Red Velvet Cookies from Cake Mix
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Red Velvet Cookies from Cake Mix are everything you want in an easy holiday treat: soft, chewy centers, crisp powdered‑sugar edges, and that classic red velvet flavor everyone loves. They start with a simple cake mix, so the dough comes together fast, but the finished cookies look bakery‑worthy on any dessert table. Whether you’re baking for a cookie exchange, gifting a homemade treat, or stocking your holiday tins, these crinkles are reliable, festive, and always a crowd‑pleaser.
If you love a quick easy cookie, try some of my soft and delicious cookies Carrot Cake Mix Cookies and my Cake Mix Snickerdoodles. They will become family favorites.
Why this Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
They’re perfect for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or last‑minute baking because they require minimal effort yet deliver big flavor and eye‑catching results. Whether you’re baking with kids, prepping ahead, or just craving something sweet and cozy, these cookies check every box.
- Easy: Starts with a cake mix, so the dough comes together fast with zero fuss.
- Soft: Soft, chewy texture with that classic red velvet flavor everyone loves.
- Holiday: Beautiful crinkle finish that looks bakery‑worthy without extra work. Perfect for holidays, cookie exchanges, gifting, or last‑minute baking.
- Freezes Well: Freezer‑friendly, making them great for prepping ahead.
- Customizable: Easy to customize with mix‑ins, fillings, or different coatings.
- Crowd: Crowd‑pleasing flavor that feels festive but not overly sweet. Watch them disappear.
Do I Need to Chill the Dough before Baking the Cookies?
Chilling for 20–30 minutes makes the sticky dough much easier to handle and prevents over-spreading. They will bake up so much better.
What Reader’s Are Saying…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“These were perfect! The kids had so much fun making them.”
~ Wendy
Recipe Ingredient Notes for Red Velvet Cookies Dessert
The ingredients are basic pantry staples. Keep them on hand so you can have cookies whenever you like. The make festive christmas cookies. These chewy cookies are always a hit.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Cake Mix: Make this cookie using a box of Red Velvet Cake Mix. I use a Duncan Hines 15.25 oz mix.
- Gel Food Coloring: You want to give the cookies that famous red color.
- Eggs: Room temperature is best, it helps them blend in better.
Variations and Substitutions for Easy Red Velvet Cookies
There are many ways that you can change up these classic chocolate flavor cookies. They are fluffier than the traditional cookies.
- Box of Cake Mix: You can make this easy cookie recipe using any cake mix. You can make a white cake mix cookie or chocolate cake mix cookies.
- Chocolate Chip: The classic “Red Velvet” pairing. You can add different flavors and sizes of chips to make the perfect cookies. I love a classic white chocolate chip for the cookies.
- Fill: Stuff the cooled cookies with cream cheese frosting. Make your own frosting or use a store-bought frosting. Or use mix-ins like chocolate coated candies.
- Gluten-Free: Simply use a gluten-free red velvet cake mix; the other measurements remain the same.
- Sprinkles: Add a pop of color by adding fun sprinkles for the perfect holiday cookies.
Equipment Needed for Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookie Recipe
You will need a large mixing bowl and a parchment-lined baking sheet,a spatula and several other things to make these treats.
- Cookie Scoop: Crucial for this red velvet cake mix crinkle cookies recipe because when using cake mix the dough is stickier than standard dough. A scoop keeps your hands clean and ensures even baking of the cookie dough balls.
- Silicone Baking Mats or Parchment Paper for Cookie Sheet: A parchment lined baking sheet is highly recommended to prevent the bottoms from browning too quickly, which ruins the red color.
- Wire Rack: Use a wire cooling rack after you make the cookies.
How to Make Red Velvet Cake Cookies
This Red Velvet Cookie Recipe makes soft, chewy, and festive. Made with simple ingredients for easy prep, they’re perfect for the holidays, cookie exchanges, and gifting. Find the step-by-step instructions below.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Make the Cookie Dough: Combine the cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs in a medium bowl and mix until a dough forms. Add red gel food coloring and mix until fully tinted.
- Chill and Preheat Oven: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees while the dough chills. Fold in the white chocolate chips.
