Experience pure delight with every bite of these incredibly soft and chewy Red Velvet Crinkles! Our fuss-free red velvet cake mix cookies, crafted with just 4 simple ingredients, are guaranteed to satisfy your deepest chocolate cravings year-round. Yet, there’s something truly magical about these fudgy, vibrant red velvet cookies, beautifully dusted in powdered sugar, that makes them an absolutely indispensable treat for the holiday season and beyond!
Indulge in the Irresistible Charm of Chewy Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
Prepare to fall in love with these absolutely divine Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies. Made effortlessly with a cake mix, these cookies boast a gooey, soft center and those iconic crackled tops, making them one of life’s most satisfying sweet treats. It’s hard to argue against their allure! The festive season, synonymous with joy and a plethora of delicious confections, would simply not be complete without a batch of these vibrant, ruby-red cake mix cookies. Their stunning appearance and delightful flavor make them a centerpiece on any dessert table, inviting everyone to take a bite of pure bliss.
While they shine brightly during Christmas, the versatile charm of these Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies extends far beyond. Imagine them gracing your Valentine’s Day spread, adding a patriotic splash of red to your Fourth of July barbecue, or bringing a smile to any special occasion. If you, like me, are utterly captivated by the rich, tangy, and subtly chocolatey flavor of red velvet, then these cookies are destined to become a new favorite. My love for this classic flavor runs deep, inspiring other cherished recipes like this sweet and creamy Red Velvet Cheeseball – an absolute showstopper, especially when shaped into a heart for a beautiful Valentine’s Dessert Board! And don’t forget these incredibly smooth and decadent Red Velvet Truffles. Truly yummy indulgences that highlight the magic of red velvet!
This delightful red velvet crinkle cookies recipe is a testament to simplicity and speed. Requiring only 4 ingredients and no butter, it’s designed for those moments when you need a quick, impressive dessert without the fuss. The process is straightforward, ensuring a stress-free baking experience. These cookies are not just a superb addition to any festive dessert tray; their eye-catching appearance and exquisite taste also make them perfect for gifting. Everyone who bites into these soft, cake-like crinkles will be instantly transported to red velvet cake heaven, appreciating the rich, deep flavors in a portable, cookie form.
Why This Easy Cake Mix Cookie Recipe is an Absolute Winner
Our Red Velvet Crinkle Cookie recipe stands out for several compelling reasons, making it a must-try for both novice and experienced bakers alike. It embodies everything you desire in a quick, satisfying dessert – ease, incredible flavor, and fantastic versatility.
- Effortlessly Easy: In the midst of busy holidays or whenever a sudden sweet craving strikes, this recipe is your best friend. With just a few simple steps, you can have a batch of these delectable cookies ready in no time. Forget complicated techniques or a mountain of dishes; the batter comes together quickly in one bowl, you coat the dough in sugar, and then bake. It’s the ultimate stress-free dessert solution, perfect for keeping your kitchen clean and your spirits high during festive preparations. This simplicity makes it an ideal recipe for beginners looking to impress or for seasoned bakers needing a reliable, fast option.
- Unbelievably Delicious: The moment you bite into one of these fudgy red velvet cookies, you’ll understand why they are so beloved. The rich, deep red velvet flavors are gooey, moist, and utterly irresistible. Cake mix cookies are renowned for their distinctively chewy, pillowy-soft texture, and these crinkles are no exception. They melt in your mouth, delivering that classic red velvet taste with a delightful chewiness that’s hard to beat. Each cookie is a little piece of heaven, promising pure satisfaction and a longing for just one more. You absolutely won’t regret making these!
- Remarkably Versatile: One of the most fantastic aspects of this recipe is its incredible adaptability. While red velvet is a showstopper, you can unleash your creativity by using virtually any type of cake mix. Imagine lemon crinkles bursting with citrus, rich chocolate crinkles for the ultimate cocoa fix, or cheerful vanilla crinkles with sprinkles for a birthday party. The possibilities are endless for creating different-colored and flavored cookies, allowing you to tailor your treats to any occasion or preference. This versatility ensures that this base recipe will become a cherished staple in your baking repertoire, offering endless variations to explore.
Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Red Velvet Crinkles
Crafting these magnificent Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies is as straightforward as it gets, thanks to our minimalist approach requiring just four key ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving the signature taste and texture that makes these cookies so unforgettable. For precise measurements, please refer to the detailed recipe card below.
CAKE MIX: The star of our show is one standard 15.25-ounce box of red velvet cake mix. This ingenious shortcut is what makes this recipe so incredibly easy and quick, infusing your cookies with that iconic rich cocoa flavor and striking deep red hue without the need for multiple dry ingredients. A single box will yield approximately 30 delicious cookies, ensuring you have plenty to share (or savor all to yourself!). Any quality brand of red velvet cake mix will work wonderfully, offering consistent results every time.
EGGS: We incorporate two whole large eggs into our cookie dough. Eggs are vital for binding the ingredients together, providing structure, and contributing to the desired texture. They help create that moist, slightly crumbly yet soft interior, ensuring your crinkles aren’t dry but perfectly tender, mimicking the delightful crumb of a freshly baked cake.
