Ultimate Red Velvet Skillet Cookie: Your Perfect Valentine’s Day Dessert
Indulge in a thick, chewy, and irresistibly gooey red velvet cookie baked to perfection in a skillet, then crowned with creamy ice cream and rich hot fudge. This festive dessert is a showstopper for any occasion, especially Valentine’s Day!
As the scent of romance fills the air, it’s hard to believe that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! While grand gestures are lovely, sometimes the most heartfelt expressions come in the form of delicious, homemade treats. We don’t always go all out, but I absolutely adore creating special desserts that I know my family will cherish. There’s something truly magical about turning a simple occasion into a festive celebration with a touch of culinary creativity. Just like these Chocolate Covered Pretzels, which are incredibly easy to make yet always a huge hit, the secret lies in adding that personal, celebratory touch.
Today, I’ve taken one of my all-time favorite desserts – the humble, yet magnificent, skillet cookie – and dressed it up to be absolutely perfect for Valentine’s Day. If you’ve never experienced the joy of a skillet cookie, prepare to be amazed. It’s the ultimate dessert experience: warm, sumptuously gooey, and profoundly satisfying. And when you elevate it with scoops of vanilla ice cream and a generous drizzle of hot fudge, it genuinely reaches a level of perfection that’s hard to beat.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Red Velvet Skillet Cookie
There are countless reasons why this Red Velvet Skillet Cookie deserves a spot on your dessert menu, not just for Valentine’s Day, but for any moment you crave something truly special:
- Irresistible Flavor: Red velvet is more than just a color; it’s a unique flavor profile that combines a subtle cocoa tang with a touch of vanilla sweetness, often reminiscent of a rich cake. This cookie captures that essence beautifully.
- Perfect Texture: Baked in a skillet, this cookie achieves the ideal balance – gloriously gooey and soft in the center, with delightfully crispy edges. It’s the best of both worlds!
- Effortlessly Easy: With minimal cleanup and a straightforward baking process, this recipe is perfect for both novice and experienced bakers. It comes together quickly, allowing you more time to enjoy.
- Shareable & Interactive: Served directly from the skillet, it encourages a communal and fun dessert experience. Just hand out spoons and watch everyone gather around!
- Stunning Presentation: The vibrant red hue makes this dessert visually striking and perfect for festive occasions. Topped with contrasting white ice cream and dark fudge, it’s a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.
- Customization Galore: While we love the combination of semi-sweet and white chocolate chips, this recipe is a canvas for your chocolate preferences, and the topping possibilities are endless.
Red Velvet seems to take center stage when Valentine’s Day rolls around. You can truly embrace the theme by starting your day with delightful Red Velvet Pancakes, and then culminating your festive day with this incredible Red Velvet Skillet Cookie. Our recipe is generously studded with both semi-sweet and creamy white chocolate chips, offering a wonderful contrast in flavor and texture. However, feel free to customize this part to your heart’s desire! If you prefer a milder chocolate flavor, milk chocolate chips would be fantastic. For those who adore a deeper, more intense chocolate experience, dark chocolate chips would be an excellent choice.
Tips for Baking the Perfect Skillet Cookie
Achieving the perfect Red Velvet Skillet Cookie is simple with a few key tips:
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This allows them to cream together more smoothly, resulting in a lighter, fluffier cookie dough and a more consistent bake.
- Don’t Overmix the Dough: Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix only until just combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to a tougher, less tender cookie.
- Achieving Vibrant Color: For that signature bright red hue, a good quality gel food coloring is usually more effective than liquid food coloring. You can add more drops until you reach your desired shade, but be mindful not to overdo it to avoid altering the texture.
- The Right Skillet Size: An 11-inch oven-safe skillet is ideal for this recipe, allowing the cookie to spread out and bake evenly for that perfect gooey-in-the-middle, crispy-on-the-edges texture. If using a smaller skillet, your cookie will be thicker, potentially requiring a few extra minutes of baking time. For a larger skillet, it might bake faster and be thinner.
- Don’t Overbake: The key to a gooey skillet cookie is not to overbake it. The edges should be set and lightly golden, but the center should still look slightly soft and might jiggle a little when gently shaken. It will continue to set as it cools.
- The Critical Cooling Time: It’s tempting to dive in immediately, but letting the cookie cool for about 5 minutes after removing it from the oven is crucial. This allows it to set slightly and prevents it from being too runny when you add toppings.
This Red Velvet Skillet Cookie is absolutely at its best when it’s still warm, fresh from the oven. I love to take it out and let it rest for just about 5 minutes. This short cooling period allows the edges to crisp up slightly while the center remains wonderfully soft and molten. Then, it’s time for the grand finale: generous scoops of your favorite ice cream (vanilla is a classic choice, but strawberry or chocolate would also be divine!) and a cascade of warm hot fudge. Grab your spoons and dive right in!
Serving Suggestions and Creative Variations
Make this dessert truly your own with a variety of serving suggestions and fun variations:
- Classic Indulgence: As mentioned, vanilla ice cream and hot fudge are a match made in heaven for this cookie. The cold ice cream melting into the warm cookie is simply divine.
