These Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies are perfect for when you don't want to wait for a sweet treat! Whether it's low energy, limited time, or just wanting something delicious for a lazy day, this super simple 3 ingredient recipe is just what you need. These need just one bowl, a spoon or spatula, and almost no effort - it takes just a couple minutes to prepare the batter and less than 10 minutes of bake time so you'll be able to enjoy these in no time at all!
These are the perfect Valentine's Day or Christmas cookies with their vibrant red color. Plus, they're so easy, the kids can help! They make delicious holiday gifts and birthday treats, and are the best addition to a potluck, bake sale, or Christmas cookie box. If you love baking with cake mix, you'll also enjoy these Red Velvet Brownies with Cake Mix, this Peach Cobbler using Cake Mix, and these Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies.
Why this Recipe Works
The package of red velvet cake mix is not prepared in accordance with the directions on the box. Instead, the dry boxed mix serves as the dry ingredients in this recipe. So we just need to add fat and moisture to create a soft chewy cookie, and we add them in different measurements than the box calls for to ensure a perfect cookie texture as opposed to a cakey texture.
Ingredients and Notes
Red Velvet Cake Mix - This should be a 15.25 box of dry cake mix. The mix should not be prepared by the instructions on the box. In the U.S., Duncan Hines and Pillsbury are generally 15.25 oz, but Betty Crocker tends to be a little bit smaller.
Oil - The oil adds fat which is needed to contribute to the soft and chewy texture of these colorful cookies. This should be a neutral oil like vegetable oil or canola oil.
Eggs - The eggs also contribute to the soft chewy texture as well as the structure of the Red Velvet Cookies.
Substitutions and Variations
Oil - Melted butter or melted coconut oil should work in place of the oil. Melted butter will provide a richer flavor and may result in a slightly denser cookie. Coconut oil may impact the flavor, but should still be delicious!
Mix-ins - To add some extra color and flavor, consider adding chocolate chips or white chocolate chips. Some brands also make cream cheese flavored chips which would be delicious in these crinkly red velvet cookies.
Toppings - Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies would be delicious dipped in chocolate or white chocolate, or topped with a cream cheese frosting. You could even put cream cheese frosting between two cookies to make red velvet sandwich cookies.
Powdered Sugar - Red velvet crinkle cookies are often rolled in powdered sugar before baking and it works great for this quick recipe too. While it's still a delicious addition, unlike in the Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies where it seems to enhance the flavor, it doesn't really add anything extra in the red velvet version. It also takes on a grey-ish tint against the deep red color of the cookies so I don't use the powdered sugar because I really want the rich color of the red velvet to be the star! If you prefer to roll them in powdered sugar, go for it! These will be super tasty either way!
How to Make this Recipe
Step 1: Stir together the cake mix, oil, and eggs until well combined. Form the batter into balls of dough, about 1 heaping tablespoon each.
Step 2: Place dough balls on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe FAQs
Because the dry ingredients are all pre-measured into the dry red velvet cake mix, it gives us some limitations around adjusting the recipe. However, an added touch of vanilla could give some depth of flavor to these easy box mix cookies. Topping the cookies with cream cheese frosting also gives a more traditional red velvet flavor.
While I have not tested this exact version, you should be able to do this. I would suggest combining cream cheese with powdered sugar, about 8 oz of cream cheese to ¼-1/2 cup powdered sugar, and beating until smooth. Spoon or pipe dollops of the cream cheese mixture onto a lined baking sheet and freeze for about an hour. While it's freezing, prepare and refrigerate the cookie dough to allow it to firm up. You'll then want to press the balls of cookie dough flat into your hand, place a dollop of frozen cream cheese in the center, and wrap the dough around the cream cheese.
No, the cookie dough should be soft, but not runny. Be sure that you are not preparing the box mix instructions. You should be adding the dry, powdered mix directly into this recipe. If your dough is still runny, consider letting it sit at room temperature to 15 minutes which will allow it to stiffen up a bit. You can also refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to help it stiffen.
Tips & Tricks
Tip #1: The dough will be soft at first, but will stiffen as it rests. It still bakes up perfectly, even when it's soft, but if you prefer to work with a stiffer dough, let it sit for about 15 minutes before forming the dough balls. You can also refrigerate the red velvet dough to give it a firmer texture.
Tip #2: If you have them available, I find it helps to wear food safe gloves when forming the dough balls. It helps with both the texture of the dough as well as the red color of the dough.
Tip #3: Use a round cookie cutter or the open end of a glass to scoot the cookies in a circle right when they come out of the oven for perfectly round cookies.
Storage Tips
- Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3-4 days.
- The balls of cake mix cookie dough can be frozen on a sheet pan, and then the frozen dough balls can be placed in a freezer-safe zip top bag and baked from frozen. Bake time may need to be increased by a couple minutes.
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Did you try this recipe? Leave a review below, and tag @flourdeliz on Instagram!
📖 Recipe
Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 15.25 oz box red velvet cake mix dry, do not prepare
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line one or two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Combine red velvet cake mix, oil, and eggs and stir until well combined.15.25 oz box red velvet cake mix, ½ cup vegetable oil, 2 eggs
- Form the red velvet dough into balls, about one heaping tablespoon each, and place on lined baking sheet about an inch or two apart.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, then cool on a baking sheet for 5-10 minutes then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
Liz Pollio says
These are so vibrant, so delicious, and so so easy! They're a must for Christmas cookie boxes and parties!