RECIPE: Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies

     It's been a looooooong time since I've done any baking posts on this blog, but I'm trying to shake things up a bit. If you liked this post or if you'd be interested in more baking posts & recipes, let me know in the comments!

     Start by tossing the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Set this aside for later.

     Make sure your stick of butter is at room temperature so that it will be easy to work with. Next, using an electric mixer, beat the butter on high speed until it reaches a creamy consistency (about 1-2 minutes). Scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl as needed. Switch the mixer to medium speed and beat in the brown sugar and granulated sugar until everything is thoroughly mixed. Next, beat in the egg, milk, and vanilla extract. Once mixed, add the food coloring. I'd suggest around 3 tablespoons to get a really true red velvet color, but I simply used up the remainder of my bottle. Turn the mixer off and pour the dry ingredients you set aside earlier into the wet ingredients. Turn the mixer on low and slowly beat everything together until a very soft dough is formed. On low speed, add in the chocolate chips. 

     The dough should be pretty sticky at this point, so chilling the dough is mandatory. Cover the mixing bowl tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour. 

     Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

     Scoop clumps of dough and mold them into balls (roughly 1.5 tablespoons), as pictured above. I put 5 larger balls on one pan and 11 smaller balls on another. Put the balls of dough in the oven for 12-14 minutes. The dough isn't very keen on settling, so at this point I took the flat bottom of a glass and simply pressed down on the warm cookies to slightly flatten them and form crinkles. I stuck a few extra chocolate chips in at this point as well for picture-taking purposes, but that is entirely optional. Leave the cookies in for 4-5 more minutes.

     Allow the cookies to cool for at least 5 minutes before removing them from the baking pans.

     Everyone loves chocolate chip cookies, so be sure to try this twist on a classic recipe next time you have some friends over! Or maybe you could make a batch for Mother's Day since that's just around the corner too! They're extra delicious fresh from the oven when the chocolate chips are still melty, so be sure to save a few for yourself too.

Let me know if you decide to try this recipe!