Sizzling Indulgences

Red Hot Cookies bring a delightful twist to your cookie repertoire, offering a unique blend of sweet and spicy in every chewy bite. These easy-to-make treats feature the vibrant kick of red hot candies, creating a truly unforgettable flavor experience. Perfect for those who love a hint of cinnamon warmth, these cookies are as fun to make as they are to eat.

Whether you’re baking for the holidays, a special gathering, or simply want to surprise your friends and family with something new, our Red Hot Cookies are an excellent choice. We often find ourselves making numerous cookie recipes throughout the year, especially during festive seasons. Introducing unique flavors, like the bold cinnamon from red hot candies, transforms a classic cookie into an exciting dessert. These cinnamon-infused delights quickly became a personal favorite due to their distinctive taste and straightforward preparation.

If you enjoy experimenting with candies in your baking, you might also love our Best M&M Cookie Recipe, which offers another delightful way to incorporate colorful treats into your homemade cookies.

Why These Red Hot Cookies Will Become Your New Favorite

These Red Hot Cookies are more than just a dessert; they’re an experience! The primary reason we adore this recipe is the incredible flavor fusion it offers. Taking a classic sugar cookie recipe as its base, we infuse it with the fiery, sweet, and unmistakable taste of cinnamon candies. This unexpected kick elevates a simple cookie into something truly extraordinary. Imagine a tender, chewy cookie with bursts of spicy-sweet cinnamon – it’s a combination that tantalizes the taste buds and leaves a lasting impression.

Beyond their amazing taste, these cookies are remarkably easy to prepare, making them accessible even for novice bakers. With minimal prep time and straightforward steps, you can whip up a batch of these delightful treats without any hassle. Their vibrant red hue and festive flavor profile make them particularly well-suited for special occasions. They’re a fantastic choice for Christmas, adding a unique color and spice to your holiday cookie platter, or for Valentine’s Day, where their red hot charm perfectly complements the theme of love and passion. But truthfully, you don’t need a special occasion to enjoy these; they’re perfect for a cozy afternoon snack or a delightful treat any day of the week.

Essential Ingredients for Red Hot Cookies

Crafting the perfect Red Hot Cookies starts with selecting quality ingredients and understanding how each one contributes to the final result. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need:

• Crushed Red Hot Candies: These are the star of the show, providing that signature cinnamon spice. To crush them, place the candies in a sturdy Ziplock bag and use a rolling pin or a meat mallet. Aim for a mix of fine crumbs and small pieces for varied texture and flavor distribution. This ensures you get a delightful cinnamon kick in every bite.
• Butter: Always use unsalted butter softened to room temperature. This is crucial for properly creaming with sugar, creating a light and fluffy base for your cookies. Softened butter incorporates air more effectively, leading to a tender, chewy cookie.
• Granulated Sugar: Standard white granulated sugar provides the primary sweetness and contributes to the cookie’s structure and spread. It caramelizes beautifully, adding to the chewiness.
• Large Egg: A single large egg, also at room temperature, acts as a binder, adding moisture and richness. Room temperature eggs emulsify better with other ingredients, leading to a smoother, more uniform dough.
• Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract is recommended for the best flavor. It enhances the sweetness and complements the spicy cinnamon notes, adding depth to the cookie’s overall taste profile.
• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our cookies. To avoid a dense cookie, it’s vital not to over-pack your measuring cup. The best technique is to spoon the flour into the cup and then level it off with a straight edge, rather than scooping directly from the bag. This prevents excess flour, which can make cookies dry and tough.
• Baking Soda: This leavening agent reacts with acidic ingredients (though not explicitly present here, it contributes to spread and tenderness in combination with baking powder) to create lift and a soft texture. If you’re ever in a pinch, refer to our guide on the Best Baking Soda Substitutes.
• Baking Powder: Works alongside baking soda to provide additional lift and ensures a perfectly risen cookie. Using both helps achieve a balanced texture.
• Salt: A small amount of salt is essential to balance the sweetness of the sugar and candies, enhancing all the other flavors in the cookie.
• Powdered Sugar: Used for rolling the cookie dough balls, it creates a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth coating and a beautiful crinkled finish. For the smoothest coating, I highly recommend sifting the powdered sugar to remove any lumps.

