Get ready to indulge in the ultimate homemade treat: these incredible **Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies**! Imagine a cookie that’s wonderfully thick, irresistibly soft, and crowned with the silkiest, dreamiest cream cheese frosting swirl you’ve ever tasted. This isn’t just a cookie; it’s a meticulously crafted copycat of the famous Crumbl bakery version, elevated to new heights of freshness and flavor right in your own kitchen. While Crumbl cookies are a delightful indulgence, baking them at home means you control the quality, the ingredients, and the exact moment you pull that perfect, warm cookie from the oven.
Each bite delivers that unmistakable, authentic red velvet flavor profile – rich, buttery, with a delicate tang, and just the right whisper of cocoa. To complete the experience, a sprinkle of bakery-style cookie crumbs adds that signature Crumbl touch, making these cookies not just a dessert, but a true experience. They’re designed to be even better than the original, offering a warmth and personalized touch that only a homemade recipe can provide. Prepare to fall head over heels for these vibrant, decadent delights!
If you find joy in recreating beloved Crumbl classics, don’t stop here! Extend your baking adventure with my other popular copycat recipes. You’ll adore my Crumbl Nilla Bean Cupcake Cookies, which perfectly capture the nostalgic taste of vanilla wafers and sweet frosting. For another red velvet twist, try the Crumbl Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies, blending classic red velvet with gooey chocolate chips. And for an even richer, more decadent dessert, my Red Velvet Cream Cheese Brownies offer a luxurious swirled experience that’s simply divine. Each recipe is crafted to bring that bakery magic home, allowing you to enjoy gourmet treats whenever the craving strikes.
These are AMAZING. I just love red velvet and these come out so well! I love your crumbl cookie recipes! They all come out thick, soft, and chewy! If you don’t like sweetness you can just not add the frosting on top as the cookie isn’t that sweet but boy does it make it more delicious. I was supposed to start a diet this year, but with these cookies, the diet could wait till next year!
– Elizaybeth
Let’s Chit Chat About These Decadent Delights!
There’s something uniquely satisfying about recreating beloved treats from scratch, and my journey into mastering Crumbl cookie dupes has been one of the most exciting and rewarding parts of my culinary adventure. The joy of deciphering their secret techniques and translating them into approachable home recipes is truly unparalleled, and sharing these creations with you brings me immense happiness.
This particular Red Velvet Cupcake Cookie recipe soared to viral fame across social media platforms, quickly becoming one of the most sought-after Crumbl copycats. Every time I’ve re-shared it, the overwhelming positive response has been nothing short of spectacular, reaffirming that this recipe truly hits all the right notes for red velvet enthusiasts.
Driven by a commitment to perfection and to ensure every batch is as flawless as the last, I meticulously retested this recipe again recently. My goal was to guarantee an extra soft, perfectly flavored cookie that mirrors the iconic texture and rich taste of the bakery’s best. The result is a cookie dough that bakes up beautifully tender and a cream cheese frosting that pipes with elegant precision, just like the professional versions. Get ready to be utterly obsessed with these cookies; they are a testament to the magic of homemade baking and a delightful homage to a classic favorite!
Why You’ll Absolutely Love This Homemade Crumbl Red Velvet Cookie Recipe
If you’re wondering what makes this red velvet cookie recipe stand out, here’s a detailed look at why it’s destined to become your new favorite:
- Authentic Crumbl Copycat Texture & Flavor: This recipe delivers an unbelievably accurate replication of the famous Crumbl cookie experience. From the impressive size and substantial weight to the incredibly soft, slightly chewy texture and the distinctive red velvet tang, every aspect has been perfected to mirror the original. You’ll be amazed at how precisely it captures the essence of a bakery-fresh Crumbl cookie.
- Soft, Plush Red Velvet Cookie with a Smooth Cream Cheese Frosting: The cookie itself is a masterpiece of texture – tender, moist, and delightfully plush, it melts in your mouth. This luscious base is then crowned with a smooth, tangy, and rich cream cheese frosting that’s piped beautifully, providing the perfect counterpoint to the cookie’s sweetness and cocoa notes. It’s a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that defines a true red velvet treat.
- Easy Recipe with Pantry Staples: Don’t be intimidated by the gourmet appearance! This recipe utilizes simple, accessible ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry or can easily find at any grocery store. The steps are straightforward and clearly outlined, making it a manageable and enjoyable baking project for home cooks of all skill levels.
