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Red Hot Cookies Recipe frosted with red hot candies on a marble tray
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5 from 1 vote

Red Hots Cookie Recipe

This Red Hot Cookies Recipe is crafted to steal your heart on Valentine's day. These soft, buttery cookies have a red hot kick that makes them irresistible and eye catching.
If you like easy cookie recipes, you'll love these frosted ginger cookies, christmas wreath cookies, red velvet cake mix cookies, or these holiday cookie boxes.
Author: Chandice

Ingredients

Sugar cookies

  • 1 1/3 cups butter softened
  • 1 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 egg
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour King Arthur gluten-free blend is my favorite, regular flour works as well
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

Red Hot Frosting

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk as needed
  • 1/4 cup crushed red hot candies

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy then add egg, vanilla and almond extracts
  • In another bowl, combine remaining ingredients then slowly add flour mixture to wet ingredients and mix until well combined, scrape sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Refrigerate dough for 1 hour
  • Heavily flour your work surface with white flour and place half the dough on to surface and top with more white flour
  • Roll out dough and cut out shapes with cookie cutters
  • Gently place cookies on a greased or silicone mat lined baking sheet (I use a spatula)
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 8-9 minutes or until slightly golden brown
  • Cool on pan 3-5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack
  • Continue with the other half of the dough
  • While all the cookies are cooling, whip together butter, powdered sugar and red hot candies to make a delicious red hot frosting
  • Frost the cookies once they are completely cooled

Notes

Make ahead, storage, and freezing instructions

To make ahead: You can make these cookies a few days in advance to save some time in the kitchen. They will stay good at room temperature for 3-4 days. Alternatively, make the dough ahead of time, store in the fridge for a few days, and bake when ready. 
Can I freeze these cookies? Place room temperature, unfrosted cookies in a freezer-safe bag. I recommend making the frosting fresh. They will last 3-6 months in the freeze. Additionally, if you have any remaining dough, you can freeze leftover cookie dough and thaw in the fridge when you're ready to bake. 

Recipe variations

  • Gluten-free: You can make these gluten-free sugar cookies by simply using gluten free all purpose flour. (King Arthur gluten-free blend is my favorite)
  • Chocolate lover: Melt chocolate and drizzle it over the frosting for a rich and decadent twist.
  • Get festive: Decorate with heart shaped sprinkles, red flowers, other valentine's day candies. 
  • The Christmas version: Since these are red cookies, they will definitely work for the Christmas season. Throw some green and red sprinkles on top for an easy, homemade Christmas dessert.