For the complete, precise measurements of each ingredient, please refer to the detailed recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Red Hot Cookie Variations and Add-ins

While Red Hot Cookies are fantastic as they are, there are plenty of ways to customize them to your liking. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• Spicy Cinnamon Glaze: For an extra layer of flavor and a beautiful finish, drizzle a simple glaze over the cooled cookies. Mix powdered sugar with a tiny bit of milk or water and a drop of red hot candy syrup (if available) or extra cinnamon extract for a vibrant, sweet-spicy topping.
• White Chocolate Chip Red Hots: Add about ½ cup of white chocolate chips to the cookie dough along with the crushed red hots. The creamy sweetness of white chocolate perfectly complements the spicy cinnamon, adding a delightful contrast in both flavor and texture.
• Dark Chocolate Drizzle: Once cooled, melt some dark chocolate and drizzle it over the cookies. The slight bitterness of dark chocolate can create an intriguing flavor dynamic with the cinnamon heat.
• Food Coloring Fun: For an even more intense red hue, especially for themed events like Valentine’s Day or Christmas, add a few drops of red food coloring to the cookie dough. This will make your cookies visually pop!
• Spiced Up Dough: If you crave even more warmth, consider adding a pinch of ground cinnamon or a dash of nutmeg to your dry ingredients. This will deepen the overall spice profile of the cookie.
• Mini Red Hots: Instead of crushing the candies, you can gently fold in whole mini red hot candies for distinct bursts of flavor and a different textural experience.

How to Make the Best Red Hot Cookies (Step-by-Step)

Follow these detailed steps to bake a batch of irresistible Red Hot Cookies that are perfectly chewy, spicy, and sweet.

• Step 1 – Preheat Your Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C). Prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This ensures your cookies won’t stick and makes cleanup a breeze.

Step 2 – Crush the Candies: Take your red hot candies and place them inside a durable Ziplock bag. Using a rolling pin or a meat mallet, gently but firmly crush the candies until you have a mixture of fine crumbs and small, recognizable pieces. This variety in texture will provide delightful bursts of cinnamon flavor.

Step 3 – Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and granulated sugar. Using either a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream these ingredients together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This process typically takes 2-3 minutes. Next, add the vanilla extract and the room temperature egg, mixing until just combined and smooth. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated.

Step 4 – Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisking ensures that the leavening agents are evenly distributed throughout the flour, preventing pockets of unmixed ingredients and promoting a uniform rise.

Step 5 – Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients, Add Candies: Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients into the wet butter-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to tough cookies. Once the dough comes together, gently fold in the crushed red hots candy with a spatula or spoon until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Step 6 – Roll and Coat the Dough: Using a spoon or a cookie scoop (approximately 1.5 tablespoons), roll the cookie dough into uniform balls. Then, roll each dough ball generously in powdered sugar, ensuring a complete coating. This step not only adds a lovely sweetness but also creates the characteristic crinkled appearance as the cookies bake. Place the coated dough balls onto your prepared cookie sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each to allow for spreading.

Step 7 – Bake and Cool: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9-11 minutes. Keep a close eye on them; you want the edges to be lightly golden brown, but the centers should still look slightly soft. Avoid overbaking, as this will result in dry cookies. Once baked, remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheet for about 5 minutes. This allows them to set before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy the enticing aroma as they finish cooling!

