Name: Red Velvet Cookies with Eggnog Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 41 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups (220g) all-purpose flour (fluffed, spooned, and leveled); 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg, room temperature; 1 tablespoon eggnog (or milk); 1 tablespoon red food coloring or ¾ tsp gel; 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon peppermint extract (optional for holidays); 1/4 cup sour cream, room temperature; Sprinkles for decorating (optional); 4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature; 2 tablespoons eggnog (or milk); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 cups powdered sugar; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; Pinch of ground nutmeg and salt

Nothing says cozy holiday vibes like these Red Velvet Cookies with Eggnog Frosting Recipe. They’re soft, festive, and that hint of eggnog in the frosting just elevates them to a whole new level of deliciousness. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll be your go-to holiday treat!

The image shows a white plate with seven red cookies, each with one layer of white cream frosting swirled on top. The frosting has small red and pink sugar sprinkles scattered over it. The red cookies have a soft, slightly cracked texture and the frosting looks smooth and creamy. The plate sits on a white marbled surface that is softly out of focus, giving the picture a fresh and clean look. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Red Velvet Cookies with Eggnog Frosting Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Red Velvet Cookies with Eggnog Frosting Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Red Velvet Cookies with Eggnog Frosting Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’m genuinely excited to share this Red Velvet Cookies with Eggnog Frosting Recipe because it combines two holiday classics in one delightful bite. The cookies themselves are tender and just lightly chocolatey, and that eggnog frosting brings this warm, spiced richness that you won’t get anywhere else.

Perfect balance: The sweetness and tang of the frosting pairs beautifully with the mild cocoa flavor in the cookies.
Easy to make: No fancy equipment needed—just basic kitchen tools and a bit of patience.
Festive and fun: The optional peppermint extract and sprinkles add holiday cheer that’s perfect for family gatherings or cookie exchanges.
Customizable: You can easily swap extracts or garnish ideas to make these cookies your own special creation.

The image shows many red velvet cookies spread out on a white marbled surface. Most cookies have a smooth cream-colored frosting layer topped with red sugar crystals. Some cookies are decorated like Santa faces with three layers: a base cookie, a cream frosting layer covering the whole cookie, red sprinkles forming a hat shape at the top, shredded coconut arranged to look like a beard at the bottom, two small round dark chocolate pieces for eyes, a red candy for a nose, and a tiny white marshmallow on the side of the hat. Other cookies have white chocolate chips scattered across their red base with no frosting. A small ceramic bowl holds a mix of red and clear crystals, with some spilled nearby. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This recipe features simple ingredients that complement each other to create a tender, flavorful cookie. Using room temperature dairy and eggs is a small must—it helps everything mix evenly and bake beautifully. Plus, the eggnog really brings festive warmth to this recipe both in the cookies and the frosting.

Flat lay of a small pile of all-purpose flour on a simple white ceramic plate, a small heap of unsweetened cocoa powder in a white ceramic bowl, a whole large brown egg with a clean shell, a few tablespoons of unsalted butter cut into cubes on a white ceramic dish, a small white bowl filled with granulated sugar, a small white bowl containing thick sour cream, a small white bowl with bright red gel food coloring, a small white bowl of vanilla extract, a small white bowl with peppermint extract, and a small white bowl of powdered sugar, all ingredients fresh and natural, arranged symmetrically with balanced proportions, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: Provides structure but is spooned and leveled to keep cookies light, not dense.
Cocoa powder: Adds subtle chocolate depth without overpowering the red velvet character.
Baking soda: Helps cookies rise and stay tender.
Unsalted butter: Room temp butter cream together with sugar for fluffiness and richness.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps create a slight crisp edge.
Egg: Binds ingredients and adds moisture, room temperature for best mixing.
Eggnog: Adds distinctive holiday spice and moisture to dough and frosting.
Red food coloring: For that classic red velvet color, with options like gel or natural beet powder.
Vanilla and peppermint extracts: Vanilla enhances overall flavor; peppermint adds a festive twist.
Sour cream: Keeps cookies moist and tender with a bit of tang.
Cream cheese: Makes the frosting luxuriously creamy with that signature tang.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens the frosting without grit.
Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, salt: Warm spices that perfectly complement the eggnog in the frosting.
Sprinkles (optional): Adds color and fun texture, perfect for holiday displays.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I often like to tweak this Red Velvet Cookies with Eggnog Frosting Recipe depending on the occasion. Sometimes, I skip the peppermint extract for a more classic flavor, or I add a sprinkle of crushed candy canes on top for a pop of crunch and color. Don’t hesitate to make it your own!

Variation: For a dairy-free twist, substitute sour cream with coconut yogurt and use vegan cream cheese for frosting — it still tastes amazing, and the texture stays just right.
Seasonal change: Swap peppermint extract for orange zest in the cookies and frosting for a fresh and bright holiday flavor.
Difficulty adjustment: If you're short on time, you can skip chilling the dough, but chilling for 30 minutes helps prevent spreading and creates thicker cookies.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Red Velvet Cookies with Eggnog Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients and Workspace

Make sure your butter, eggs, and sour cream are at room temperature—this is the little secret for creamier, more cohesive dough. While you wait, line your baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats to prevent sticking. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) so it’s ready when your dough is mixed.

