Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients:

1. All-purpose flour (1 3/4 cups)
2. Cocoa powder (1/4 cup)
3. Baking powder (2 teaspoons)
4. Unsalted butter (1/2 cup, softened)
5. Granulated sugar (1 cup)
6. Eggs (2)
7. Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon)
8. Red food coloring (1-2 tablespoons)
9. Powdered sugar (1 cup, for coating)

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven:
   • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients:
   • In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar:
   • In another bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add Eggs and Vanilla:
   • Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.
5. Add Red Food Coloring:
   • Add red food coloring to achieve the desired vibrant red color. Mix until well incorporated.
6. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
   • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. The result should be a smooth red velvet cookie dough.
7. Chill the Dough:
   • Chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. This helps in easier handling and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
8. Shape Cookies:
   • Take tablespoon-sized portions of the chilled dough and roll them into balls. Roll each ball in powdered sugar until fully coated.
9. Bake:
   • Place the coated cookie balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are set.
10. Cool:
    • Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Enjoy:
    • Once cooled, these Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies are ready to be enjoyed! They should have a crackled appearance with a soft and chewy texture inside.

Tips:

• Adjust the amount of red food coloring based on your preference for the intensity of the red color.
• Make sure not to skip the chilling step, as it contributes to the crinkle effect.