- Freezer-Friendly and Great for Gatherings: Planning ahead? These cookies are incredibly freezer-friendly, allowing you to prepare them in advance and enjoy them later. Their impressive size and festive appearance make them an ideal dessert for parties, family gatherings, or any special occasion where you want to impress your guests with minimal stress.
- Cheaper & Better Than $5 a Cookie: Why pay a premium for a single cookie when you can bake an entire batch of superior quality at a fraction of the cost? Making these at home not only saves you money but also guarantees unparalleled freshness and flavor. You’ll get more cookies for your buck, and they’ll taste undeniably better because they’re made with love and fresh ingredients.
- The Joy of Homemade Baking: There’s immense satisfaction in creating something truly delicious from scratch. The aroma filling your kitchen, the process of mixing and baking, and the proud moment you present these stunning cookies will bring a unique sense of accomplishment and warmth.
- Customizable to Your Liking: Homemade means you can tweak it! Adjust the level of red food coloring for a deeper hue, add a touch more cocoa, or even experiment with different sprinkles or toppings. Make these cookies uniquely yours.
Essential Ingredients for This Crumbl Frosted Red Velvet Cookie
Crafting the perfect red velvet cookie requires a precise blend of ingredients, each playing a crucial role in achieving that signature flavor, color, and texture. Below are the key components you’ll need for both the cookie base and the luscious cream cheese frosting. Remember to gather all your ingredients and allow them to come to room temperature where specified, as this significantly impacts the final outcome. For exact detailed measurements, please refer to the complete recipe card further down.
- Butter: For the cookie dough, you’ll need softened butter. Whether you choose salted or unsalted, ensuring it’s at room temperature is crucial for proper creaming with the sugars, which creates a light and airy base for your cookies.
- Brown and Granulated Sugar: The combination of both sugars is essential. Brown sugar adds moisture and chewiness, contributing to the cookie’s soft texture, while granulated sugar provides structure and that classic sweetness, helping the cookies spread just right.
- Vanilla Extract: A good quality pure vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor profile, adding warmth and depth that complements the subtle cocoa and tangy notes of red velvet.
- White Vinegar: This is a classic, non-negotiable ingredient in traditional red velvet. The acidity of the vinegar reacts with the cocoa powder, which typically has a red hue, to deepen and brighten the red color. It also contributes to the signature subtle tang and ensures a tender crumb.
- Red Gel Food Coloring: For that iconic, vibrant red color, gel food coloring is highly recommended over liquid varieties. Gel coloring is more concentrated, so you need less of it, preventing unwanted moisture in your dough while delivering an intense, consistent hue.
- Cocoa Powder: Use natural unsweetened cocoa powder for an authentic red velvet flavor. It provides a mild chocolate note that is distinct from a full chocolate cookie, creating that unique cocoa-tang balance.
- All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our cookie. Ensure you measure it correctly, ideally by weight or using the “spoon and level” method, to avoid a dry or dense cookie.
- Salt: A small amount of salt is vital in baking. It balances the sweetness of the sugars and enhances all the other flavors, making the chocolate and tangy notes pop.
- Cornstarch: This secret ingredient is key to achieving an extra tender and soft cookie. It helps to keep the cookies from getting tough and gives them a wonderfully delicate crumb.
- Baking Powder: Our primary leavening agent, baking powder ensures the cookies rise properly, creating a light, fluffy, and slightly chewy texture.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Cream Cheese: Softened full-fat cream cheese is essential for a rich, tangy, and incredibly smooth frosting. Make sure it’s at room temperature to prevent lumps.
- Butter: Softened unsalted butter provides richness and stability to the frosting, helping it hold its shape for perfect piping.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Just like in the cookie, vanilla extract is crucial for a well-rounded and delicious frosting flavor.
- Powdered Sugar: Also known as confectioners’ sugar, this fine sugar dissolves easily to create a smooth, lump-free frosting with the ideal sweetness and texture.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make These Irresistible Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies
Creating these delightful Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies is a rewarding process that yields incredible results. Follow these detailed steps to ensure your cookies turn out perfectly thick, soft, and beautifully frosted, just like the bakery’s best. For precise ingredient quantities and full instructions, make sure to check the recipe card below.
- Cream Butter & Sugars: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, preferably using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This step incorporates air, which contributes to the cookie’s soft texture.
