Spicy, sweet Red Hot Cookies with a chewy texture and a kick of cinnamon flavor. Perfect for holidays, gift-giving, or adding a festive twist to your cookie collection.
Red Hot Cookies are a spicy-sweet treat that adds a fun twist to traditional cookies. Chewy and full of bold cinnamon flavor, these cookies are perfect for holiday baking, gifting, or adding some excitement to your cookie platter.
With simple ingredients and an easy recipe, they’re a crowd-pleasing dessert that’s as festive as it is flavorful.
Also, try the Best M&M Cookie Recipe.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe
- Chewy and Flavorful – Soft, chewy texture with a bold, sweet cinnamon kick.
- Festive and Fun – Perfect for holidays, themed parties, or cookie platters.
- Easy to Make – Simple ingredients and quick prep make baking a breeze.
- Unique Twist – The spicy-sweet combination sets these cookies apart from classic recipes.
- Great for Gifting – Vibrant, flavorful, and sure to impress friends and family.
- Kid-Approved – Loved by both kids and adults who enjoy a touch of spice.
Ingredients
- Crushed Red Hot Candies – Use a Ziplock bag and rolling pin to crush them evenly for mix-ins and topping.
- Butter – Softened at room temperature for easy mixing and a tender cookie texture.
- Granulated Sugar – Regular white sugar adds sweetness and structure.
- Large Egg – Room temperature eggs help the batter combine evenly and improve texture.
- Vanilla Extract – Pure vanilla enhances the flavor of the cookies.
- All-Purpose Flour – Spoon into the measuring cup to avoid packing and ensure accurate measurement.
- Baking Soda – Acts as a leavening agent; can use substitutes if needed.
- Powdered Sugar – Sift first for smooth, lump-free cookies if used for rolling or dusting.
Get the complete list of ingredients at the bottom of the page.
Variations
- Glaze: Drizzle a simple powdered sugar glaze over the cookies for extra sweetness and visual appeal. You can also add a hint of vanilla or lemon to the glaze for a twist.
- White Chocolate Chips: Fold in white chocolate chips to the batter for a creamy, sweet contrast to the spicy Red Hot candies.
- Chocolate Chips: Add semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips for a richer, chocolatey version.
- Candy Combinations: Mix Red Hot candies with other crushed holiday candies like peppermint or cinnamon candies for a festive flavor.
- Cookie Sandwiches: Spread frosting, cream cheese filling, or Marshmallow Fluff Fudge between two cookies for a fun twist.
- Sprinkles: Roll the dough in red or white sprinkles before baking for a decorative, holiday-ready look.
How To Make Red Hot Cookies
- Step 1 – Heat Oven – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2 – Crush Candies – Place the red hot candies in a ziplock bag. Then gently crush them with a rolling pin or mallet.
Step 3 – Cream Butter – In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. You can use a hand or stand mixer until light and fluffy. Then add in the vanilla extract and egg. Mix until combined.
Step 4 – Mix Dry Ingredients – In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
Step 5 – Mix dry and wet ingredients – Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Gently mix in the crushed red hots candy.
Step 6 – Roll Dough – Roll the dough in a large teaspoon size ball. Then roll those balls in the powdered sugar. Place on a cookie sheet.
Step 7. Bake Cookies – Bake for 9-11 minutes until the edges of the cookies just start to brown. Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the sheet. Then move to wire racks to cool completely.
Recipe Tips
- Cream Butter and Sugar Properly: Use a stand mixer or hand mixer to cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure even mixing.
- Prepare Baking Sheets: Line baking sheets with parchment paper, a silicone mat, or lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Use a Cookie Scoop: For uniform cookies, use a cookie scoop to portion the dough. You can use spoons, but a scoop ensures even baking.
- Space Cookies Evenly: Leave enough space between cookies on the baking sheet to allow for spreading.
- Cool Completely: Transfer cookies to a wire rack after baking to cool completely before serving or glazing. This prevents them from becoming soggy.
- Crush Candies Evenly: Make sure your Red Hot candies are crushed to a similar size so they melt and distribute evenly in the cookies.
- Optional Chill: For thicker cookies, chill the dough for 15–30 minutes before baking.
- Check Doneness: Cookies should be set around the edges but still slightly soft in the center; they will firm up as they cool.
Storage
Room Temperature: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Layering Tip: Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
Freezing: Freeze baked cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
More Easy Cookie Recipes
Bake these sweet and spicy Red Hot Cookies for a festive, crowd-pleasing treat! Share your creations in the comments, give the recipe a star rating, and experiment with toppings or mix-ins to make them uniquely yours.
Red Hot Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons Red Hots Candy crushed
- 1/2 cup Butter softened
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the red hot candies in a ziplock bag and gently crush them with a rolling pin or mallet.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with a hand held or stand up mixer until light and fluffy. Add in the vanilla extract and egg. Mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
- Gently mix in the crushed red hots candy.
- Roll the dough in a large teaspoon size ball and then roll those balls in the powdered sugar. Place on a baking sheet. Continue this process until all the cookies are formed.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes until the edges of the cookies just start to brown (do not over cook).
- Remove from the oven. Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the sheet and then move to wire racks to cool completely.
- Then the cookies are ready to serve and enjoy!
