This Red Velvet Cookies Recipe are red velvet cake in cookie form! They’re soft and chewy and super easy to make from scratch (no cake mix needed)!

These cookies are what happens when you take the best of a red velvet cake and reimagine it in cookie form. These red velvet cookies are a little chocolatey and rich with that hint of tang, just like the cake. And, of course, they have the signature red color.

I tested so many versions to get the perfect easy from scratch red velvet cookie! One bowl, a few steps, a short chill time, and they’re ready to go in the oven.

Ingredients & Tips

• Butter: Start with melted unsalted butter. I love using melted butter in cookie recipes!
• Sugar: This recipe has both packed brown sugar and granulated sugar.
• Cocoa: Use unsweetened cocoa powder – not Dutch process! I love Hershey’s brand.
• Egg: Be sure to buy large eggs.
• Baking Soda: This is what makes a soft and chewy cookie. Baking soda also helps with spread.
• White Vinegar: Buttermilk is often what you’ll find used in Red Velvet Cake. The acid in the buttermilk reacts with the baking soda and also helps the food coloring to be vibrant in color. Since we’re not adding milk, I just add some vinegar to the cookie dough. In a pinch you can use lemon juice.
• Red Food Coloring: This is what makes the cookies RED velvet! I prefer using regular grocery store (water based, i.e. McCormick) liquid food coloring for this. If using gel food coloring you’ll need to use less.
• You can make these cookies TWO ways – with chocolate or white chocolate chips or with cream cheese frosting. Use a combination of your favorite kinds of chocolate chips or go all white or all milk/semi-sweet. If you’re making them with frosting, leave out the chips and bake them. They’ll flatten and be perfect for adding cream cheese icing.

Dorothy’s Expert Tips

• Depending on the kind of red coloring food coloring you use, you will need a different amount. If you use regular grocery-store food coloring, you will need one teaspoon. However, a little goes a long way with gel food coloring, so you will only need ½ teaspoon if you use that.
• The vinegar is added at the end, so it doesn’t immediately activate the baking soda. Remember the volcano school projects? You’ll have a little red velvet volcano on your hands if you add it too soon.
• You can substitute lemon juice if you don’t have white vinegar. Be sure not to use balsamic or red vinegar!

Dorothy’s Freezer Tips

• Red Velvet Biscuits keep great at room temperature for up to three days as long as they are kept in an airtight container.
• These cookies freeze great! Keep them in a freezer-safe container, and they will keep well for up to three months.

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Red Velvet Cookies Recipe

Make Red Velvet Cookies from scratch! These homemade cookies taste like red velvet cake but in cookie form.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 13 minutes minutes

Chill Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 53 minutes minutes

Servings 19 cookies

Calories 137kcal

Author Dorothy Kern

Cost $8

Ingredients

• ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
• ½ cup (100g) packed brown sugar
• ⅓ cup (67g) granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons (10g) unsweetened cocoa powder not dutch process
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ (186g) cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon red food coloring see note
• ¾ cup (128g) white chocolate chips
• ¾ cup (128g) milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Cream Cheese Frosting optional

Instructions

• Line 2 cookie sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
• Stir both sugars into the melted butter in a large bowl. Stir in cocoa powder, egg, vanilla, baking soda and salt. Slowly stir in flour.
• Add the vinegar and red food coloring and stir, then stir in white and chocolate chips.
• Scoop 2 tablespoon size cookie dough balls onto cookie sheets 2-inches apart. Chill 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake chilled cookies 10-13 minutes or until they just lose their glossy sheen. Cool on cookie sheets before removing to eat.
• Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Video

Notes

• For gel food coloring, use 1/2 tsp.
• Be sure to add the vinegar with the food coloring at the end so that it doesn’t activate the baking soda too early (think elementary school volcano project).
• To frost with cream cheese frosting, omit chips and bake as directed. Frost after they’ve cooled; makes about 16 cookies.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 100mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 166IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

How to Make Red Velvet Cookies

1. Line 2 baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
2. Combine both kinds of sugar with the melted butter in a large bowl. Mix in the cocoa powder, egg, vanilla, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the flour and stir to combine.
3. Mix in the vinegar and red food coloring and then stir in the white and chocolate chips.
4. Scoop two tablespoon-sized cookie dough balls and place them two inches apart on a prepared cookie sheet. Chill the cookie dough balls for 30 minutes.
5. Place the chilled baking sheet with the cookies in a preheated oven. Bake the cookies for 10 to 13 minutes at 350°F. When the cookies lose their glossy sheen, they are ready.
6. Cool them on the sheet before serving. If desired, bake without chocolate chips and frost them with cream cheese frosting.

FAQ about Easy Red Velvet Cookies

More Red Velvet Desserts You’ll Love

• Red Velvet Blondies
• Oreo Red Velvet Cookie Bars
• Red Velvet Fruit Pizza

Make Red Velvet Cookies from scratch! These homemade cookies taste like red velvet cake but in cookie form.

Pistachio Cookies are soft and chewy with tons of pistachio flavor in every bite. These are completely from scratch – no pudding mixes needed – and no strange hard-to-find ingredients. With chocolate chips they’re gooey and rich with a nutty flavor – they’re my favorite new cookie recipe!

