Make these red velvet cream cheese sandwich cookies for holiday cravings

Name: Make these red velvet cream cheese sandwich cookies for holiday cravings
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 49 min
Yield: 28 sandwiches
Ingredients: 2 cup all-purpose flour; 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 tsp baking soda; ½ tsp salt; ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened to room temperature; 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar; 1 unit large egg, room temperature; ⅔ cup full-fat buttermilk, room temperature; 1½ tsp Wilton Gel/Paste Food Color, red-red or no-taste red; 2 tsp pure vanilla extract; 16 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature; 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened to room temperature; 2 lb powdered sugar; 2 tsp pure vanilla extract; 2 tbsp whole milk

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Kim Galeaz

Living Well

Indiana • WXIN

Prep Time: 40 mins

Cook Time: 8 mins

Additional Time: 1 mins (Cooling)

Total Time: 49 mins

Yields: 28 sandwiches

Level: Medium

American Bake Comfort Food Holidays & Celebrations Oven Vegetarian Winter

About this recipe

These cheerful red sandwich cookies are perfect for the holidays.

Also known as whoopie pies, these sandwich cookies have a cake-like texture and a fluffy cream cheese frosting. Its vibrant red color comes from red gel food coloring, which can be found in the baking aisle at the grocery store.

Make sure to keep these treats refrigerated because cream cheese is perishable.

Copycat recipe: The Tom Cruise Coconut Cake

Dietitian Kim Galeaz recommends covering your cookie sheets with the parchment paper to make cleanup a breeze and prevent your cookies from burning.

This is the second in a series of holiday cookie recipes.

COOK MODE Keep Screen Awake

Cream Cheese Frosting/Filling

16 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened to room temperature
2 lb powdered sugar
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 tbsp whole milk

Directions

Red Velvet Cookies

Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
TIP: Cover cookie sheets with parchment paper to prevent burning and ease cleanup.
Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda,and salt in a medium bowl.
In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy (1–2 minutes). Add brown sugar and mix until fluffy (about 2 minutes).
Add egg and mix just until blended. Add vanilla and buttermilk; mix until combined. Mixture may look curdled.
Add red gel food color and mix just until blended.
Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly mix in flour-cocoa mixture just until blended; avoid overmixing.
Using a 2-teaspoon cookie scoop, scoop batter onto parchment-lined sheets about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 6–8 minutes until centers appear set. Avoid overbaking; cookies will firm up as they cool.
Cool on sheet for 30 seconds, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting/Filling

Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and combined.
Add powdered sugar gradually, beating well after each addition.
Add vanilla and milk; stir until blended.
Spread or pipe frosting onto one cookie and top with another to create sandwiches.
TIP: Refrigerate cookies in a tightly covered container and enjoy within 3–5 days.

Published: December 14, 2025

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Recipe created by culinary registered dietitian nutritionist Kim Galeaz, RDN LD with inspiration from sallysbakingaddicition.com and numerous similar online recipes.