Delicious soft cookies that are easily made with your favorite box mix brand! Impressive and ready in a snap.
One of my favorite flavors for baking is red velvet. Yes, red velvet is chocolate, but there is a bit of a twist in that there is usually something a bit acidic about it like vinegar and/or buttermilk. And the best is the combo of red velvet and cream cheese frosting (which is in a related recipe Red Velvet Whoopie Pies with Cake Mix).
These cookies are easy to make and perfect for Valentine’s Day…because in my mind red velvet and Valentine’s Day go hand in hand. But I also just love red velvet at all times, so really these are perfect any time. These cookies are perfect for anyone who doesn’t consider themselves a baker or a great recipe to make with the family.
Table of Contents
Red Velvet Cookies with Cake Mix
Like I mentioned above, these cookies are made with cake mix. This is a great way to make a recipe about 10 times easier. I know many people consider themselves to not be bakers and this is a great type of recipe for those non-bakers who want something easy to bake. You also don’t need a stand mixer or fancy equipment for this recipe. You can use a whisk or even a large fork for this.
And if you aren’t a fan of red velvet, you can use this exact same recipe on another cake batter. Try out chocolate, vanilla, funfetti, strawberry, or any other cake mix flavor. You do want to make sure the box size is correct about 15.5-16 oz is the most important part. You could also use a gluten-free boxed cake mix.
What Can You Add to Boxed Red Velvet Cake Mix?
To make these cookies you will just add a few ingredients…literally just oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Then you’ll coat in powdered sugar. It’s so easy!
What Makes a Cookie Crinkle?
A crinkle cookie is typically a drop cookie or “rolled” cookie. It’s one you scoop, roll, and toss into a type of sugar, either granulated or powdered. The science behind this is that the sugar on the outside will help to bake the outside of the cookie first, and dries it out. Which then as the middle of the cookie bakes and expands, it separates the outside of the cookie, creating that iconic crinkled outside.
Best Tips for Baking Cookies
These are just a few of my top tips for baking cookies to perfection each time.
Cookie Dough Tips
- Whip the Fat: Always whip your butter or oil. This adds a lot of air into the cookie and makes it fluffier and chewier…and chewier cookies are superior.
- Chill the Dough: Always chill your dough. Whether it’s for 30 minutes or you decide to freeze your dough overnight (usually great for drop cookies, not always crinkle cookies) this helps to make a fluffier, more incorporated cookie.
- Use Parchment Paper: For cookie baking parchment paper is your best friend. It can be reused, helps cookies easily come up from the pan, and still gets you a crispy edge. I don’t love silicone pads because they don’t get the same crisp on cookies.
- Use a Cookie Scoop: This will make your life so much easier. Try using one that’s around 1-1.5 tablespoon for a standard cookie size. But also pay attention to the recipe and the size it calls for. These can be fairly cheaply bought on William Sonoma or any cooking/baking store.
- Use a Cooled/Room Temperature Baking Sheet: Make sure your baking sheet is cooled before using it in the oven or you can get an uneven bake. I usually go between two – three baking sheets so I get enough time for the cookies to chill, then I swap. Sometimes I do throw the empty baking sheet into the freezer for a minute or two to cool it faster.
Tips for Baked Cookies
- Bake on the Shortest Time: Always start on the shortest time when baking cookies. Test them by looking at them for a golden-brown color (only on some cookies) or by lifting one up from the baking sheet with a cookie spatula.
- Reshape the Cookies: After the cookies come out of the oven, immediately use a circular cookie/biscuit cutter or jar lid that is slightly larger than the cookie. Scoot the cookie in a circular motion and create the perfect circle. You need to do this while they are still hot for this to work.
Best Neutral Oil for Baking
Many recipes call for a neutral oil, but my favorite for baking is grape seed. Then something like canola or vegetable oil. Different oils could leave a flavor that would be unwanted in your bake, such as olive oil or peanut oil. They can be used if you don’t have the others, but they can also leave a taste behind, many people have nut allergies, and they also have different heat points. Which doesn’t always affect a bake, but can.
Most often you can replace a neutral oil with melted butter, but the recipe might vary, so be cautious.
How to Make Red Velvet Cookies with Cake Mix
Ingredients
Cookie Ingredients
1 box red velvet cake mix, 15.5 oz
½ cup neutral oil, like grape seed
2 eggs
½ tsp vanilla extract
Sugar Coating
- 1 cup powdered sugar
How to Make Easy Red Velvet Cookies
Cookies
- In your stand mixer using paddle attachment mix your eggs, oil, and extract until mixed well.
- Slowly add in your cake mix. Mix until thoroughly incorporated.
- Cover and chill dough in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to 24 hours.
- When dough is chilled, preheat your oven to 350° F.
- Place powdered sugar into a separate bowl.
- Scoop a spoonful of dough into your hands and roll into a ball. Drop a few of the dough balls into the powdered sugar and toss to coat.
- Place the dough balls onto an un-greased cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Cool on a baking rack.
FAQs about Red Velvet Cookies
Red velvet is a chocolate flavor made with cocoa powder and a type of acidity like buttermilk and/or white vinegar (sometimes lemon juice).
Cream cheese is one of the most natural combinations. However, because it's such a chocolatey flavor, you could also match with fruits and other flavors that go well with chocolate.
Other Recipes to Try
- Red Velvet Whoopie Pies with Cake Mix
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Gooey Butter Cake Cookies
- Chocolate Crinkle Whoopie Pies with Peppermint Buttercream Filling
- Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies
- Snickerdoodles
- Oatmeal Cookies
- Lucky Charms Cookies
Love this Recipe?
Did you make this recipe and just love it? Awesome! If you have a quick minute and could leave a star rating and comment below, I would appreciate the support and knowing your feedback! And if you’re over on Instagram, be sure to tag me in your photos!
Equipment
- Stand Mixer, optional
Ingredients
Cookie Ingredients
- 1 box red velvet cake mix 15.5 oz
- ½ cup neutral oil grape seed
- 2 eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Sugar Coating
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- In your stand mixer using paddle attachment mix your eggs, oil, and extract until mixed well.
- Slowly add in your cake mix. Mix until thoroughly incorporated.
- Cover and chill dough in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to 24 hours.
- When dough is chilled, preheat your oven to 350° F.
- Place powdered sugar into a separate bowl.
- Scoop a spoonful of dough into your hands and roll into a ball. Drop a few of the dough balls into the powdered sugar and toss to coat.
- Place the dough balls onto an un-greased cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Cool on a baking rack.
Kathleen Wilens says
This is one of the best "quick" recipes for a fun and yummy recipe especially when you have limited time to bake a gift for someone and you are running late. I always bake cookies for my dad for his birthday and he loves red velvet cake so I made these cookies and HE LOVED THEM! He said the only problem was he would probably eat too many at a time. And I was so happy because they crinkled how they were supposed to and so good with the powdered sugar (love my powdered sugar!)