Pistachio is having a moment and that’s a good thing – the flavor was made for dessert! Whether I’m grabbing coffee and a croissant or ordering dessert at a restaurant, if pistachio is on the menu I’m ordering it.

You’re going to love these because they’re chewy cookies made with pistachio butter and chopped pistachios. They taste amazing, stay soft for days, and freeze great! Plus you can use milk chocolate chips or even dark chocolate chunks – soft cookies with rich melty chocolate – these are heaven.

How to make Pistachio Cookies

1. You need shelled whole pistachios for this recipe. You can use roasted salted pistachios or raw pistachios, whichever you can find. It’s so much easier to buy them without the shells already because while there are tricks for removing the skins, it’s tedious and so much work.
2. Turn the whole nuts into pistachio butter using a food processor. Pulse and allow the processor to run, scraping the sides occasionally, for several minutes. They will turn to ground pistachios, then dust, then get thick, then the mixture will smooth out, like a natural peanut butter.
3. Then you’ll need unsalted butter that’s been softened, along with brown sugar and granulated sugar, an egg, baking soda, vanilla extract, and all-purpose flour, just like any other cookie recipe.
4. I always add a little bit of almond extract to amplify the pistachio flavor. By itself the flavor is mild so the almond adds a little extra something.
5. These cookies have no chill time and can be baked right away. Use a cookie scoop to make your desired size cookie.
6. I love adding chocolate chips and chopped pistachios but you could also add white chocolate chips or really anything you want. Come up with other mix-ins to make new cookie recipes!

Dorothy’s Expert Cookie Tips

• Press a few extra chocolate chips or nuts on top of the cookie when they come out of the oven.
• Use a kitchen scale to accurately measure your ingredients.
• Cool cookies at least 10 minutes on cookie sheet before removing them to a wire rack.
• If you want them to be a more vibrant green, you can add a few drops of green food coloring.

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Pistachio Cookies Recipe

The perfect Pistachio Cookies! This pistachio cookie recipe uses real pistachios to create pistachio butter and then makes cookies with chocolate chips – they're soft and chewy and SO GOOD!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 24 minutes minutes

Cook Time 14 minutes minutes

Total Time 38 minutes minutes

Servings 24 cookies

Calories 180kcal

Author Dorothy Kern

Cost $9

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups (186g) all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ½ cups (185g) unsalted or lightly salted shelled pistachios, divided
• ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (100g) packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup (170g) chocolate chips

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Whisk flour, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Place ½ cup pistachios in a food processor and pulse until roughly chopped. Remove from food processor to a small bowl and set aside.
• Place remaining 1 cup pistachios in the food processor. Run the processor until the pistachios become a smooth butter consistency. Every 30 seconds or so, stop the processor and scrape the bottom and sides. It will get dusty, then thick like paste, then eventually smooth like a natural nut butter.
• Transfer the pistachio butter to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Add butter and mix until combined, then add both sugars and cream until fluffy.
• Mix in egg, vanilla, and almond extract until smooth, then add dry ingredients and mix until dough forms.
• Add reserved chopped pistachios and chocolate chips.
• Scoop 2 tablespoon size balls of cookie dough onto prepared cookie sheets, 2-inches apart. Press lightly with the palm of your hand so they’re not super rounded.
• Bake until the tops are no longer glossy and the edges are light golden brown, about 10-14 minutes. Cool at least 10 minutes before removing from cookie sheets.
• Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze cooled cookies for several months.

Video

Notes

• You can use raw pistachios or salted, whichever you can find easier. While it is possible to remove the shells and skins, it’s very tedious to use pistachios in their shells.
• You can use any kind of chocolate chips or chocolate chunks or even omit them for a pure pistachio cookie.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 106mg | Potassium: 119mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

Step by Step Photos for this Pistachio Cookie Recipe

1. Chop some of the pistachios in the food processor and set aside, then add the remaining nuts and process until butter forms.
2. There are a few steps until it turns to butter: chopped, then dust, then a big chunk, then it’ll smooth out.
3. Cream butter with both sugars and pistachio butter. Mix in large egg, vanilla, almond extract, salt, and baking soda. Mix in flour.
4. Scoop cookie dough balls onto a prepared baking sheet covered with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Bake in preheated oven.

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Step into the spotlight because it’s time for The Life of a Showgirl! Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album is the perfect gel-pen glittery album for a party. Having an album release or a party? Make The Life of a Showgirl Charcuterie – a glittery orange collection of desserts and snacks perfect to keep you munching past midnight.

Whether you’re having an album release party, a viewing party, or a Taylor Swift party, you need snacks! When we’re thinking about The Life of a Showgirl were going to focus on the color orange (burnt orange) with hints of mint green and lots and lots of sparkle.

Showgirl is promised to be a “bop” of an album with 12 tracks like “Opalite” and “Eldest Daughter” and so many more. I had so much fun trying to come up with a charcuterie board idea for this album and of course I leaned into a dessert board theme.