Expert Tips for Perfect Red Hot Cookies

Achieving bakery-quality cookies at home is easy with a few simple techniques. Here are some expert tips to ensure your Red Hot Cookies turn out perfectly every time:

• Room Temperature Ingredients: Always use butter and eggs that are at room temperature. This ensures they cream together smoothly and evenly, creating a consistent dough texture and a light, tender cookie. Cold ingredients don’t emulsify properly, leading to a lumpy batter.
• Creaming Butter and Sugar: Don’t rush this step! Creaming the butter and sugar thoroughly (2-3 minutes with a stand mixer) is crucial for incorporating air into the dough. This trapped air expands during baking, giving your cookies a soft, chewy texture. Remember to scrape down the sides of the bowl frequently to ensure even mixing.
• Measuring Flour Accurately: Over-measuring flour is a common mistake that can lead to dry, crumbly cookies. Always spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a straight edge, rather than scooping directly from the bag.
• Do Not Overmix: Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix only until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough, dense cookies. A few streaks of flour are fine; they’ll disappear during baking.
• Prepared Baking Sheets: Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. This prevents sticking, promotes even baking, and makes cleanup incredibly easy. A light spray with nonstick cooking spray is also an option if you don’t have liners.
• Uniform Cookie Size: For even baking, aim for uniform cookie dough balls. A cookie scoop is an invaluable tool for this, ensuring consistent size and shape for all your cookies.
• Proper Cooling: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This allows them to firm up slightly, preventing them from breaking when moved. Cooling completely on a wire rack ensures air circulation, which prevents the bottoms from becoming soggy.
• Don’t Overbake: Cookies continue to bake slightly even after they’ve been removed from the oven. For chewy cookies, remove them when the edges are just set and lightly golden brown, and the centers still look a little soft. They will firm up as they cool.

Proper Storage and Freezing for Red Hot Cookies

To keep your Red Hot Cookies fresh and delicious for as long as possible, proper storage is key. Once completely cooled, place any leftover cookies in an airtight container or a freezer-safe bag. Store them at room temperature for up to 4-5 days. For longer storage, these cookies freeze exceptionally well. Simply place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to flash freeze for about 30 minutes until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container, separating layers with parchment paper if stacking. They will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw them at room temperature or warm briefly in the microwave for a fresh-baked taste.

Frequently Asked Questions About Red Hot Cookies

Here are some common questions about making and enjoying Red Hot Cookies:

Q: Can I use different types of cinnamon candies?
A: Yes, you can experiment with other small, hard cinnamon candies, but the classic Red Hots provide the signature flavor and color. Be aware that other brands might have different spice levels or textures.

Q: My cookies came out flat, what happened?
A: Flat cookies can be caused by several factors: your butter might have been too soft (melted), your baking soda/powder might be old, or your dough might have been overmixed. Ensure your butter is just softened, not melted, and check the freshness of your leavening agents.

Q: Can I make the cookie dough ahead of time?
A: Absolutely! You can prepare the dough, roll it into balls, and then chill it in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. If chilling for more than a few hours, you might want to wait to roll them in powdered sugar until just before baking, or re-roll them if the sugar has absorbed moisture. You can also freeze the dough balls for up to 3 months; bake from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time.

Q: Do these cookies have a strong spicy flavor?
A: They have a distinct cinnamon spice, but it’s typically balanced by the sweetness of the cookie dough. The intensity can vary slightly depending on the brand of red hots used. If you prefer less spice, you can reduce the amount of crushed candies.

Q: Can I add nuts to this recipe?
A: Yes, finely chopped pecans or walnuts would add a nice crunch and earthy flavor that could complement the cinnamon. Add about ½ cup of chopped nuts along with the crushed candies.

More Easy and Delicious Cookie Recipes to Try

If you enjoyed these unique Red Hot Cookies, you’ll love exploring other simple and delicious cookie recipes from our collection:

• S’mores Cookies Recipe: Experience the campfire classic in cookie form.
• Monster Cookies: A delightful mix of oats, peanut butter, and M&M’s.
• Snickers Cookies: Indulge in chewy cookies loaded with Snickers candy bars.
• Funfetti Cookies: Bright, colorful, and perfect for celebrations.
• Potato Chip Cookies Recipe: An intriguing sweet and salty combination that’s surprisingly delicious.

These Red Hot Cookies are truly a delightful and easy dessert that promises to be a big hit with anyone who loves a bit of warmth and spice in their treats. Their chewy texture and distinctive cinnamon flavor make them perfect for any occasion. Give them a try and discover your new favorite cookie. We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!