Name: Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 43 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups (333g) salted butter, softened; 1 ½ cups (345g) granulated sugar; 3 eggs; 1 ½ tsp cake batter flavoring; pink food coloring, a few drops; 4 ½ cups (684g) all-purpose flour; 3 tsp baking powder; 1/4 cup (56g) butter, softened; 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 4 cups (428g) powdered sugar; 1 pinch salt; milk or heavy cream, as needed to thin frosting; Christmas sprinkles, for topping

Jump to Recipe·4 from 13 reviews

If you’re craving a festive treat that’s as delightful to look at as it is to eat, then you’re in for a real treat with this Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies Recipe. These beauties are soft, fluffy, and bursting with a subtle flavor that perfectly balances sweetness and tang, all topped with creamy frosting and a sprinkle of holiday magic. They are an absolute must-bake for your holiday cookie platter and are guaranteed to bring smiles at any gathering.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The image shows a close-up of soft, light pink dough with a slightly fluffy texture. The dough looks smooth but has some small ridges and uneven parts from being mixed. The dough fills most of a clear glass container, and the background is a white marbled surface. The lighting is bright, making the pink color stand out clearly. The focus is mainly on the center of the dough, showing its soft and creamy look photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

This Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies Recipe is built on simple ingredients that deliver extraordinary flavor and texture. Each element plays a crucial role—from the rich, softened butter that adds moistness to the delicate cream cheese frosting that gives each cookie that luscious finish. The pink food coloring and sprinkles bring the unmistakable holiday cheer with every bite.

Salted butter (1 ½ cups, softened): Provides richness and helps achieve the perfect cookie texture.
Granulated sugar (1 ½ cups): Sweetens the dough and aids in browning the cookies slightly.
Eggs (3): Acts as a binder to hold the dough together and adds moisture.
Cake batter flavoring (1 ½ tsp): Adds a nostalgic, bakery-like flavor that makes these cookies special.
Pink food coloring: Gives the signature pink hue that screams Christmas joy.
All-purpose flour (4 ½ cups): The base that gives the cookies their structure.
Baking powder (3 tsp): Helps the cookies rise to tender, fluffy perfection.
Butter (1/4 cup, softened): For the frosting, adds richness and creaminess.
Cream cheese (8 oz, room temperature): Gives the frosting a tangy smoothness that balances the sweetness perfectly.
Vanilla (2 tsp): Enhances the sweetness and depth of flavor in the frosting.
Powdered sugar (4 cups): Sweetens and thickens the frosting to the perfect consistency.
Salt (a pinch): Balances flavors and prevents the frosting from being too sweet.
Milk or heavy cream: Thins out the frosting so it pipes smoothly.
Christmas sprinkles: Adds festive color and texture on top.

How to Make Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (180°C). This step ensures that once your cookie dough is ready, you can get them baking immediately, so they maintain their perfect texture.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This aeration is key for soft, tender cookies, so mix for about two minutes until you reach this consistency.

Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients

Add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the cake batter flavoring and a few drops of pink food coloring. Mix until everything is combined, and the batter is beautifully tinted and fragrant.

Step 4: Add Dry Ingredients

Mix in the all-purpose flour and baking powder to the wet mixture gradually. Mix until the dough is smooth and fully combined, but avoid overmixing to keep your cookies tender.

Step 5: Shape the Cookies

Divide the dough into 3 tablespoon portions. Roll each into a ball and flatten slightly before placing them onto a parchment- or silicone-lined cookie sheet. Even spacing is important to make sure they bake evenly.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Bake for 9-11 minutes until the centers of the cookies puff up and lose their glossy sheen. This indicates they’re baked through but still soft inside—exactly what you want for a Christmas cookie that melts in your mouth.

Step 7: Prepare the Frosting

While the cookies cool, whip together the frosting by combining softened butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.

Step 8: Sweeten and Adjust Frosting Texture

Gradually beat in the powdered sugar, about one cup at a time for smooth incorporation. Add a pinch of salt for balance, then slowly add milk or heavy cream a few teaspoons at a time until the frosting reaches a piping-friendly consistency.

Step 9: Decorate the Cookies

Fill a piping bag fitted with a round tip with the frosting. Pipe a spiral onto each still warm cookie starting from the center and moving outward. Immediately top with colorful Christmas sprinkles for that festive finishing touch.

How to Serve Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies Recipe

Several round pink cookies lay on a white marbled surface, each cookie topped with a swirl of smooth white frosting. Colorful sprinkles in green, pink, red, and white scatter on top of the frosting, adding bright spots of color. A white piping bag rests nearby on a black and white checkered cloth, with some loose sprinkles spilled next to it. The frosting swirls are thick and creamy, sitting neatly on the soft-looking pink cookies. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

Christmas sprinkles are the classic garnish that bring color and texture to these cookies, making them instantly festive. You can also try sanding sugar or edible glitter for an elegant shine that catches the light beautifully.

Side Dishes

Serve these cookies alongside a warm cup of spiced hot cocoa or a creamy eggnog to amplify the cozy, holiday vibe. They also complement coffee or tea perfectly, making them great for a holiday brunch or dessert table.

Creative Ways to Present

For a dazzling holiday display, stack the cookies in a pretty jar tied with a crimson ribbon or arrange them on a decorative platter surrounded by pine cones and holly sprigs. These little touches turn your Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies Recipe into a centerpiece everyone will admire before diving in.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep any leftover Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain their softness and flavor. If your home is especially dry, placing a slice of bread in the container helps keep them moist.

Freezing

You can freeze baked and frosted cookies by arranging them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then transferring to a freezer-safe container. They’ll keep well for up to 3 months and thaw beautifully while maintaining texture.

Reheating

For that fresh-from-the-oven feel, warm cookies slightly in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes. Avoid microwaving as this can make the frosting melt too much and the cookies overly soft.

FAQs

Can I make these cookies without cream cheese?

While cream cheese is key to the frosting’s tang and creaminess, you can substitute it with an equal amount of butter for a simpler buttercream, though the flavor will be less rich and tangy.

What if I don’t have cake batter flavoring?

If you can’t find cake batter flavoring, vanilla extract is a great fallback. It won’t give the exact cake-batter note but will keep your cookies deliciously sweet and aromatic.

Are these cookies suitable for freezing the dough?

Yes! You can freeze the dough before baking. Just scoop and shape the cookies onto a tray, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Bake from frozen adding an extra 2 minutes to the bake time.

Can I use different food coloring?

Absolutely. While pink is charming for Christmas, red or even a mix of festive colors can make your cookies match your holiday décor perfectly.

How do I make sure my cookies are soft and not crunchy?

Key tips include not overbaking them, using softened butter, and ensuring you don’t overmix the dough. Baking just until centers lose their gloss and puff up will achieve that soft texture.

Final Thoughts

The Christmas Pink Velvet Cookies Recipe is one of those rare treats that combine nostalgia, festivity, and pure deliciousness in every bite. Baking these cookies brings joy from the mixing bowl all the way to the last crumb. I wholeheartedly encourage you to make a batch this holiday season—you’ll find they don’t just taste like Christmas, they feel like it too.