Step 2: Whisk Together Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined. This helps distribute the leavening and cocoa throughout, ensuring every cookie bakes evenly.

Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar

Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes until pale and fluffy. You’ll see the texture lighten and almost double in volume—that’s your signal that it’s ready.

Step 4: Add Wet Ingredients

Drop in the egg, eggnog, red food coloring, vanilla, and peppermint extracts, then beat on medium speed for 30 seconds until just combined. Don’t overmix here—just enough so the color and flavors are evenly blended.

Step 5: Combine Dough

With the mixer on low, add half of the flour mixture, then the sour cream, then the rest of the flour mixture. Mixing on low prevents overworking the dough and keeps cookies tender. Scrape down sides if needed to make sure everything is incorporated.

Step 6: Shape and Bake Your Cookies

The dough is sticky, so spray your hands lightly with cooking spray and dust with flour to make rolling easier. Use a cookie scoop to form two-tablespoon-sized balls and place them about 2½ inches apart on your pans. Bake for 9-11 minutes until the centers are just set but still soft. Let them cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack.

Step 7: Make the Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat the cream cheese, butter, eggnog, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt—those spices enhance the eggnog flavor wonderfully! Slowly add powdered sugar until you reach your preferred frosting consistency. Add extra eggnog if you want a softer frosting perfect for spreading.

Step 8: Frost and Decorate

Once cookies are completely cooled, frost them generously. Sprinkle with festive decorations like red and white sprinkles or crushed candy canes for that holiday pop!

Top Tip

I’ve made these cookies over several holidays, and I’ve learned a few tricks that make a big difference. Here are my go-to tips to get your cookies turning out perfectly every single time.

Use room temperature ingredients: Cold butter or eggs can cause the dough to seize or bake unevenly—warming them slightly beforehand makes mixing smooth and easy.
Don’t overmix after adding flour: Overworking the dough toughens cookies; mix just until the flour disappears.
Chilling the dough really helps: It reduces spread and enhances flavors—30 minutes is usually enough without delaying your baking too much.
Let cookies cool completely before frosting: Frosting warm cookies causes it to melt and slide off, so patience pays off!

How to Serve Red Velvet Cookies with Eggnog Frosting Recipe

Garnishes

For garnish, I love dashing on holiday-themed sprinkles—tiny candy canes or red and green sugar crystals add sparkle and a little crunch. Fresh grated nutmeg over the frosting adds a subtle earthy aroma that’s so cozy. On occasion, I even place small edible glitter or festive shaped candies for a whimsical touch.

Side Dishes

I often pair these cookies with hot drinks like mulled cider or eggnog latte to double down on the holiday spirit. They also go beautifully alongside a cheese board with mild cheeses and dried fruits for festive gatherings.

Creative Ways to Present

For cookie exchanges or parties, I like to arrange these red velvet delights on tiered platters with greenery garlands and twinkling lights wrapped around for that wow factor. Wrapping a few in cellophane tied with ribbon makes for effortless homemade gifts everyone appreciates.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover frosted cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They stay fresh for up to 5 days, but I recommend bringing them to room temperature before serving for the best texture and flavor.

Freezing

I’ve found freezing both dough balls and frosted cookies works well. Freeze dough balls on a sheet pan before transferring to a bag—bake straight from frozen, just add a minute or two. For frosted cookies, freeze in a single layer, then wrap tightly to avoid freezer burn.

Reheating

Pop the cookies in a warm oven (about 300°F) for 3-5 minutes to refresh their soft texture without melting the frosting too badly. You can also let frozen frosting thaw in the fridge overnight before gently re-whipping.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make these cookies without red food coloring?

Yes! If you prefer to avoid artificial colorings, you can use beet powder as a natural alternative. It won’t affect the taste but will give a gentle reddish hue to your cookies.

How do I prevent the frosting from melting on the cookies?

Make sure your cookies are completely cooled before applying the frosting. Warm cookies will cause the frosting to soften and slide off, so patience here really pays off.

Can I add peppermint extract to the frosting as well?

Absolutely! Adding a few drops of peppermint extract to the frosting can enhance the holiday flavor even more. Just be cautious and start with a small amount to avoid overpowering the delicate eggnog taste.

How long will these cookies stay fresh?

When stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator, frosted red velvet cookies stay fresh up to 5 days. For longer storage, freezing is a great option.

Final Thoughts

This Red Velvet Cookies with Eggnog Frosting Recipe truly feels like a warm hug during the busy holiday season. I love sharing these with friends because they’re comforting, festive, and just a little bit special. I hope you enjoy making and eating them as much as I do—baking is always better with a friend in the kitchen, right?