Who can resist the allure of cookie dough? That sweet, slightly salty, oh-so-delicious treat is a weakness for many. But the worry about raw eggs and flour often spoils the fun. Well, worry no more! This Red Velvet Cookie Dough recipe is completely safe to eat, thanks to a simple, yet brilliant technique: heat-treating the flour. Now you can indulge in all the cookie dough goodness your heart desires, guilt-free and worry-free!
Why You’ll Love This Red Velvet Cookie Dough
This isn’t just any cookie dough; it’s a red velvet dream! Here’s why you’ll be making this recipe again and again:
- Safe to Eat: The heat-treated flour eliminates any potential bacteria, so you can snack with peace of mind.
- Incredible Flavor: The classic red velvet taste with a hint of chocolate is simply irresistible.
- Easy to Make: With just a few simple steps, you’ll have a batch of delicious cookie dough ready to enjoy.
- Customizable: Add your favorite mix-ins, like different types of chocolate chips or sprinkles.
- Perfect for Sharing (or Not!): This recipe is great for parties, movie nights, or a solo treat.
Gathering Your Ingredients for Red Velvet Cookie Dough
Before we dive into the magic of making safe and delicious red velvet cookie dough, let’s talk about the stars of our show – the ingredients! This recipe balances the sweetness of sugar with a touch of salt and the richness of butter to create that classic cookie dough flavor. The red food coloring gives it the signature vibrant hue, while the chocolate chips provide the perfect contrasting texture and taste.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- All-Purpose Flour: 1 cup. The foundation of our cookie dough! Make sure it’s fresh for the best results. Remember, we’ll be heat-treating it, so don’t skip that step.
- Baking Soda: 1/2 teaspoon. This helps to give the cookie dough a bit of lift and prevents it from becoming too dense.
- Salt: 1/4 teaspoon. A must-have in any sweet treat! Salt enhances the other flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Unsalted Butter: 1/2 cup (1 stick), softened. Softened butter is key for creaming with the sugars and creating a smooth, light texture. Make sure it’s not melted!
- Granulated Sugar: 1/2 cup. This provides the classic sweetness we expect in cookie dough.
- Packed Brown Sugar: 1/4 cup. We use brown sugar here because its molasses content adds moisture and a deeper, more complex flavor compared to white sugar alone.
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon. A touch of vanilla enhances all the other flavors and adds a warm, comforting note.
- Milk: 1 tablespoon. Just a little bit of milk helps to bring the dough together and create the right consistency.
- Red Food Coloring: 1 tablespoon. This is what gives our cookie dough its signature red velvet color! Use gel food coloring for the most vibrant results.
- Chocolate Chips: 1 cup. The perfect addition to red velvet! You can use semi-sweet, milk chocolate, or even white chocolate chips – whatever your heart desires. For a festive twist, consider using festive sprinkles instead of chocolate chips. If you love nutty flavors you might also enjoy our walnut fudge recipe.
Crafting Your Red Velvet Cookie Dough: Step-by-Step
Alright, let’s get to the fun part – making the cookie dough! Don’t be intimidated; this recipe is super simple and straightforward. The key to success is following the steps carefully and not overmixing the dough. Are you ready to embark on this delicious adventure?
- Heat Treat the Flour: This is the most crucial step for food safety! Spread the flour evenly on a baking sheet. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes. Use a food thermometer to ensure the flour reaches 165°F (74°C). This eliminates any potential bacteria. Let it cool completely before using. Cooling the flour is vital; adding hot flour to the other ingredients will melt the butter and ruin the texture.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the heat-treated flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisking ensures that the baking soda and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour, which is important for the texture and flavor of the cookie dough.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This step is essential for creating a tender cookie dough. Use an electric mixer for best results, and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the vanilla extract, milk, and red food coloring until well combined. The milk helps to bring the dough together, while the vanilla and red food coloring add flavor and color.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix! Overmixing will develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough cookie dough. Mix until the dry ingredients are just incorporated.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough. Again, be careful not to overmix.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Chilling allows the flavors to meld together and the dough to firm up, making it easier to scoop and enjoy. You can even chill it overnight for an even better flavor. If you’re looking for another easy, fun treat, check out our recipe for classic marshmallow rice treats!
- Serve: Scoop and enjoy! Serve chilled or at room temperature. You can enjoy it straight from the bowl, use it as a topping for ice cream, or even bake it into cookies!
Tips for Perfect Red Velvet Cookie Dough Every Time
Want to take your red velvet cookie dough to the next level? Here are a few tips and tricks to ensure perfection every time:
- Don’t skip the heat treatment! This is crucial for making the cookie dough safe to eat.
- Use softened butter. This will make it easier to cream with the sugars and create a smooth, light texture.
- Don’t overmix the dough. Overmixing will develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough cookie dough.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld together and the dough to firm up.
- Get creative with mix-ins! Add your favorite types of chocolate chips, sprinkles, or even chopped nuts.
- Storage: Store leftover cookie dough in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
What to Serve With Red Velvet Cookie Dough
While this red velvet cookie dough is amazing on its own, here are a few ideas for how to enjoy it even more:
- Ice Cream Topping: Crumble the cookie dough over your favorite ice cream for a decadent treat.
- Cookie Dough Bites: Roll the cookie dough into small balls and enjoy as a bite-sized snack.
- Baked Cookies: Bake the cookie dough into cookies for a warm, gooey treat.
- Red Velvet Milkshake: Blend the cookie dough with milk and ice cream for a delicious milkshake.
Your Red Velvet Cookie Dough Questions Answered (FAQ)
Still have questions about making red velvet cookie dough? Here are some answers to common questions:
Can I use a different type of flour?
All-purpose flour is recommended for this recipe, as it provides the best texture. However, you can use gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for a gluten-free version. Remember to still heat-treat the gluten-free flour blend.
Can I use a different type of sugar?
Granulated sugar and brown sugar work best in this recipe, as they provide the right balance of sweetness and moisture. You can experiment with other sugars, but the texture and flavor may be slightly different.
Can I make this recipe vegan?
Yes, you can! Substitute the butter with a vegan butter alternative and the milk with a plant-based milk like almond milk or soy milk. Ensure the chocolate chips are also vegan.
How long does the cookie dough last?
The cookie dough will last for up to a week in the refrigerator, stored in an airtight container. You can also freeze it for longer storage.
Can I bake this cookie dough into cookies?
Absolutely! Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake the cookie dough for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is still slightly soft. For another delectable baked treat, try our irresistible blueberry muffins recipe!
Enjoy Your Homemade Red Velvet Cookie Dough!
There you have it – a recipe for safe, delicious, and utterly irresistible Red Velvet Cookie Dough! Now you can satisfy your cookie dough cravings without any worries. This recipe is perfect for a quick treat, a fun baking project, or a crowd-pleasing dessert. So go ahead, grab a spoon, and dig in! Don’t forget to leave a comment below and let me know how your cookie dough turned out. Happy baking (and snacking)!
Red Velvet Cookie Dough (Safe to Eat, No Eggs!)
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Directions
- Heat Treat the Flour: Spread the flour on a baking sheet. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes, or until it reaches 165°F (74°C) on a food thermometer. This eliminates any potential bacteria. Let it cool completely before using. This is the secret technique.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the heat-treated flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the vanilla extract, milk, and red food coloring until well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve: Scoop and enjoy!