OIL: A third of a cup of vegetable oil is the secret to making these cake mix cookies exceptionally moist and delightfully fudgy. Unlike butter, vegetable oil keeps the cookies wonderfully tender and contributes to their signature chewy texture, ensuring they taste just like your favorite red velvet cake. You can use any neutral-flavored vegetable oil, such as canola oil or sunflower oil, with excellent results.
POWDERED SUGAR: You’ll need about half a cup of powdered sugar, also known as confectioner’s sugar, for the magical crinkle effect. This is not just for added sweetness but is absolutely essential for achieving the distinct, beautiful crackled appearance of these cookies. Rolling the cookie dough generously in powdered sugar before baking creates a sweet, crisp coating that beautifully cracks open as the cookies bake and spread, revealing the vibrant red interior beneath. Be sure to coat the dough heavily for the most pronounced crinkles!
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Red Velvet Crinkles
Whipping up a batch of these delightful Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies is incredibly simple. Follow these easy steps to bake a perfect batch every time!
1. Mix the Cake Batter to Perfection
First, begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190°C). This ensures your oven is at the correct temperature for even baking as soon as your cookies are ready. Next, prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Parchment paper is crucial for preventing sticking and allowing for easy cleanup, ensuring your beautiful cookies slide right off.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the entire box of red velvet cake mix with the two eggs and the vegetable oil. Using a sturdy spoon or a rubber spatula, mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Continue to mix until all components are evenly incorporated and form a thick, vibrant red dough. Be careful not to overmix; just combine until no dry streaks of cake mix remain.
2. Coat Heavily in Powdered Sugar for the Signature Crinkle
Once your dough is ready, it’s time to form the cookie balls. Using a small cookie scoop (about 1.5 tablespoons), portion out the soft red velvet dough. This helps ensure your cookies are uniform in size and bake evenly.
Ensure each dough ball is nicely rounded and then carefully roll it into a bowl of powdered sugar. The key to achieving that beautiful crinkle appearance is to coat the dough heavily and thoroughly in the sugar. Don’t be shy with the powdered sugar – the more it’s coated, the more pronounced and striking your crinkles will be as the cookies bake and expand.
3. Bake the Cookies to Perfection
Once all your dough balls are generously coated, gently place them onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about two inches between each cookie to allow for spreading. Pop the baking sheet into your preheated oven and bake the cookies for exactly eight minutes. This short baking time is crucial for maintaining their soft, chewy, and fudgy texture. Overbaking can lead to dry cookies, so keep a close eye on them!
After eight minutes, carefully remove the cookies from the oven. They might still look slightly soft in the center, but they will continue to set as they cool. Allow the cookies to rest on the hot cookie sheet for about a minute or two. This brief resting period helps them firm up slightly before you transfer them. Then, gently move them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Once cooled, store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, where they will stay wonderfully fresh and delicious for up to five days.
Loved This Recipe? Pin It for Later!
Don’t let this incredible recipe get lost in the shuffle! Be sure to save this delightful holiday cookie recipe for all your future baking needs. Whether you’re planning for Christmas celebrations, a romantic Valentine’s Day treat, or simply craving something sweet, this fudgy cookie recipe is perfect. Pin it to your favorite holiday boards or “Cookies to Bake” collections so you can easily find it whenever the craving for a vibrant, chewy, and utterly delicious Red Velvet Crinkle strikes!
Creative Variations and Expert Tips for Perfect Red Velvet Crinkles
While our classic Red Velvet Crinkles are perfect as they are, there are many ways to customize and enhance them to suit your taste or occasion. Here are some creative variations and crucial tips to ensure your cookies are always a hit:
- Explore Cake Mix Alternatives: Don’t limit yourself to just red velvet! This versatile recipe allows you to switch things up entirely. Experiment with other cake mix flavors such as zesty lemon for a bright, tangy cookie, rich chocolate for a double-chocolate delight, classic vanilla, or even a playful strawberry or funfetti mix. Each variation will offer a unique flavor profile and visual appeal, expanding your cookie repertoire effortlessly.
- Elevate with Frosting or Fillings: Take your crinkles to the next level by adding a luscious topping or creating delightful cookie sandwiches. A smear of our creamy white chocolate cream cheese frosting would be absolutely divine, complementing the red velvet flavor perfectly. For an extra special treat, sandwich two cookies together with a generous dollop of frosting to create elegant and rich cookie sandwiches. You could also drizzle them with melted white chocolate or a simple glaze.
- Resist Chilling the Dough: This is a critical tip for achieving the correct texture. Unlike many other cookie recipes, it’s important not to chill this dough. Chilling the dough can alter its consistency, making it too stiff and preventing the cookies from spreading properly and developing those characteristic crinkles. Work with the dough at room temperature for the best results.
