Now that you have all your ingredients ready, let’s dive into the baking process. Follow these detailed instructions to create perfect Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies every time:

Step 1: Prepare the Dry Ingredients

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisking is key here, as it ensures that all the dry ingredients are evenly distributed and any lumps are broken up. This step is crucial for consistent leavening and flavor throughout your cookies. Set this bowl aside for later.

Step 2: Cream Together the Butter and Sugars

In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer), place the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and packed brown sugar. Using an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), cream together the butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy. This process typically takes about 2-3 minutes. Creaming incorporates air into the mixture, which is essential for creating cookies with a light and tender texture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is evenly incorporated.

Step 3: Incorporate the Wet Ingredients

To the creamed butter and sugar mixture, add the large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Make sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. This helps to create a smooth and emulsified batter. Next, stir in the vanilla extract, red food coloring, and buttermilk. Mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage, as overmixing can lead to tough cookies. Mix until the wet ingredients are evenly distributed and the batter is a vibrant red color.

Step 4: Gradually Add the Dry Ingredients

With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients (from Step 1) to the wet ingredients in batches. Mix until just combined. Again, avoid overmixing. Mix only until the flour is just incorporated and no streaks of dry flour remain. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky, which is exactly what you want for crinkle cookies.

Step 5: Chill the Dough

This step is crucial for crinkle cookies! Cover the bowl of dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. Chilling the dough allows the butter to solidify, which prevents the cookies from spreading too thin during baking. It also helps develop the flavors and makes the dough easier to handle and roll. Don’t skip this step!

Step 6: Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets

When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Parchment paper prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.

Step 7: Shape and Roll the Dough in Powdered Sugar

Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator. Using a spoon or cookie scoop, scoop out rounded tablespoons of dough. Roll each dough ball gently between your palms to form a smooth ball. In a shallow bowl, pour a generous amount of powdered sugar. Roll each dough ball completely in the powdered sugar, ensuring it’s fully coated. The thick coating of powdered sugar is what creates those beautiful crinkles as the cookies bake.

Step 8: Bake the Cookies

Place the powdered sugar-coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are still slightly soft. Don’t overbake them, as they will continue to set as they cool. The cookies are done when the edges are firm and the tops have developed those signature crinkles.

Step 9: Cool and Enjoy

Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This allows them to firm up slightly before you move them. Once cooled, these Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies are ready to be enjoyed! Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.