How to make The Life of a Showgirl Charcuterie

You have lots of different options for what to include in this dessert board. I always love to start with some homemade desserts, like cookies, because it’s fun to mix semi-homemade and candy ingredients with homemade desserts.

• Soft & Chewy Sugar Cookies – dye the dough orange and mint and frost with opposite color buttercream and sprinkles.
• You could make sprinkle cookies with orange sprinkles and mint sprinkles.
• Add sprinkles to chocolate chip cookies, like my birthday cookie recipe.
• Make Oreo Balls and dip them in mint or orange candy melts. You could even make Vanilla Perfume and Sweat Oreo Balls by using Golden Oreos!
• Make star shaped cut out sugar cookies with sugar cookie icing.
• Check out all my Taylor Swift Recipe Ideas!

Treats to Make Showgirl Charcuterie

Once you decide on your homemade ingredients, round it out with orange themed store-bought candies and cookies and anything you like!

• Cheez Its or other orange crackers
• Cheddar cheese slices
• Animal Cookies (the white ones with sprinkles)
• Reese’s Covered Animal Cookies (the peanut butter is orange)
• Nerds Gummy Clusters (for that showgirl flair)
• Sour Patch Peaches or similar orange gummy candy
• Orange Rock Candy
• Orange candies

Just head to the grocery store (or Five Below) and shop the candy and cookie aisles for ideas!

Dorothy’s Expert Swiftie Tips

• Mix and match sweet and savory for the complete package
• Have orange napkins and orange drinks on the side
• Check out all my Showgirl Recipe Ideas!
• You can get the sprinkles online:
  • Mint Sprinkles
  • Orange Sprinkles
  • Mint Food Coloring and Burnt Orange Food Coloring
  • The glitter mix was made using orange sanding sugar, mint colored sanding sugar, and gold sanding sugar. You could also use edible glitter.

Print

The Life of a Showgirl Dessert Charcuterie Board

Shine like a star with these Taylor Swiftinspired Life of a Showgirl recipes, cocktails, and party ideas! From glitter cupcakes to sparkling mocktails, these fun Swiftie party tips will make your night feel like Starlight. Perfect for Swiftie parties, birthdays, or just adding sparkle to your weeknight bakes.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 16 servings

Calories 272kcal

Author Dorothy Kern

Cost $10

Ingredients

Choose some homemade desserts:

• Sprinkle Cookies
• Birthday Cookies
• Cut Out Sugar Cookies
• Soft & Chewy Sugar Cookies
• Oreo Balls

Choose Store Bought Ingredients

• Cheez Its
• Sour Patch Kids Peach Gummies
• Nerds Gummy Clusters
• Animal Cookies
• Various other cookies or crackers

Instructions

• Add the largest items to a large board first. Add them in a cluster or a triangle shape, depending on the size of your board.
• Fill in with crackers and larger store bought cookies.
• Fill in the holes with the remaining candy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 272kcal

The Crookie is one of the best viral recipe trends to hit the internet in a long while. Don’t roll your eyes at this – it’s absolutely delicious: a buttery croissant with chocolate chip cookies baked inside. It’s gooey and crunchy and soft and sweet and SO GOOD.

I believe the Crookie trend started in Paris but since then they’ve gone viral on TikTok. A Crookie is a combination of a cookie baked instead bakery style croissants – they’re EPIC! Cookie Croissants are all the rage – and for good reason.

Years ago I wrote a book called Dessert Mashups, back when the trends of marrying two different foods was super popular. Back then the hot commodity was a Cruffin (croissant muffin) and I did a full book inspired by them.

This viral cookie croissant is one of the best things I’ve eaten in awhile. The flaky croissant bakes with the cookie dough and gets crunchy and even more buttery. Whether you make them homemade or use semi-homemade hacks – do not skip making this viral cookie trend!

How to make the Viral Chocolate Chip Cookie Croissant

1. You’ll need croissants, and for this it’s best to use store bought. A store bought flaky croissant really has no substitute in this recipe – a grocery store usually has packs in the bakery section. This is actually a great use for day-old croissants – breathe sweet new life into them!
2. The best part about this recipe is that you can make as many as you want depending on what cookie dough you use.
3. You can make my homemade chocolate chip cookie dough (recipe below) OR use Pillsbury packaged cookie dough (any flavor). You can even use any kind of cookie dough, like my oatmeal cookies or peanut butter cookies. I used my small batch cookie recipe because I was making 8 croissants and didn’t want leftover cookie dough.
4. Cut the croissant in half with a serrated knife like you’re making a sandwich. Just add about a tablespoon worth of cookie dough in the center.
5. I also like spreading some on top and adding sprinkles (obviously).

Expert Tips for Making this Crookie Recipe

• If you use premade cookie dough, you’ll want to use about one break off cookie or about a tablespoon of dough for each.
• You can also use my chocolate chip cookie recipe to make a lot more croissants – the full cookie recipe will make at least 2 dozen.
• Be sure to use a pure butter croissant. Fresh croissants will work but day old are best.
• They’re done baking when the cookies are done and light golden brown.
• Use your favorite cookie dough recipe instead of my cookies – or use premade cookie dough, even dough you’ve frozen.

