Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Step 1: Prep Work (Preheat & Dry Ingredients)
- Preheat your oven to 375ºF. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Make sure these are thoroughly combined.
Step 2: Creaming Butter & Sugars
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the slightly softened butter and both the brown sugar and granulated sugar together for about 2-3 minutes until light, fluffy, and pale. Next, add the egg and mix until it's just incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Step 3: Forming the Vibrant Red Dough
- To the creamed butter mixture, add the dry flour mixture, the milk, the vanilla extract, and the red or hot pink food coloring. Mix on low speed until a beautiful, deep red dough forms. Be careful not to overmix; stop as soon as the ingredients are combined and no streaks of flour remain.
Step 4: Roll, Coat & Bake
- Scoop about 2 tablespoons of dough at a time and gently roll it into a smooth ball. Roll each dough ball in additional granulated sugar to coat it completely. Place these festive, sugar-coated dough balls onto an ungreased cookie sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each. Bake the cookies for exactly 9 minutes; the edges should be just set, but the centers will still look soft and slightly underdone.
Step 5: Add Chocolate Kisses & Chill
- As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven, while they are still piping hot, gently but firmly press one Dove Promise into the center of each warm cookie. Immediately move the entire cookie sheet (or transfer the cookies to a wire rack) to the refrigerator. This rapid cooling will quickly set the chocolate, preventing it from melting excessively.
Step 6: The Unique Cream Cheese Glaze (Our Twist!)
- While your cookies are chilling and the chocolate is setting, prepare the cream cheese glaze. In a small bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with the confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon of heavy cream (or milk), and vanilla extract. Start with 1 tablespoon of cream, adding the second tablespoon only if needed to achieve a smooth, drizzly consistency. Once the cookies are fully cooled and the chocolate is completely set (typically after 15-20 minutes in the fridge), gently drizzle the tangy cream cheese glaze over the chocolate kiss on each cookie.
Nutrition
Notes
These Red Velvet Valentine's Day Cookies are best stored in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days due to the cream cheese glaze; ensure glaze is fully set before stacking. Unbaked dough balls can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for a month. For best color, use gel food coloring and natural cocoa powder. Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.