Description
Delightfully spicy and sweet Red Hot Cookies combine a buttery sugar cookie base dotted with crushed cinnamon red hot candies and topped with a creamy, subtly tinted red buttercream frosting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (227 g) salted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla paste or extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2½ cups (350 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup red hot candies, broken into pieces
- ¼ cup (56.75 g) butter
- 2 tablespoons whipping cream or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste or extract
- 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
- A few drops of red food coloring
Instructions
- Place the butter and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
- Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract or paste into the butter and sugar mixture and mix until fully combined.
- Slowly add the salt and all-purpose flour to the mixture, mixing gently. Stop when some flour remnants are still visible.
- Break the red hot candies into small pieces. Fold them into the dough carefully until evenly distributed.
- Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters and re-roll remaining dough as needed.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Chill the cut-out dough in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.
- Bake the chilled cookies for 10-12 minutes until the edges turn a light golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.
- In a mixing bowl, blend the butter, whipping cream or milk, and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar until the frosting is smooth.
- Spread the buttercream frosting over the cooled cookies. Optionally, sprinkle extra red hot candies on top.
- Let the frosting set before serving, preferably allowing the cookies to rest overnight.
Notes
- Perfect for holiday gatherings.
- Offers a unique burst of cinnamon flavor.
- Can be stored in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg