Go Back

Red Velvet Wafer Rolls: The Ultimate Festive Treat That Will Steal the Show

Crispy, deep red homemade wafer rolls made from a rich cocoa-kissed buttermilk-style batter cooked on a waffle cone maker and shaped while warm, then filled with a light, fluffy cream cheese frosting made with whipped cream — a stunning, festive, show-stopping dessert that is as beautiful as it is delicious.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Servings: 10

Ingredients

  • For the Red Velvet Wafer Rolls:
  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk warmed to room temperature
  • ¼ teaspoon white vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon red food coloring
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
  • ¼ cup granulated white sugar
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • ½ cup full-fat cream cheese fully softened to room temperature Philadelphia recommended
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter fully softened to room temperature
  • ¼ cup granulated white sugar
  • ½ cup whipped cream made by whipping ¼ cup heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks before folding in
  • Equipment:
  • Waffle cone maker available at Target, Walmart, Amazon, or kitchen specialty stores
  • Thick cylindrical stick or wooden dowel for shaping rolls while warm
  • Piping bag for filling finished rolls with frosting
  • Hand mixer or stand mixer for frosting

Instructions

  • Combine warm milk and white vinegar together in a mixing bowl and stir until milk begins to curdle slightly — allow to sit for 1 minute to develop.
  • Add red food coloring to the curdled milk mixture and whisk until color is fully and evenly incorporated throughout.
  • Add melted cooled butter, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, and cocoa powder to the red milk mixture and whisk continuously until a completely smooth lump-free batter forms.
  • Heat waffle cone maker on medium heat until fully preheated.
  • Pour exactly 1 tablespoon of batter onto the center of the preheated waffle cone maker and close the lid firmly.
  • Cook from both sides by flipping the cone maker — cook for approximately 1–2 minutes per side until wafer is set and lightly crisped.
  • Open the cone maker carefully and remove the cooked wafer immediately while still hot and pliable.
  • Quickly wrap the hot wafer around a thick cylindrical stick or wooden dowel and hold in shape for 20–30 seconds until it sets into a firm roll — work quickly as it hardens fast as it cools.
  • Slide the shaped roll off the stick and set aside to cool completely — repeat with remaining batter until all rolls are made.
  • Make the cream cheese frosting — in a mixing bowl add fully softened butter and granulated sugar and whisk vigorously until all sugar is fully combined and no lumps remain.
  • Add fully softened cream cheese to the butter and sugar mixture and mix together until completely smooth and combined.
  • In a separate chilled bowl whip the heavy whipping cream using a hand mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form.
  • Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese and butter mixture using a spatula — fold until just combined and no white streaks remain — do not over-mix or whipped cream will deflate.
  • Transfer the completed cream cheese frosting into a piping bag fitted with a tip of your choice.
  • Pipe cream cheese frosting generously into each cooled red velvet wafer roll filling from one end to the other.
  • Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.