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Crookies Recipe

Croissants filled with cookies! A Crookie is a dessert mashup that’s so delicious – crispy and gooey and amazing.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 8 crookies

Calories 408kcal

Author Dorothy Kern

Cost $5

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons (57g) unsalted butter, softened
• ¼ cup (50g) packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons (35g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅔ cup (82g) all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup (57g) chocolate chips
• 8 butter croissants (see notes)
• Sprinkles optional

***See Notes for Oatmeal Crookies

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
• Using a hand mixer, mix together butter with both sugars in a large bowl. Stir in egg yolk, vanilla, baking soda and salt. Slowly stir in flour. Stir in chocolate chips.
• Cut each croissant partially in half horizontally (so the halves are still stuck together).
• Scoop about 1 tablespoon of cookie dough into each croissant. Spread remaining dough on the tops of each evenly. Sprinkle with sprinkles, if desired.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes or until just no longer glossy and lightly golden around the bottom edges. Cool before eating.
• Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Notes

• You can use pre-made refrigerated cookie dough (logs or break apart) in any flavor in place of the cookie dough recipe.
• Most grocery stores sell butter croissants in the bakery section.
• Use half my oatmeal cookie recipe to make the Oatmeal Crookies; you’ll have some dough leftover.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 408kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 330mg | Potassium: 114mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 631IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2mg

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Stir together the melted butter with the brown sugar and white sugar in a large mixing bowl.
2. Stir in egg yolk, vanilla, baking soda, and salt, then stir in all-purpose flour. Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Cut croissants in half like you’re making a sandwich (but don’t go all the way through). Spread about a tablespoon or so of cookie dough inside the croissant and put a bit more on top.
4. Place on a baking tray and sprinkle with sprinkles if you want to use them, then bake until the cookies are golden brown.

Try using these to make the Viral Crookie Trend

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Slutty Brownies are the most decadent gooey brownie and outrageous bar cookie you’ll ever try: chocolate chip cookies on the bottom, fudgy chocolate brownies on the top, and Oreos in the center. Normally this recipe is made with pre-packaged dough and box mixes but my recipe is completely from scratch. I don’t know who came up with the horrible name, but these are really EPIC brookies.

How to Make a Slutty Brownie Recipe

1. You need to make brownie batter and chocolate chip cookie dough – luckily both of those have overlapping ingredients.
2. For the brownie layer you’ll need baking chocolate (unsweetened) and cocoa powder (unsweetened; you can use Dutch Process Cocoa).
3. For the cookie dough layer you’ll need brown sugar as well as granulated, and baking soda too.
4. I always put the fudgy brownies on the bottom with a layer of Oreo cookies in between that and the cookie layer.
5. I always line my pan with parchment paper or tin foil for easy removal.

Storing Instructions

• Store cooled Slutty Brownies in an airtight container on the counter.
• You can freeze them for up to 3 months. Learn how I freeze all my desserts!

Expert Tips

• You’re going to want a metal 9×13-inch pan for this recipe.
• You can also make these in muffin tins if you want Oreo Cookie Brownie Cupcakes!
• I like to cover the pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray to make removal and slicing easier.
• These take quite a long time to bake because they’re so thick. You know brownies are done when the top is solid and no longer wet looking. The toothpick test can be done 2 inches from the edge, but it’s best to use your eyes for this.
• Cool completely before slicing.

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Slutty Brownie Recipe

Make these Oreo cookie bars from scratch! This easy brookie recipe is a chocolate chip cookie bar with brownies on top and Oreos stuffed inside. Learn how to make slutty brownies without a mix – and different variations you can make too!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 24 bars

Calories 367kcal

Author Dorothy Kern

Cost $8

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

• ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter melted
• ⅓ cup (57g) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (100g) light brown sugar packed
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups (186g) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups (255g) chocolate chips semi-sweet or milk
• 24 Oreos any flavor

For the Brownies:

• 4 ounces (113g) unsweetened baking chocolate coarsely chopped
• ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter
• 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons (10g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup (124g) all-purpose flour

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9×13” pan with foil or parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
• Make the cookies: Stir melted butter with both sugars. You can use a mixer if you want, but it's not needed. Mix in egg, vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt. Stir in flour, then stir in chocolate chips.
• Press the cookie dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Top evenly with Oreos.
• Make the brownies: Place the baking chocolate and butter in a large, microwave safe bowl. Heat on HIGH power for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until chocolate is smooth. Stir in sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, and cocoa and stir well. Add flour and stir carefully.
• Spread brownie batter over the top of the Oreos in prepared pan.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes until the top looks done and the center is no longer jiggly.

Video

Notes

• You can put the brownies or the cookies on the bottom – either way you prefer. I’ve done it both ways.
• You’re going to want a 9×13-inch pan for this recipe, one with 2″ sides. Use metal or glass, whichever you prefer.
• You can also make these in muffin tins if you want Oreo Cookie Brownie Cupcakes!
• I like to cover the pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray to make removal and slicing easier.
• First, press the chocolate chip cookie dough into the bottom of the pan.
• I used regular Oreos but you could use double stuff or any flavor you want.
• Peanut Butter Cup Slutty Brownies: use regular size peanut butter cups instead of the Oreos.
• Use Peanut butter cookie dough or peanut butter chocolate chip cookies instead of the chocolate chip cookies.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 367kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 197mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 3mg

Step-by-Step Photos

1. Melt butter and stir in both sugars in a large bowl. You don’t need to use an electric mixer, but you can. Stir in egg, baking soda, salt, and vanilla extract.