- Elevated Toppings: Beyond the classics, consider adding a dollop of freshly whipped cream, a drizzle of luscious caramel sauce, or a sprinkle of Valentine’s-themed sprinkles for extra festivity. Chopped toasted nuts (like pecans or walnuts) can add a delightful crunch.
- Fresh Fruit: A handful of fresh raspberries or sliced strawberries adds a bright, tart contrast to the rich sweetness of the cookie, making it feel even more gourmet.
- Individual Servings: For a personalized touch, try baking the batter in several mini skillets. Each person can then have their own warm cookie to decorate exactly as they wish. Imagine the fun of everyone customizing their mini skillet with their favorite toppings!
- Chocolate Chip Mix-Up: While semi-sweet and white chocolate chips create a beautiful balance, don’t hesitate to experiment. All milk chocolate chips for a sweeter profile, all dark chocolate for a more intense cocoa hit, or even a mix of butterscotch or peanut butter chips for an adventurous twist.
- Cream Cheese Swirl: For an extra layer of red velvet goodness, prepare a simple cream cheese frosting and swirl a spoonful or two onto the hot cookie immediately after it comes out of the oven. The warmth will slightly melt the frosting, creating a luscious swirl.
So, this Valentine’s Day, or any day you need a delightful pick-me-up, conclude your meal with a dessert that is not only fun to make but also universally loved. The interactive nature and customizable toppings make it an experience everyone will remember. It’s more than just a cookie; it’s a celebration in a pan!
Red Velvet Skillet Cookie
Pin Recipe
Rate Recipe
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 large whole egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon red food coloring
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
-
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
-
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, typically 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the large whole egg, the large egg yolk, vanilla extract, and red food coloring. Mix on medium speed until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated and the color is even. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Gently fold in the semi-sweet and white chocolate chips. If you desire a deeper red color, you can add a few more drops of food coloring at this stage.
-
Carefully spoon the cookie batter into an 11-inch oven-safe skillet (a well-seasoned cast iron skillet works best). Using a spatula or the back of a spoon, gently spread the batter out, leaving about a 1-inch gap around the edge of the skillet. This allows the cookie to spread naturally and bake evenly, creating that perfect balance of crispy edges and a gooey center.
-
Bake for 15-17 minutes. The cookie is ready when the edges appear set and slightly crispy, and the center is mostly set but may still look a little soft or gooey. Remember, it will continue to cook slightly as it cools.
-
Remove the skillet from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for about 5 minutes. This crucial cooling time allows the cookie to firm up slightly without losing its warmth. Then, generously top with scoops of your favorite ice cream and a drizzle of hot fudge. Serve immediately and enjoy!
-
While best served warm and gooey directly from the skillet, this cookie can also be allowed to cool completely and then cut into individual slices, similar to a cake.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!
Storage and Reheating Tips
If by some miracle you have any Red Velvet Skillet Cookie leftovers, here’s how to keep them fresh and delicious:
- Storage: Once completely cooled, cover the skillet tightly with aluminum foil or transfer any remaining cookie to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 2-3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Note that the texture will become firmer when cold.
- Reheating: For that ultimate warm and gooey experience, reheat individual portions in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, or place the entire skillet (if cast iron) in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through. Be careful not to overheat, which can dry it out.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are answers to some common questions you might have about making this delightful skillet cookie:
- Can I use a regular baking dish instead of a skillet?
- Yes, absolutely! While a cast iron skillet offers excellent heat retention and a rustic presentation, you can bake this cookie in any oven-safe baking dish, such as an 8×8 or 9×9 inch square pan. Adjust baking time as needed; a square pan might require a few extra minutes for the center to set.
- Why is my Red Velvet Skillet Cookie dry or crumbly?
- A dry or crumbly cookie is typically a sign of overbaking or overmixing. Ensure you only mix the dry ingredients until just combined, and pull the skillet from the oven when the edges are set but the center still looks slightly soft. Investing in an oven thermometer can also help ensure your oven temperature is accurate.
- Can I make the cookie dough ahead of time?
- Yes! You can prepare the cookie dough up to 2-3 days in advance. Store it tightly covered in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, let the dough come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before pressing it into the skillet and baking as directed.
- What kind of red food coloring is best?
- For the most vibrant red color without adding excessive liquid to the dough, gel food coloring is highly recommended. You’ll need less of it compared to liquid food coloring to achieve that iconic deep red hue.
- My skillet cookie isn’t perfectly round, is that okay?
- Absolutely! The beauty of a skillet cookie is its rustic, homemade charm. It doesn’t need to be perfectly round. As long as it tastes fantastic, you’ve succeeded!
I’ve created a fun and engaging group on Facebook, and I would absolutely love for you to join us! It’s a fantastic community where you can share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, get inspiration, and stay updated on all the new recipes and happenings at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts (so you never miss out on a delicious creation)!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #dinnersdishes so I can see all the wonderful DINNERS, DISHES, AND DESSERTS recipes YOU create! Your culinary adventures inspire me!
Don’t forget to follow me on my social media channels, so you never miss a post and stay connected with all the latest recipes and kitchen tips!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram