Name: Red Velvet Almond Flour Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups almond flour; ¼ cup cocoa powder; ¾ teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon cream of tartar; ¼ teaspoon salt; ⅓ cup butter, softened; ⅓ cup cane sugar or granulated sugar; ⅓ cup light brown sugar; 1 large egg; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 ½ teaspoon red food gel coloring (equivalent to ½ tablespoon); 1 cup (8 oz) low-fat cream cheese, softened (preferably ⅓ less fat neufchatel cream cheese); ⅓ cup cane sugar or granulated sugar; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract; ½ cup white chocolate chips; 1 - 2 teaspoons coconut oil

If you’ve ever dreamed of a dessert that’s both elegant and comforting, then I’m about to make your day with this Red Velvet Almond Flour Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe. These cookies are soft, rich, and filled with a luscious cream cheese center that feels like a hug in every bite.

The image shows several round red velvet cookies with white cream cheese filling inside. Each cookie has a smooth red outer layer with white icing drizzled in thin, even stripes across the top. One cookie is cut in half, showing two layers: the outer red velvet cookie and the inner creamy white filling with a soft texture. The cookies are placed closely together on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Red Velvet Almond Flour Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Red Velvet Almond Flour Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Red Velvet Almond Flour Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’m absolutely smitten with how these red velvet almond flour cookies turn out every time—soft, a little chewy, and perfectly balanced with that tangy cream cheese filling. They’re naturally gluten-free and come together without any complicated steps.

Gluten-Free Goodness: Made with almond flour, these cookies are perfect if you’re avoiding gluten but don’t want to compromise on flavor or texture.
Soft & Creamy: The cream cheese filling adds a dreamy, tangy surprise inside each cookie that makes them downright addictive.
Vibrant & Festive: Thanks to red food gel coloring, these cookies have the perfect, bold red hue without messing with the dough’s consistency.
Optional Elegance: Drizzling white chocolate on top gives these cookies a lovely finishing touch, making them ideal for holidays or special occasions.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Gathering your ingredients for this recipe is straightforward, but choosing the right ones can make a big difference. For example, using almond flour ensures a tender crumb while keeping things gluten-free. Don’t stress if you have to swap in cane sugar or granulated sugar — either way, the sweetness is just right.

Flat lay of a small mound of pale almond flour, a neat pile of deep brown cocoa powder, a small white ceramic bowl with fine white baking powder, another small white bowl with cream of tartar powder, a tiny heap of fine salt next to them, softened pale yellow butter shaped into a smooth pat, two small piles of golden granulated sugar and light brown sugar side by side, a single large uncracked brown egg, a small white bowl of clear vanilla extract, a dollop of vibrant red gel coloring, a smooth white ceramic bowl filled with soft cream cheese, another small white bowl with white granulated sugar, and a handful of glossy white chocolate chips arranged neatly, some coconut oil glistening in a tiny white bowl, all arranged with perfect symmetry and balance on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Almond Flour: Provides a soft, moist base and gluten-free structure, perfect for tender cookies.
Cocoa Powder: Adds the classic red velvet chocolatey depth without overpowering the flavor.
Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise gently and hold their shape without spreading too much.
Cream of Tartar: Stabilizes the dough and enhances the texture, making these cookies delightfully soft.
Salt: Balances sweetness and brightens the cocoa flavor for a fuller taste.
Butter: Softened for easy mixing and rich flavor that keeps the cookies tender.
Cane Sugar or Granulated Sugar: Sweetens gently while adding a touch of crispness to the cookie edges.
Light Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a hint of caramel depth to the cookie dough.
Egg: Binds everything together and contributes to the cookie’s chewy texture.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor with a warm, sweet note.
Red Food Gel Coloring: Delivers that signature red velvet color without altering the dough consistency.
Cream Cheese: Softened and used in the filling for that deliciously tangy, creamy center.
White Chocolate Chips (Optional): Melted and drizzled on top for a gorgeous, extra-sweet finish.
Coconut Oil (Optional): Helps melt the white chocolate smoothly if you choose to drizzle it.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best parts about these Red Velvet Almond Flour Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe is how easy they are to customize to your taste preferences or dietary needs. Whether you want to switch up the filling or add a special twist, there’s plenty of room to make this treat truly yours.

Dairy-Free Variation: I’ve tried swapping the butter and cream cheese for plant-based alternatives like vegan butter and cashew-based cream cheese. It changes the texture slightly but still yields delicious, soft cookies that everyone loves.
Extra Chocolatey Twist: For a more indulgent feel, I often add mini dark chocolate chips inside the cookie dough or sprinkle some on top before baking. This adds delightful pockets of melty chocolate goodness.
Festive Flair: During holidays, I love enhancing the red velvet color by using a touch more red food gel, and topping the cookies with crushed peppermint candy or colored sugar sprinkles for an eye-catching presentation.
Nut-Free Option: If almond flour isn’t your thing, you can substitute with oat flour—but keep in mind the texture will be a bit different, a bit less tender but still tasty!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Red Velvet Almond Flour Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe

Five round, smooth balls of dark red dough are spaced evenly on a baking tray lined with white parchment paper. The tray has a worn, slightly rusty look, and the setup is placed on a white marbled surface with visible square tile edges around it. The overall look is clean and simple, showing the dough ready for baking. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Preheat and Prep for Perfect Cookies

Before diving into mixing, set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This ensures the cookies bake evenly and lift off easily without sticking. Giving your oven time to fully heat up means your cookies start baking right away, leading to that perfect tender edge we all crave.

Step 2: Mixing the Cookie Dough – Texture Is Key

In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt. This dry mix creates the flavor base and lifts for your cookies. In a separate large bowl, cream the softened butter with both the cane sugar and light brown sugar until the mixture turns light and fluffy—a few minutes with an electric mixer works great here. Then add the egg, vanilla extract, and that lovely red food gel coloring, beating until the dough turns a consistent, vibrant red. Slowly fold in the dry ingredients until everything comes together into a soft, uniform dough. The dough should feel slightly sticky but hold its shape well.

Step 3: Whip Up the Tangy Cream Cheese Filling

In a clean bowl, beat the softened cream cheese along with the cane sugar and vanilla extract until the mixture is luxuriously smooth and creamy. This filling adds the perfect tang to balance the richness of the cookie dough. Make sure there are no lumps so the filling squeezes evenly inside each cookie ball.

Step 4: Assemble Your Cookies With Care

Take about one tablespoon of cookie dough and gently flatten it in your palm. Place roughly one teaspoon of cream cheese filling in the center, then cover it with another tablespoon of dough. Carefully seal the edges by pinching the dough around the filling completely to prevent any leakage during baking. Roll it into a smooth ball and transfer it to your prepared baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Repeat until all your dough and filling are used up. This step is a little hands-on but so worth it for that creamy surprise inside!

Step 5: Bake Until Soft and Slightly Firm

Pop your tray into the oven and bake for exactly 15 minutes. You'll notice the edges become set while the tops will feel just a little firm to the touch. The cookies stay soft but should hold their shape beautifully — that’s the sweet spot to aim for. If you overbake, they’ll lose some moisture, so keep an eye on them during these last minutes.

Step 6: Optional White Chocolate Drizzle – A Pretty Finish

If you want to add an elegant touch, melt ½ cup of white chocolate chips with 1 to 2 teaspoons of coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 15-second bursts, stirring between, until smooth and glossy. Use a spoon or a piping bag to drizzle the melted white chocolate over the cooled cookies. It adds a lovely sweetness and an irresistible look that’s perfect for gifting or special occasions.

Step 7: Cool and Enjoy!