2. Stir in flour then stir in chocolate chips. At this point, you’ll press the dough into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.

3. Melt baking chocolate and butter until smooth. Make sure to use a large bowl that is microwave safe, and stir every 30 seconds while melting.

4. Stir in the sugar, cocoa, salt, and eggs until smooth. No mixer needed unless you want to use one! Then stir in the flour.

5. Place a layer of Oreos evenly over the cookie dough in the baking pan.

6. Carefully spread the brownie batter over the top of the Oreos in an even layer. Then bake until the brownies are no longer glossy on top.

Other brownie and cookie bar recipes:

• Oatmeal Scotchie Brookies – these are brownies and oatmeal cookies!
• Mint Chip Brookies – Brownies topped with MINT CHIP cookies!
• Sugar Cookie Bars – A classic with buttercream.
• Fudgy Brownies – The classic brownie recipe.
• Oreo Brownies – Skip the cookies and just use Oreos inside!

If you love the flavor of oranges and the texture and crust of lemon bars then you’re in luck: Orange Bars are the perfect combination of both! Orange Squares have a shortbread crust with an orange curd filling – with a bright citrus flavor and crumbly crust, creamy orange bars are the most delicious recipe.

Our old neighbors had an orange tree and every December or January they’d deliver a huge bag of fresh oranges. Now, we love the flavor of orange, but not necessarily the fruit itself, so it was always a rush to find delicious orange recipes to use the fruit in before they went bad.

These Orange Dream Bars were my invention several years ago! It’s the perfect orange recipe: a thick buttery shortbread crust with a filling like classic lemon bars – sweet and tart and creamy and perfect! Whether you call this orange slice or orange brownies, they’re one of then best orange desserts ever.

How to make Orange Bars

1. First you’ll want to make the buttery crust by mixing all the ingredients together in a large bowl with an electric mixer (or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment). The mixture will be moist crumbs. Press the crust into the bottom of the pan (this recipe is written for a 9×13-inch baking pan).
2. The simple ingredients in the orange filling either can be combined in a blender or you can whisked by hand in a large bowl.
3. The orange batter has orange juice, orange zest, granulated sugar, and eggs. I add orange extract for more orange flavor because oranges aren’t as strong a flavor as lemon.
4. When zesting an orange, be sure to just get the orange peel, not the white pith. The orange zest is where a majority of the orange flavor comes from.
5. You can use any kind of oranges – I’ve made these with naval oranges and fresh mandarin oranges. Blood Orange bars would also be delicious.
6. Do yourself a favor and use actual oranges – not bottled orange juice.

Expert Tips

• Be sure to compact the crust very well in the pan so the crust and filling don’t invert themselves. I don’t usually have this happen with shortbread-style crusts, but I have with graham cracker crusts (like my margarita bars).
• I use unsalted butter in the crust but you can use salted butter by reducing the added salt.
• If you want, you can add an orange citrus glaze made with juice and powdered sugar, or drizzle the tops with white chocolate. Personally we like these dusted with powdered sugar like traditional lemon bars.

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Orange Dream Bars Recipe

Orange Dream Bars – this easy recipe is like a lemon bar but using orange! The perfect citrus recipe, tart and sweet with a shortbread crust.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings 24 bars

Calories 189kcal

Author Dorothy Kern

Cost $8

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter
• 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Filling:

• ½ cup (119ml) fresh squeezed orange juice
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1 teaspoon orange extract 
• 1 ½ cups (150g) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup (31g) all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 4 large eggs
• Powdered sugar for topping

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9×13” pan with foil or parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• Beat butter with a hand or a stand mixer until creamy, then add the flour, sugar, and salt and beat until a dough forms. (If you’re using a hand mixer it will take extra time.) Press the crust into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 18 minutes.
• A few minutes before the crust comes out of the oven, prepare the filling. Place all filling ingredients into a blender jar and blend until smooth, a few seconds to almost a minute, depending on your blender. You can also do this with a whisk in a large bowl.
• Carefully pour filling over evenly over hot crust. Return to oven and bake until the top is no longer jiggly, about 20-23 minutes. Cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar and slicing into bars.

Video

Notes

• Don’t strain the fresh squeezed juice – that pulp adds flavor!
• The orange extract is essential here to amp up the orange flavor.
• Use your favorite oranges! For the zest be sure to use at least 1 tablespoon (or more if your orange is larger).
• Make sure your crust is compacted firmly. Any holes in the bottom can cause the filling to leak through, ending in upside down bars. This is not usually a problem with shortbread crusts like this one (it happens more if you’re using a cookie crust) but just in case it happens, that’s why.
• Want a crunchier crust? Bake it for 22 minutes before topping.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar | Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 292IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

Step by Step Photos

Favorite Orange Recipes

• Orange Jello Salad with mandarin oranges
• Orange Pound Cake is a favorite
• Brownies with Orange Frosting are always a hit
• Don’t sleep on orange chocolate chip cookies!

