I don't make cookies often. They're a lot of work that requires babysitting batches from the scoop to the oven to the cooling rack to the platter. So I don't have just a gob of cookie recipes in my arsenal. But with Valentine's Day coming up and my sister-in-law's birthday this week too, I wanted a sweet, seasonal cookie that would be just right for both! And these little crinkles are perfect, y'all!
I posted a sneak peek of the red velvet dough yesterday morning on the @EunaMaes instagram and even had a little guessing game giveaway for the first five who guessed correctly what I was making! And out of more than 80 guesses, I announced the five winners last night! It was fun to hear what y'all thought! If you're not following @EunaMaes on instagram, you should! We have fun and communicate and visit from our kitchens over there!
Not only did I make classic Valentine-y red velvet crinkles, but I also made a batch of strawberry lemonade crinkles! They are delicious and sweet with a little sour bite from being rolled in powdered sugar and pink lemonade mix; and the red velvet crinkles are a little chocolatey like we anticipate red velvet to be! These cookies are soft, chewy and moist. My kids went crazy over them, and I confess that I've eaten my fair share.{I just ate one and licked my fingers 5 seconds ago.} I even packaged stacks of 5 crinkles in little paper berry baskets and tied them in clear bags to make adorable Valentine's Day treats!
Now there are some amazing from-scratch recipes for crinkles that you should definitely try some time! BUT this recipe is a super easy way to make these cookies - starting with a boxed cake mix! And these easy crinkles are something you can make in the kitchen with your kids. They can make the dough balls and even roll them in the sugar coating! A great recipe! Kid friendly! And makes a lovely little gift!
EASY STRAWBERRY LEMONADE CRINKLES
{makes 20-24 cookies}
1 box strawberry cake mix
2 large eggs, room temperature*
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon good vanilla extract
zest of one lemon
1 Tablespoon plus 1/4 cup powdered pink lemonade mix {not crystal light}
powdered sugar for coating
granulated sugar for coating
*Euna Mae's is a Great Day Farms brand ambassor.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare two shallow bowls for the coating. One bowl will contain about 3/4 cup powdered sugar. In the other bowl, combine 1/4 cup powdered pink lemonade mix and 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, vanilla, zest, and 1 Tablespoon of pink lemonade mix. Mix until it forms a nice dough. Turn the dough out onto a sheet of parchment or a silicone mat, and form into a ball.
Make 20-24 one-inch dough balls by rolling them in your hands. Then coat each ball by first rolling the ball in the sugar/lemonade mix then rolling the ball in the powdered sugar. Place coated dough balls about 1 1/2" apart on a parchment or silicone-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool for a few minutes before moving them to a cooling rack to cool completely. You may wish to sift a little additional powdered sugar over the cookies if you like.
EASY RED VELVET CRINKLES
{makes 20-24 cookies}
1 box red velvet cake mix
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon good vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon coffee extract
2-3 drops of red food coloring to intensify the shade
powdered sugar for coating
granulated sugar for coating
Follow recipe and steps above, coating in granulated sugar first then pure powdered sugar second. Bake as directed above.