Allow the cookies to cool right on the baking sheet for 5 minutes so they firm up slightly, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step ensures the filling sets and the texture is just right when you take your first bite. Serve once cooled for the best cream cheese center experience — and watch how quickly they disappear!

Top Tip

Mastering the art of Red Velvet Almond Flour Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe means paying attention to a few simple but game-changing details. These tips come from hands-on experience and will help you achieve perfectly soft, rich cookies every time.

Seal the Filling Well: Carefully enclose the cream cheese filling with the cookie dough to prevent leakage during baking—this keeps the cookies neat and the filling deliciously creamy inside.
Use Red Food Gel Coloring: Since liquid food coloring can affect dough texture, choosing gel coloring ensures vibrant red velvet color without compromising the dough consistency.
Room Temperature Ingredients: Softened butter and cream cheese blend more smoothly, giving your cookies an ideal tender texture and a perfectly creamy filling.
Don’t Skip the Cooling Step: Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before serving to allow them to set and deliver the best taste and texture every bite.

How to Serve Red Velvet Almond Flour Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe

Round red cookies with smooth, slightly textured surfaces are arranged on a black wire cooling rack over a white marbled background. Each cookie has evenly spaced white icing lines drizzled diagonally across the top, with some icing dripping down onto the rack and surface below. The cookies are thick and evenly shaped, showing a vibrant red color that contrasts with the creamy white icing. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

To elevate your red velvet cookies, consider adding a white chocolate drizzle as described in the recipe—it adds a touch of sweetness and elegance. You can also sprinkle a few finely chopped almonds or a little edible glitter for festive occasions. A light dusting of powdered sugar can create a delicate, snow-kissed look perfect for holiday celebrations.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a cozy cup of coffee, a creamy vanilla latte, or even a glass of cold milk. For a more thematic experience, serve alongside fresh berries or a delicate bowl of mixed fruit salad to balance the rich, almond and cream cheese flavors.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your leftover Red Velvet Almond Flour Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Keeping them chilled helps maintain the freshness of the cream cheese filling while preserving the soft texture of the almond flour cookies.

Freezing

You can freeze these cookies either before or after baking. For best results, freeze shaped but unbaked cookies on a parchment-lined tray until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, simply thaw for 10 minutes and bake as directed. For baked cookies, wrap individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag to avoid freezer burn.

Reheating

To enjoy your cookies warm, reheat them gently in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5 minutes, or until just warmed through. This brings back the soft texture without melting the cream cheese filling too much. Avoid microwaving as it can make the texture rubbery or cause the filling to overheat.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different type of flour for these red velvet cookies?

Since this recipe relies on almond flour for its specific texture and gluten-free properties, substituting with all-purpose flour or another flour might change the cookie's softness and structure significantly. For gluten-free alternatives, stick with almond flour or similar nut flours.

What if I don’t have red food gel coloring?

Red gel coloring is preferred because it doesn’t affect dough consistency. However, you can use liquid red food coloring if that’s all you have, but add it sparingly and monitor the dough texture closely so it doesn’t become too wet.

Is there a dairy-free version of this recipe?

Yes! To make this dairy-free or vegan, substitute butter with a plant-based butter and use a dairy-free cream cheese alternative. Just ensure both are softened for smooth mixing. The cookies will still turn out deliciously tender and rich.

How do I prevent the cream cheese filling from leaking out during baking?

Make sure you completely seal the edges of the cookie dough around the filling. Press and pinch the dough edges well, then gently roll into a neat ball to keep the filling enclosed throughout baking.

Final Thoughts

These Red Velvet Almond Flour Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling are truly special treats that blend a tender, gluten-free cookie with a luscious, tangy center. They’re perfect for holidays, special occasions, or whenever you want to treat yourself and your loved ones to something a little decadent but still wholesome. I hope you enjoy baking and savoring these delights as much as I do—there’s nothing quite like the joy of sharing homemade cookies filled with love and cream cheese goodness!