What’s a holiday without a Taylor Swift theme? If you’re entering your Valentine Era, look no further! ‘Tis the [d***] season of love, and if you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day that’s fearless and red, you’ve come to the right place! Forget the same old chocolates and roses, this year we’re crafting a celebration that’s long lived in your memory!

Get ready to begin again with these swoon-worthy, Taylor Swift-inspired Valentine’s Day ideas that will have your sweetheart feeling enchanted. From delicate DIYs to sparkling recipe inspiration, we’ve got you covered.

Valentine Era Valentine Printables

These fun Valentine’s Day cards are FREE printables! There are 10 of them you can print out on card stock and cut. Tape them to a box of candy or affix to a package of Oreo Balls as a gift.

• It’s me Hi! I’m your Valentine it’s Me!
• Loving you is Red
• Valentine, You make the whole place shimmer!
• Happy Valentine’s Tay!
• I was Enchanted to meet you!
• Will you be my Lover?
• Will you be my Valentine? Just say Yes!
• Friend, you never go out of style!
• We’ll be friends for Evermore

Get the FREE Printable Valentine’s HERE

Love these ideas? I also have Taylor Swift Birthday Party Ideas and Taylor Swift Football Party Ideas!

So, whether you’re whipping up some red velvet treats, assembling a charcuTAYrie board fit for a queen (or king!), or gifting those adorable lyric-filled printables, this Valentine’s Day is sure to be the best day. Go ahead, make some memories that will long live!

Whether you’re having a belated Eras Tour party, celebrating a new album release, or having a Taylor Swift Birthday Party, you’ll need some Swiftie themed foods. This is a list of puny food names and ideas you can serve at any Taylor Swift themed party!

Debut 💚🦋

Taylor Swift’s self-titled album was her first, released when she was a teenager. The album was recorded when she was 16 and full of songs dealing with teenage angst and young love. It’s a country album, represented now with pastel greens and butterflies, so any food should represent those feelings.

• Tim McSloppy Joes – Make mini sloppy joes with King’s Hawaiian Rolls
• Tied Together with Spaghetti – serve with my crockpot tomato sauce
• Should’ve Said Nachos
• Teardrops on my Gravy – Served with any meat
• Picture to No Churn Ice Cream – Make a sundae bar!

Fearless 💛🫶

Fearless was released in 2008 with country pop lyrics about love and full of heart. It explores being fearless or living a fearless life, having a lot of fears but jumping into it all anyway. Fearless is yellow and gold, Romeo and Juliet, sparkles and hand hearts.

• Fearless Fries – Make ’em Spicy!
• Love Story Sugar Cookies – Bonus, use chocolate sugar cookies
• You Belong With Meatballs – You could use my sweet and spicy meatballs or turkey meatballs.
• Tell Me Pie – Bite sized pies are the best! Mini Apple Pies, Mini Berry Pies, or Mini Pecan Pies are great choices.
• Bye Bye Baby Back Ribs

Speak Now 💜

The Speak Now Era is purple and fantasy, fairy tales, love and heartbreak. It’s sassy and hopeful, revengeful and thankful, and the first album Swift wrote entirely herself.

• Back to Decemburgers – Sliders would be perfect.
• Sparks Fried – Anything fried, but I love Donut Holes.
• Never Grow Up – Baby Potato Salad
• Last Kiss(es) – a bowl of Hershey Kisses or Blossom Cookies
• Castles Crumble Topping – Crumble Topping on top of anything!

Red ❤️

Red is a true break-up album and her first album that explored other genres besides country. Tones of pop, rock, and folk come through in songs about love, loss, and breakups. Red is the true RED era, so foods should be as red as possible!

• Red Velvet Cake, Red Velvet Cupcakes, or Red Velvet Cookies
• Holy Ground Espresso Martini
• I Knew You Were Trifle – mini or a large Trifle
• Everything Has Chai Cookies
• Forever Winter Snowball Cookies

1989 🩵

This is the Era that made me fall in love with Taylor Swift. Her first true fully pop album, 1989 was an ode to New York and her on again, off again relationship with Harry Styles. Swift has said the album was a rebirth for her, written after her move to New York City. Food in this era should encapsulate NYC: cheesecake, pizza, anything that you think of when you think of the Big Apple (or the color blue).

• Welcome to New York Cheesecake
• Shake(s) It Off – a milkshake bar
• Bad Bloody Mary
• Now That We Don’t Tacos – make a taco bar
• Now That We Don’t Guac
• Blank Spinach Dip served with Down Bread

Reputation 🖤🐍

During the 1989 Era Taylor Swift got caught up in a controversy with Kanye West (she was later exonerated from the lies) and caused her to be cancelled in a very harsh and brutal way. She disappeared from the public eye for over a year. Reputation was her return and was another pop album with threads of anger, mistrust, but also new love. The era is represented by snakes and the color black.

