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Red Hot Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.2 from 25 reviews

Red Hot Cookies are a festive and spicy twist on classic sugar cookies, featuring crushed Red Hot candies that add a subtle cinnamon kick. These soft, chewy cookies have a perfectly balanced sweetness and a delightful pop of heat, making them a unique treat for holidays and special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup Red Hot candies (crushed)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside for baking later.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter together with the granulated sugar for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is fully combined and fluffy.
  3. Add Egg Yolks and Vanilla: Beat in the egg yolks and pure vanilla extract until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, enhancing the cookie’s texture and flavor.
  4. Mix Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and kosher salt to the wet ingredients. Initially, the mixture will appear crumbly; continue beating until a cohesive cookie dough forms.
  5. Incorporate Red Hot Candies: Fold in the crushed Red Hot candies evenly throughout the dough to ensure each cookie has a spicy bite.
  6. Shape Cookies: Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, drop portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Lightly tap the top of each cookie with a spatula to flatten slightly, which will help the cookies bake evenly without doming.
  7. Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 13-15 minutes until the edges just start to brown, signaling they are done.
  8. Adjust After Baking: Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately use the back of a spoon to push any melted Red Hot candies or misshapen cookies back into place for a neat appearance.
  9. Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a parchment-lined wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier creaming with sugar.
  • Use crushed Red Hot candies for an even distribution of the spicy cinnamon flavor throughout the cookies.
  • Lightly tapping the tops of the cookies before baking prevents them from doming and helps them bake evenly.
  • Adjust the placement of melted candies immediately after baking to maintain the cookie shape and presentation.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh and chewy.

Keywords: Red Hot Cookies, cinnamon cookies, spicy cookies, holiday cookies, red hot candies, chewy cookies, easy cookie recipe

Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/red-hot-cookies-recipe/