- Scoop & Baking Cookies: Roll the dough into 1‑inch balls and roll in sugar and place them on a parchment‑lined baking sheet, spacing them 2–3 inches apart. Bake the red velvet crinkle cookies for 10–12 minutes, then let the cookies cool completely.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for the Classic Crinkle Cookies
There are a few things you can do to make these soft and chewy cookies. There are several ways to prep ahead these sweet treats. These homemade red velvet cookies are perfect for Christmas or Valentine’s day.
- Make-Ahead Dough: You can make the dough up to 3 days in advance and keep it in the fridge.
- Freezing Dough: Scoop the dough into balls, freeze on a tray, and then transfer to a bag. They can be baked straight from the freezer (just add 1–2 minutes to the bake time).
Alternate Cooking Methods for these Valentine’s Day Cookies
You can make these cookies made with cake mix with a variety of flavors. Make mini cookies or try baking them the ways listed below.
- Skillet: For a decadent, gooey dessert meant to be eaten with a spoon and topped with ice cream.
- Air Fryer: The air fryer is perfect for small batches or if you don’t want to heat up the entire house. It results in a slightly crispier edge and a very soft center.
Storing, Freezing Instructions and How to Use Leftover
- Storing: Make these cookies and place the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Reheating: Microwave for 8–10 seconds to restore that “fresh from the oven” gooeyness.
- Leftover Ideas:
- Cookie Crust: Crush leftovers and mix with a little melted butter to make a base for cheesecakes.
- Milkshake Add-in: Blend crumbled cookies into vanilla ice cream.
- Trifle: Layer cookie chunks with whipped cream and berries.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Cookie Recipe
Cake mix has a high sugar content and a very fine flour texture. When mixed with oil and eggs, it naturally becomes more like a “thick paste” than a traditional dough. Chill the dough for 30 minutes or lightly grease your hands/cookie scoop with cooking spray. It will help make these soft and tender cookies better.
If you want the white-on-red cracked effect, roll the dough balls in granulated sugar first, then in powdered sugar. The granulated sugar creates a barrier that prevents the powdered sugar from melting into the cookie while baking. They are quick and easy to make.
Expert Recipe Tips for Making This Festive Treat Recipe
These cookies are super easy to make but there are several shortcuts to make the cookies better.
- Don’t Overbake: These cookies will look underdone and “wet” in the center when the timer goes off. Take them out anyway! They firm up as they cool on the hot pan.
- Sift the Mix: Cake mixes can have lumps of cocoa or flour. Sifting the dry mix before adding wet ingredients ensures a smooth, professional crumb.
- The “Volcano” Trick: If you want a more authentic “tang,” add 1/2 teaspoon of white vinegar to the dough at the very end.
- Serve this recipe with: List what to serve with Red Velvet Chex Mix and Sugar Cookie Truffles.
More Recipes You Might Like
Easy Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Eggs
- ½ cup Oil
- 15.25 ounces Red Velvet Cake Mix, any cake mix will work
- 1 cup White chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup Sugar, for rolling cookies
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚ F.
- Line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats, parchment paper, or foil, set aside.
- Mix the eggs and oil together.
- Pour the cake mix into a mixing bowl and stir in the eggs and oil.
- Mix until smooth and no lumps remain.
- Add white chocolate chips and stir to combine.
- Make 24 balls and roll them in the sugar.
- Place on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12-13 minutes or until the cookies have puffed and flattened.
- Let cool on the baking sheets 2-3 minutes and then remove to a cooling rack.
Christina’s Notes
- Add Different Chips: Dark chocolate chips, yogurt chocolate chips or even sugar free chocolate chips.
- Frost: Cream cheese frosting is a great topper to ice these cookies with.
- Variation tip: Sprinkles are a great option to make this red velvet cookie recipe special.
- Alternate ingredient: Try adding candies, chocolate coated candies or other candy treats.
- Alternate cooking method tip: Bake the cookies in the air fryer.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, scroll up on the page.
These are so easy and delicious!
These were amazing. I’ll make them again and again.
I am pinning these to make again. These red velvet cookies were delish.
Thanks a lot for this super helpful and delicious red velvet cake mix cookies recipe. Highly recommended!
We loved these cookies! Thanks for the deliciously easy recipe!
Really loved this very helpful recipe! Highly recommended! Thanks a lot for this amazing and super easy to make cookie recipe! It’s really tasty and very flavorful! Will surely have this again!
OMG, these were delicious! Thank you for a keeper.