• Getaway Car Cocktail – Make a sidecar
• Getaway Carbs – crackers or bread
• This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Wings
• King of My Hummus
• 1-2-3 Let’s Go Dip – I have so many dip choices!

Lover 🩷

Much like the beginning of the ME! video where a snake explodes into a million butterflies, Lover is a pink pop album that, at first glance, is all about the love with her longtime boyfriend. Deep down when you dig into the lyrics, you also get feelings of anxiety about losing that love.

• Heart Shaped Lover Cookies using my chocolate cut out cookies recipe
• Heartbreak Pretzels for Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince
• Paper Onion Rings
• Death By a Thousand Cups – any kind of “cup” would work like Onion Tarts or Cherry Pie Cups
• It’s Nice To Have A Friendship Bracelet Cupcakes
• Daylight Drink – this can be anything but a Cosmo would be perfect!

Folklore 🩶

Folklore was released in 2020 – it was her first pandemic album. It was an indie-leaning folk-ish album that she explained as being songs telling stories not necessarily about her life. Swathed in black, gray, and white imagery it had a very 90s vibe and is one of her best albums, IMO.

• Seven Layer Dip or Seven Layer Bars for Seven
• Pigs in a Cardigan – using pigs in a blanket!
• Apple Betty (Apple Crisp)
• The One Cake – a cake shaped like a 1
• Invisible String Cheese – mozzarella sticks
• Illicit Eclairs (cake) for Illicit Affairs

Evermore 🤎

Released in 2021, Evermore is the sister to Folklore. It’s a superior album full of heart-wrenching lyrics (at the time we didn’t know publicly that her long-time relationship was breaking down, but in retrospect you can hear it in many of the lyrics). Woodsy and wintery, it’s the brown heart album.

• Coney Island Corn Dogs
• Long Story Shortcake (Strawberry Shortcake, Strawberry Shortcake Cake, or Cupcakes)
• Ever-S’mores for evermore! You could make s’mores bars or even s’mores cookies
• Champagne Problems – serve up bottles of bubbly
• Gold Rush Cocktail (a renamed Cable Car)
• Cowboy Cookies Like Me

Midnights 💙

Oh Midnights…I can’t choose a favorite album but she’s way up there. Explained by Taylor as the story of 13 sleepless nights throughout her life, it’s an album of clues, losing love, gut wrenching lyrics, and her taking her life back. It’s the dark blue, midnights, bejeweled album most famously known for putting friendship bracelets on the mainstream map.

• Snow on the Beach Drink – like Cake by the Ocean with coconut cream
• Anti-Heroes – sandwiches
• Lavender Haze Cocktail
• Midnights Cookies
• Paris Macrons or Croissants!
• Quesadilla…? for Question…?

TTPD 🤍

The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD) is the white album, the album of loss and rebirth, the album that was released during a world tour on which she wrote some of the songs on the album. The songs are heart wrenching and real and honest, and many say this is an album written for the fans because of the story she’s telling.

• Forknight Fondue
• But Daddy I Love Ham and Cheese Sliders
• Guilty As Sin Chocolate Cake or Truffles
• Broken Heart Sugar Cookies
• Clara Bow Tie Pasta Salad
• Chicken Nuggets and Seemingly Ranch

CharcuTAYrie Ideas

Make an easy cheese board with the following:

• Death by a Thousand Cold Cuts
• Sala-ME!
• King of my Havarti
• The Smallest Manchego Who Ever Lived
• The Way We Olive You
• Down Bread
• Almond Too Well
• Taylor Swiss
• The Last Great American Cheese
• Say You’ll Remember Brie

Works for any Era

• Friendship Bracelet Donuts – fans were making them way before YOYOK
• Red Velvet Cookies – Red is a theme throughout all her albums
• Rice Krispie Treats – she made them for one of her secret sessions!
• Cinnamon Rolls – we know she’s made them for people before.
• Chai Sugar Cookies – Her recipe ended up online years ago and people have been making them ever since. The link goes to the original recipe by Joy the Baker.

What else should I add? What other themed recipes are you making for your Taylor Swift Parties?

Taylor Swift Ideas

Holidays

Taylor Swift Football Party

Recipes

How to Throw a Taylor Swift Party

Round-Ups

13 Taylor Swift Football Party Must-Haves

Treat yourself to a Manhattan Cocktail for your next happy hour! This classic cocktail recipe is easy to make – it’s a combination of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. If you love whiskey this drink is for you!

Print

Manhattan Cocktail Recipe

A Manhattan is a classic cocktail that’s super easy to make with just a few ingredients plus garnish!

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 serving

Calories 159kcal

Author Dorothy Kern

Cost 3

Ingredients

• 2 ounces Rye Whiskey
• ¾ ounce sweet vermouth
• Dash Angostura bitters
• Luxardo Cherry garnish

Instructions

• Place ice into a mixing glass. Add the whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters, gently stir to combine.
• Strain into glass. Garnish with a cherry and serve.

