Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

I love Valentine’s Day! It’s a great reminder for all of us to take the time out of our day-to-day to show appreciation for those we love most.

Valentine’s Day also means a plentiful amount of one of my favorite things: Chocolate! While I’m always down for a box of assorted truffles, I love using the holiday as an excuse to bake up some delicious homemade goodies.

This V-day I decided to bake up these extra-festive red velvet crinkle cookies. Because of their mild flavor these cookies are perfect for choco-holics and vanilla-lovers alike.

Ingredients

2 c. all-purpose flour

2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 & 1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1 stick of salted butter

3/4 c. granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 tbsp. red food coloring (Tip: use gel food coloring for more vibrant color!)

1/4 c. powdered sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In another large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time and beat after each addition. Add vanilla.
Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
Roll about 1 tablespoon of dough into a ball, then roll ball in powdered sugar. Repeat with remaining dough then reroll each ball in powdered sugar again.
Arrange balls about 1″ apart on prepared baking sheets and bake until cookies have flattened and set in the middle, 10 to 12 minutes
Let cool on trays 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to let cool completely.

Bake up a batch of these to share with your loved one, your parents, your co-workers, or your friends!