Valentine’s Day Red Velvet Cookies Recipe

Ingredients (36 servings):

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoonbaking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, broken into pieces

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1/3 cup white sugar

1 large egg

1 tablespoon red food coloring

3/4 cup sour cream

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (optional)

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1/2 teaspoonvanilla extract

2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C) with the rack in the middle position. Grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
2. Break the chocolate squares into chunks, place in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on High until the chocolate melts, about 90 seconds. Stir the chocolate until smooth and set aside to cool.
3. In a large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until light and fluffy; pour in the egg and beat until smooth. Mix in the red food coloring and chocolate, scraping the bowl down regularly, until evenly blended, about 30 seconds. Add half of the sifted dry ingredients, stirring until well incorporated. Beat in the sour cream and mix in the remaining dry ingredients. Fold in the chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls of the dough 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.
4. Bake one sheet at a time in the preheated oven until they spring back when pressed, about 9 minutes. Cool in the pans for 5 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
5. For the cream cheese frosting, whip 1/4 cup butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth. Blend in the powdered sugar in half cup portions until the frosting reaches the desired consistency.