Video

Notes

• This is the classic recipe, not an original.
• Typically Rye whiskey is used but Canadian whisky, bourbon, and blended Whiskey can be used in its place.
• Some garnish with orange peel or a modern maraschino cherry. Luxardo cherries are the original maraschino cherry before the bright red ones began being used.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 1g | Iron: 1mg

Other Favorite Cocktail Recipes

Cocktails

Valentine Martini

Cocktails

Pineapple Martini

Recipes

Cable Car Cocktail

Recipes

Espresso Martini

Red Velvet Cake is the best ultra moist, buttery, soft cake recipe with cream cheese frosting! It’s a classic cake that’s super tender with a vibrant red color and delicious flavor – it’s not just red vanilla cake – red velvet is it’s own flavor, and it’s delicious.

I’ve always wondered about the flavor of Red Velvet Cake – is it vanilla? Is it chocolate? It’s actually neither – or a combination of both. This is a classic cake recipe has just a hint of cocoa with the tang from buttermilk for a flavor that’s all its own – and it’s SO good!

My red velvet cake recipe is the softest one you’ll eat. It is always moist, sweet, soft, and delicious, especially with the frosting. Nothing goes better together than red velvet and cream cheese frosting; they’re the ultimate pair…but I wouldn’t hesistate to frost this with cookies ‘n cream frosting either! If you need a delicious cake that has a great texture and flavor, and can be made easily, this is the best recipe to try.

Important Ingredients

• Cocoa Powder: Use unsweetened cocoa powder – not Dutch process cocoa. Dutch process can interfere with the baking soda, and you want a fluffy moist cake, so don’t chance it.
• Buttermilk and White Vinegar: These are important ingredients for making that moist airy cake (the acid activates the baking soda) but red velvet is also supposed to have a tiny tang from the vinegar flavor, so there is no substitutions for the vinegar. (It also helps the red color POP!) You can use a buttermilk substitute if needed.
• Food Coloring: I prefer to use regular grocery store food coloring (not gel) for red velvet recipes.

How to Make Red Velvet Cake Tips

1. I like to whisk my dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately, then mix them together. This is very similar to how I make my chocolate cake.
2. Because there’s no softened butter in this cake, you can whisk it by hand (but using an electric mixer with the paddle attachment is fine too).
3. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl while mixing.
4. I always add the red food coloring last.
5. Cool cake layers completely on a wire cooling rack before frosting.
6. If you want visuals on how to make cream cheese frosting, be sure to see the post at that link. I go into detail about ingredients and how to make it (with step-by-step photos and a video).

Expert Tips

• Pan Sizes: This cake can be baked in two 9-inch round cake pans, three 8-inch round cake pans, a 9×13-inch pan, or as 24 red velvet cupcakes (see recipe for baking times).
• When frosting a dark colored cake like this with a light colored frosting, you can avoid getting crumbs in your frosting by first doing a crumb coat: a very thin layer of frosting that goes on first – all over the cake. Chill until the frosting semi-sets and then do a thicker second layer and you’ll minimize the amount of red crumbs that are in your final cake.
• Decorating Red Velvet Cake: I used some cake crumbs to decorate the top, but you could leave it plain or make swirls with a piping tip and extra frosting. Or decorate with sprinkles or strawberries.

Print

Red Velvet Cake Recipe

The BEST fluffy and moist Red Velvet Cake Recipe with cream cheese frosting – this works as a cake or cupcakes and it's so good.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Cooling Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 3 hours hours 35 minutes minutes

Servings 16 servings

Calories 794kcal

Author Dorothy Kern

Cost $10

Ingredients

Cake:

• 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
• 3 cups (372g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons (10g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• ¾ cup (177ml) vegetable oil
• 1 ½ cups (355ml) buttermilk
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon red food coloring

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 16 ounces (454g) cream cheese softened
• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter softened
• 5 cups (600g) powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

Cake:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9×2-inch cake pans or three 8×2-inch cake pans.
• Whisk sugar, flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl.
• Add oil, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and vinegar to a large measuring cup or medium sized bowl. Whisk to combine.
• Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Whisk in red food coloring.
• Divide into pans equally. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

• Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, cream butter and cream cheese until fluffy.
• Slowly add in powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
• If the cake has rounded tops, cut off the top to make the cake level. Reserve this to add crumbs to the top of the cake, if desired.
• Place cake on cake plate. Fill with frosting. Top with second layer and frost the top and sides with the remaining frosting.
• Decorate top of cake as desired. Store loosely covered in the refrigerator.

Video

Notes

• You can also make 24-28 cupcakes (bake 18-22 minutes).
• I prefer regular food coloring (not gel) for this cake, but either may be used. If using gel food coloring you will not need the full tablespoon.
• Store cake loosely covered at room temp for up to 2 days or chilled for up to 3 days. You can freeze slices, or make ahead and chill/freeze cake layers well wrapped and frosting in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 794kcal | Carbohydrates: 120g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 340mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 100g | Vitamin A: 832IU | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 1mg

Other Red Velvet Recipes

valentine's day

Red Velvet Cookie Cake

Cupcakes

Red Velvet Lava Cupcakes

Cookies

Red Velvet Cookies

Brownies & Bars

Red Velvet Brownies