- Mix in Wet Ingredients: Into the creamed butter and sugar mixture, whisk in the egg, pure vanilla extract, white vinegar, and red gel food coloring. Continue mixing until all these wet ingredients are fully combined and the vibrant red color is evenly distributed throughout the dough. The vinegar is crucial here for both color enhancement and adding that signature red velvet tang.
- Fold in Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough once the flour is added, as this can develop the gluten too much, resulting in tough cookies. Stop mixing as soon as no dry streaks of flour remain. Set aside about one tablespoon of this raw cookie dough to use later for decorating your baked cookies.
- Scoop, Bake, and Cool: Using a large cookie scoop (about 1/4 cup capacity for true Crumbl-sized cookies), scoop out 9 equally sized cookie dough balls. Place them onto your prepared baking sheet, leaving ample space between each, as they will spread. Gently flatten each dough ball to about 1/2 inch in thickness – this helps achieve that classic flat-top cookie shape. Bake for approximately 10 minutes. The edges should appear set, but the centers might still look slightly soft. This is perfect; they will continue to set as they cool. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10-15 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Also, bake the reserved tablespoon of cookie dough for about 7-8 minutes; once cooled, crumble it to use as a topping.
- Prepare and Pipe Cream Cheese Frosting: While the cookies are cooling, prepare your luscious cream cheese frosting. In a clean stand mixer bowl (or a large bowl with a hand mixer), beat together the softened cream cheese and softened butter on medium speed until smooth, fluffy, and free of any lumps. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating on medium-high speed for 3-5 minutes until the frosting is incredibly light, airy, and fluffy. If your frosting seems too soft, place it in the fridge or freezer for 10-15 minutes to firm up slightly, then re-whip. Transfer the chilled frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large round piping tip (or simply snip off a corner of a sturdy ziplock bag). Pipe generous swirls of frosting onto each fully cooled cookie.
- Garnish and Enjoy: Finally, sprinkle your beautifully frosted cookies with the crushed red velvet cookie crumbs you prepared earlier. This adds a fantastic textural element and truly completes the “cupcake cookie” aesthetic. These cookies are best enjoyed at room temperature or slightly chilled.
Expert Baking Tips for Perfect Red Velvet Cookies
- Don’t Overbake Your Cookies: This is perhaps the most crucial tip for soft, chewy cookies. Pull your cookies from the oven when the edges appear set and slightly golden, but the centers still look a little soft and undercooked. The residual heat from the baking sheet will continue to cook them as they cool (this is called carryover baking), ensuring they remain perfectly tender and moist. Overbaking will result in dry, crumbly cookies.
- Use Gel Food Coloring for Best Red Color: For that signature, rich red velvet hue, opt for high-quality gel food coloring. Unlike liquid food coloring, gel is highly concentrated and won’t add excess moisture to your cookie dough, which can alter its texture. A few drops of gel coloring will give you a much more vibrant and professional-looking red.
- Chill Frosting 10-15 Minutes Before Piping: If your cream cheese frosting feels too soft or runny after whipping, pop it into the refrigerator or even the freezer for about 10-15 minutes. This chilling period will help it firm up, making it much easier to pipe beautiful, defined swirls without it melting or losing its shape.
- Want Bakery Crumbs on Top? To achieve that authentic Crumbl bakery crumb topping, simply bake the one tablespoon of reserved cookie dough for 7-8 minutes. Once cooled, finely crumble it over the frosted cookies. This adds a lovely texture and an extra layer of red velvet flavor that enhances the overall experience.
- Room Temperature Ingredients Are Key: Ensure your butter and cream cheese are at proper room temperature. This allows them to cream together smoothly and incorporate air effectively, leading to a lighter, fluffier cookie dough and a silkier frosting without lumps.
- Measure Flour Correctly: For precise results, especially with cookies, it’s best to weigh your flour using a kitchen scale. If you don’t have one, use the “spoon and level” method: spoon flour into your measuring cup until it overflows, then level off the excess with a straight edge (like a knife). Never scoop directly from the bag, as this compacts the flour and can add too much.
- Don’t Overmix the Dough: Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix only until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, leading to tough and less tender cookies. Stop as soon as no dry streaks of flour are visible.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ About Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies
To maintain their freshness and the integrity of the cream cheese frosting, store these cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay wonderfully soft and delicious for up to 4 days. For the absolute best taste and texture, however, it’s recommended to enjoy them within 48 hours of baking. Allow them to come to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving for optimal flavor.
