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Red Velvet Sugar Cookies

Soft, thick, and slightly chewy Red Velvet sugar cookies slathered in rich, velvety cream cheese frosting!
Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 38 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 27 Cookies

Ingredients
  

For the Cookies

  • 2 ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 ounces cream cheese
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup granulated sugar + 3 Tablespoons divided
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 Tablespoon red food coloring (gel or liquid)

For the Frosting

  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 3 Tablespoons greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • pinch of salt
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • Sprinkles

Instructions
 

To make the Cookies

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix the butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy. Add the vegetable oil, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, powdered sugar, egg, vanilla, and food coloring and mix until fully incorporated. Gradually stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients until dough comes together.
  • Place remaining 3 Tablespoons of sugar into a small bowl. Form dough into balls about the size of a golfball, roll in sugar, then place on lined baking sheet. Repeat process with more dough until you have 8 or so balls spaced 2 inches apart. Using the bottom of a glass, flatten each dough ball to about 1/2" thickness. It's okay if the cookies form a rim on the edges.
  • Bake cookies for 7-8 minutes or until tops look mostly dry around the edges, yet still glossy in the center--no browning. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 3-4 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix the butter, cream cheese, yogurt, vanilla, and salt together until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, a cup at a time, until all of the sugar has been added and frosting is smooth.
  • Spread buttercream onto cooled cookies and immediately add the sprinkles. Serve and enjoy!