks for sharing!
The Seaside Baker
OHHh thank you for reminding me...I have to go into his FB and delete this post!!! Yes, the cinnamon cream cheese will rock your red velvet world!
ssuire
My husband loves all things red velvet, so I was thinking about making him red velvet whoopie pies for Valentines day. This cookie recipe is perfect and I am so glad you posted your recipe for homemade cake mix, I prefer homemade over a boxed recipe. Happy V Day to you! I am heading home to bake with the kids tonight too.
dishinwithdidi
I don't particulary care for red velvet to be quite honest either, but 3 out of my 5 kids love it, go figure that one out!
Thank you for your homemade mix recipe!
The Seaside Baker
I really don't either, but it is festive!
NancyC
Hi! These look great! May I ask what you used to cut out such a tiny little heart? They are so cute!
Thanks!
bakearama
Ooh yummy! I have some leftover cream cheese frosting from my big valentines cake and now have the perfect use for it!