These fun, festive, and easy-to-make Red Velvet Thumbprints are perfect cookies for Christmas or Valentine’s Day. The vibrant red color is perfect and they’re darn tasty, too!

This Thumbprint Cookie Recipe is easier than you think! Just roll out balls of dough, bake and then press a Hershey’s Kiss into the middle. Super simple!

Red Velvet Cookies on an egg shaped white dish.

Why You Must Make

  • Red velvet just shouts Valentine’s Day.
  • Each cookie provides both a cookie and candy fix!
  • Their smaller size makes a less guilty pleasure than a full-sized cookie or slice of red velvet cake.

My daughter is a big fan of red velvet desserts (she requested this Red Velvet Checkerboard Cake for her birthday!), but the hubby, well, not so much. The token amount of cocoa power doesn’t result in the ooey, gooey chocolate treats that he’d prefer.

But, despite his persnickety palate, he loved these cookies. Who wouldn’t be a fan of these buttery sugar cookies with a mega-dose of red food coloring and that bit of cocoa topped with either a white chocolate wafer or a white chocolate Hug??? They were a hit!

Red velvet thumbprint cookies in a white terrine with Valentine's Day hugs.

How to Make

There are a couple of different techniques. With my Peanut Blossoms, I press in the chocolate, then return the pan of cookies to the oven for a few more minutes of cooking. This recipe has the candies added after they’re finished baking, but still hot. Here is the procedure for these thumbprint cookies: 

  1. Make the cookie dough.
  2. Roll out pieces of dough into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing accordingly.
  3. Press your thumb into the middle of the ball of dough, about halfway down.
  4. Bake the cookies as directed
  5. Immediately out of the oven, place a white chocolate wafer or a Hug in the center of each cookie.
  6. Remove them from the cookie sheet. Let cool completely.
Red Velvet blossoms on a cooling rack.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Makes Red Velvet Cookies Red?

Originally, red velvet cakes turned red when the cocoa powder reacted with the acid in the vinegar and buttermilk and took on a red tint. Today, most red velvet recipes use a lot of food coloring to obtain the deep red color.

Who Invented Thumbprint Cookies?

Thumbprint cookies have their origin in Sweden. Called Hallongrotta, which means raspberry cave, they are typically simple shortbread cookies filled with raspberry jam. Numerous variations have developed through the years.

How Do You Store Thumbprints?

Store these at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months

You May Also Like:

I hope you’ll try these Hershey Kiss Thumbprint Cookies! Any kind of Hershey’s Kisses or Hugs will work in this recipe so you can shake them up depending on your mood, Plus, I have lots more red velvet recipes on the blog.

Stay in touch through social media @ InstagramFacebook, and Pinterest. Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes! And if you love the results, please give it a 5-star rating in the recipe card.

Red Velvet Thumbprints | Buttery red velvet cookies topped with white chocolate

Red Velvet Thumbprints

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 42 minutes
Yield 3½ dozen

Red velvet thumbprint cookies filled with white chocolate or topped with a white chocolate Hershey's Hug. Adapted from The Pinterest Kitchen via BettyCrocker.com

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 teaspoons red food coloring
  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 42 Hershey's Hugs or White Chocolate Melting Wafers

Instructions

  1. Beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer until creamy (about 2 minutes).
  2. Add the egg, food coloring, and vanilla.
  3. Add the flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda to the mixture and blend together.
  4. Roll out pieces of dough into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Leave room for them to spread out.
  5. Press your thumb into the middle of the ball of dough, about halfway down.
  6. Bake in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes at 350º.
  7. Immediately out of the oven, place a white chocolate wafer or a Hug in the center of each cookie, then remove them from the cookie sheet. Let cool completely.

Notes

Red velvet thumbprint cookies filled with white chocolate or topped with a white chocolate Hershey's Hug. Adapted from The Pinterest Kitchen via BettyCrocker.com

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

42

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 322Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 104mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 1gSugar: 30gProtein: 4g

HOW MUCH DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest