Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies
These soft and cake-like red velvet sandwich cookies are a fantastic classic or festive treat! And with a dreamy cream cheese frosting filling, they are impossible to resist. Vegetarian.
Note: This recipe is NOT dairy free. It was published before Cook Nourish Bliss transitioned to dairy free recipes and remains popular with long time readers. You can try using substitutions to make it dairy free, however I have not tested this myself and can’t say how it will turn out.
Oh, red velvet. One of my very favorite flavors of cake. I like it so much that I sometimes do shady things so I can have it.
Take my own wedding for example. The hotel that we got married at did all the catering and baking for our big day and on the list for cakes they only offered vanilla and chocolate.
So my husband (then fiancé) and I agreed ahead of time that we wanted to go with vanilla.
He couldn’t be there the day of our appointment to pick out the cake, so my mom went with me instead. I somehow managed to launch into a giant ramble about how much I love red velvet and the lady said they could definitely make that instead.
I jumped at the opportunity (with my mom nodding along – she was my sidekick I tell you, it wasn’t all my fault!).
When we got home and I told my husband what happened (in all my excitement), he was a little, ahem, not so pleased that I changed the cake.
Oops. It’s okay though – he ended up loving it at the wedding. Red velvet for the win.
So, let’s get back to these cookies. I wanted something red velvet but didn’t want to bother with making a whole cake. These were a perfect compromise.
The cookies themselves are soft and cake-like, yet are still just a slight bit chewy.
And then there’s the cream cheese frosting. Which can do no wrong in my book.
If you want to get festive for the Fourth of July, go right ahead and roll the edges in some blue sprinkles. That was my plan until I realized I was out of blue sprinkles. Another oops.
Additional Cookie Recipes You Might Enjoy:
- Caramel Latte Thumbprint Cookies
- Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies
- Vanilla Chai Shortbread Cookies
- Grandma’s Butter Horns
Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I’d love to hear from you.

Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies
These soft and cake-like red velvet sandwich cookies are a fantastic classic or festive treat! And with a dreamy cream cheese frosting filling, they are impossible to resist. Vegetarian.
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup (½ of a stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons white distilled vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring
For the frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, chilled
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ to 3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
Instructions
To make the cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Cream on medium speed for about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add in the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until combined. Add in the buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla and food coloring. Beat until combined. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add in the flour mixture and beat until just combined.
- Scoop about a heaping tablespoon of dough (I used my small cookie scoop) and drop onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing about two to three inches apart (they will spread quite a bit during baking).
- Bake for 8 to 9 minutes. The cookies should look cake-like and set. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 3 to 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the frosting:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Beat on medium high until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add the confectioners’ sugar to the bowl in two batches, beating on low until combined (use the higher quantity of confectioners’ sugar for a stiffer frosting). Increase the speed to medium high and beat for another 1 to 2 minutes.
- Match up the cooled cookies by size (so that the two halves are as close in size as possible). Pipe (or spread) the frosting on one cookie. Top with the second and press down lightly to form the sandwiches.
- Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
Depending on how much frosting you like, you can probably decrease the quantities by a ¼ or so (I had a little bit leftover).
Cookies adapted from Paula Deen. Frosting adapted from The Brewer and The Baker.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 290Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 188mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 0gSugar: 31gProtein: 3g
Nutrition data shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice.
Can these be rolled out and cut out with a heart shape without spreading?
Hey Tori – I wouldn’t suggest that with this dough! It’s not really a roll out kind of texture. I’d suggest a recipe like this instead if you’re looking for hearts! – https://everydayannie.com/2010/02/08/red-velvet-whoopie-pies/
gonna be trying this out because it looks bite-size easy for parties 🙂
These look fantastic and so festive for the Fourth! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Kelly!
I have never made woopie pies… I think these are a perfect place to start
You’ll have to give them a try! We were pretty smitten with these : )
So-so pretty! I’ve seen these on Foodgawker and I knew it was you! Pinned!
Thanks Julia!
I love red velvet too and this sounds like such a dream! Lovely recipe!
Thanks Katrina!
Super cute and delicious cookies.. looks great!!
Thanks Hari!
Hehe, well, in your defense, wedding cake is very important, not something to settle on! These cookies look so cute and delicious. I think I could inhale 20 of ’em, no problem.
haha exactly! I like the way you think : )
Positively Perfect Ashley! With some blue sprinkles these would be awesome this coming 4th of July! 😀 I’ll never EVER say no to red-velvet!
Thanks Jess! Yeah, me either : )
What splendid sandwich cookies! A great treat for the 4th of July!
Thanks Deb!
Mmmm, throw some cream cheese frosting on anything and I’ll eat it. With red velvet cookies?! Don’t gotta ask me twice 😀 these look phenomenal.
haha I’m the same way
I would have went with red velvet too. I love the idea of this sandwich cookie, red velvet style. So pretty and festive. 🙂 Your photos are beautiful! Great post Ashley.
Thanks Anne! I figured if my mom and I were in agreement, why wouldn’t my husband be? lol
I love red velvet! It was my favorite growing up and I always thought it be my wedding cake flavor… but I ended up getting married in August in Napa so we went with a lighter lemon zest cake with raspberry. Just seemed more appropriate for an outdoor summer wedding, and it was excellent. Love your little sandwich cookies, they’re so cute and festive for around the 4th or could be fun for Christmas too!
That sounds delicious too! Thanks Jaclyn!
Love the wedding cake story! I would’ve done it, too. Red velvet stomps vanilla cake! These cookies look gorgeous, blue sprinkles or no. They’re the perfect color of red!
This makes me feel better … maybe others would do the same thing : ) haha Thanks Marcie!
Not only are these SUPER cute (and I am sure unbelievably tasty!), but they are SO perfect for the 4th!! 🙂
Thanks Hannah! I thought they’d be fun for the holiday!
I agree, the perfect treat! So elegant looking too.
Thanks Cathy!
Those are some beautiful cookies. They would be perfect for Canada Day! I actually prefer red velvet cookies to red velvet cake, so these are right up my alley.
I’ll eat just about anything red velvet : )
So this is so crazy…I’ve never had red velvet before! I’ve always wanted to try, but never really got the opportunity. I think I need to change that asap! This sandwich cookies sound fantastic!
Oh my gosh you need to try red velvet! haha
Ahaha love that cute story about how you changed your wedding cake! I don’t see how anyone could complain about red velvet though 🙂
These look amazing Ashley! I just made strawberry whoopie pies on the weekend for a baby shower but the recipe I used for the cookies fell a little bit flat 🙁 I looove how yours puffs so perfectly and they sound delicious 🙂
haha that’s exactly what I was thinking when I made the change : ) Oooo strawberry whoopie pies sound delicious even if they did fall flat!