Absolutely! These frosted red velvet cookies freeze exceptionally well, making them perfect for meal prep or enjoying later. To freeze them, first, arrange the frosted cookies in a single layer on a baking tray and flash-freeze them for about 1-2 hours, or until solid. This prevents the frosting from sticking together. Once firm, transfer the cookies to an airtight freezer-safe container, layering them with parchment paper between each cookie to prevent sticking. They can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for a few hours before serving.
Yes, you certainly can! If you prefer smaller, bite-sized treats, you can adjust the recipe to make approximately 18 mini cookies. Use a smaller cookie scoop (about 1.5 tablespoons of dough per cookie) and flatten them slightly as you would with the larger ones. The baking time will be significantly reduced; bake them for around 7 minutes, or until the edges are just set. Frost them with your cream cheese frosting using a smaller piping tip or spreading a dollop on top.
Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter salted or unsalted
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1-2 tsp red gel food coloring
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 & 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
Cream cheese frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 3 tbsp butter softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) then line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set it aside, preparing for your cookies.
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In a large mixing bowl, using either a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, resembling a pale yellow color.1/2 cup butter, 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar
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Add the egg, vanilla extract, white vinegar, and red gel food coloring to the creamed mixture. Whisk them in until fully incorporated and the dough achieves a beautiful, uniform red hue.1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp white vinegar, 1-2 tsp red gel food coloring
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until the flour mixture just disappears. Be careful not to overmix the dough. Reserve one tablespoon of this cookie dough to bake separately for decorating your cookies later.1/4 cup cocoa powder, 1 & 3/4 cup all purpose flour, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 tbsp cornstarch, 1/2 tsp baking powder
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Using a large cookie scooper, portion out 9 equally sized cookie dough balls. Place them onto your prepared baking sheet and gently flatten each to about 1/2 inch in thickness. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. The edges should look set, but the centers may still be soft. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 10-15 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Bake the reserved 1 tablespoon of cookie dough on a small piece of parchment paper for 7-8 minutes. Once cooled, crumble this piece of cookie to use as a garnish for your frosted cookies.
Cream cheese frosting
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In a stand mixer bowl or a large bowl, cream the softened butter and cream cheese together until the mixture is smooth, fluffy, and free of any lumps. This may take 2-3 minutes on medium speed.4 oz cream cheese, 3 tbsp butter
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Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture. Whip for 3-5 minutes on medium-high speed until the frosting is incredibly light, airy, and fluffy. If the frosting appears too soft for piping, chill it in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes until it firms up slightly, then whip again briefly.1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup powdered sugar
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Once the cookies are completely cooled, transfer the cream cheese frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large round piping tip (or use a ziplock bag with the corner snipped off). Pipe a generous swirl of frosting onto the top of each cookie. Finish by sprinkling the crushed red velvet cookie crumbs over the frosting for that perfect bakery touch. Serve and enjoy your homemade Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies!
Notes
Key Recipe Notes for Perfect Crumbl Red Velvet Cupcake Cookies
- Cocoa Powder Choice: For the classic red velvet flavor that isn’t overly chocolaty, it is essential to use natural unsweetened cocoa powder. This allows the subtle chocolate notes to blend perfectly with the tang of the vinegar and cream cheese frosting.
- The Role of White Vinegar: Don’t skip the white vinegar! It’s a fundamental component of red velvet. The acid in the vinegar reacts with the baking powder and the natural anthocyanin pigments in cocoa powder, which helps to activate the leavening and deepen the red color, contributing to both the cookie’s tender texture and its signature vibrant hue.
- Preventing Dryness: To avoid dry cookies, accurate measurement is crucial. Weighing your flour is the most precise method. Also, resist the urge to overbake. Cookies continue to bake slightly even after they’re removed from the oven, so pull them out when the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft.
- No Chilling Required: Unlike many cookie doughs, this red velvet recipe is designed to be baked immediately. There’s no need to chill the dough unless you specifically desire a slightly thicker, less spread-out cookie. If you do chill it, you might need to increase baking time by a minute or two.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Always ensure butter and cream cheese are at proper room temperature. This allows them to cream together smoothly, incorporating air for a fluffy texture in both the cookie and the frosting, preventing a dense or lumpy result.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.