- Avoid Overbaking for Ultimate Softness: The key to soft, chewy, and fudgy crinkle cookies is precise baking time. Do not overbake them! Eight minutes is typically perfect. The cookies might appear slightly underdone in the center when you remove them from the oven, but they will continue to cook and set on the hot baking sheet. Overbaking will result in a dry, crumbly texture, losing that desirable melt-in-your-mouth quality.
- Generous Powdered Sugar Coating: As mentioned in the instructions, a heavy coating of powdered sugar is vital for the crinkle effect. If your dough is sticky, try dusting your hands lightly with powdered sugar before rolling. This ensures an even and thick layer, which will crack beautifully during baking.
- Add-ins for Extra Flavor: For an additional layer of flavor and texture, consider folding in some delightful mix-ins to your dough before rolling. White chocolate chips, dark chocolate chunks, or even a sprinkle of chopped pecans or walnuts can provide a wonderful contrast to the soft red velvet base.
The Sweetest Season: Baking for a Cause and Cookies For Kids’ Cancer
Beyond the sheer joy of baking and indulging, today’s recipe holds a special significance as it’s shared in honor of “The Sweetest Season.” This heartwarming annual event is gracefully hosted by my dear blogger friend, Erin from The Speckled Palate. For an impressive decade, Erin has brought together bakers and food enthusiasts through this cherished cookie baking event. This year, embracing the true spirit of giving and giving back, we are profoundly happy to be lending our support to an incredible organization actively dedicated to funding vital treatments for children and their families affected by pediatric cancers. It’s a wonderful opportunity to use our passion for baking to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Throughout this week, as bloggers nationwide enthusiastically share their favorite cookie recipes, we are collectively raising money to support a truly impactful cause: Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. Your participation, big or small, in baking or donating, directly contributes to advancing research and providing hope.
Did you know these critical facts about childhood cancer?
- Cancer tragically remains the #1 cause of death by disease among children in the U.S., a sobering reality we aim to change.
- Currently, over 40,000 U.S. children are actively engaged in courageous battles against cancer, highlighting the urgent need for better treatments.
- The average age at which a child is diagnosed with pediatric cancer is heartbreakingly young, often around 6 years old, underscoring the innocence affected.
- Alarmingly, the combined 12 major groups of pediatric cancers receive a mere 4% of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) federal budget, a stark contrast to the severity of the disease.
- A significant two-thirds of pediatric cancer patients will unfortunately develop long-term side effects, many of which are life-threatening—these are often a direct result of the very treatments that initially “cured” them, emphasizing the need for less toxic therapies.
- Globally, over 300,000 new cases of cancer affect children annually, meaning more than 800 new children are diagnosed every single day, a truly global crisis.
- Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is unwavering in its commitment to funding critical research for new, improved, and crucially, less toxic treatment options specifically designed for children.
Join the Fight: Support Cookies for Kids’ Cancer
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a highly respected 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has dedicated itself wholeheartedly to a singular, impactful mission: to fund groundbreaking research for new, innovative, and crucially, less-toxic treatments for childhood cancer. Since its inception in 2008, this remarkable organization has made an immense difference, channeling nearly $17 million towards pediatric cancer research. This substantial funding has been distributed through over 100 research grants to leading pediatric cancer centers across the nation. The tangible impact of these grants is undeniable, having directly stemmed into more than 35 new and improved treatments that are currently available to children bravely battling cancer today.
We invite you to join us in this incredibly important cause. You can contribute to our collective effort to raise vital funds for this worthwhile organization by visiting our dedicated fundraising page. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps bring us closer to a future where childhood cancer is no longer a devastating reality.
There’s an even more compelling reason to donate now: Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is currently in a special matching window with their generous friends at OXO. Every single dollar raised through the end of 2021 will be matched by OXO, up to an incredible $100,000! This means that any amount you contribute will automatically be doubled on our fundraising page, maximizing the impact of your generosity and helping twice as many children. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your donation go further!
More Holiday Cookie Recipes You Will Love
If you’ve fallen in love with these Red Velvet Crinkles, you’re in for a treat! We have a delightful collection of other holiday cookie recipes that are equally irresistible and perfect for sharing with family and friends or simply enjoying a cozy moment at home. Explore these festive options to fill your cookie platters with even more delicious variety:
- Old-Fashioned Iced Molasses Cookies: A classic, warmly spiced cookie with a delicate icing, perfect for a cozy winter’s day.
- Christmas Spritz Cookies: Elegant, buttery, and endlessly customizable with festive shapes and sprinkles, a true holiday staple.
- White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies: A delightful blend of sweet white chocolate and refreshing peppermint, embodying the flavors of the season.
- Peppermint Dipped Chocolate Chip Cookies: Your favorite chocolate chip cookies get a festive twist with a cool peppermint coating.
- Dipped Shortbread Cookies: Buttery, crumbly shortbread cookies made even more special with a chocolate dip and sprinkles.
- Frosted Eggnog Cookies: Soft, tender cookies infused with the festive flavor of eggnog and topped with a sweet glaze.
- Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies: A timeless combination of chewy peanut butter cookie and a melty chocolate kiss on top.
Now, let’s get baking and create some truly unforgettable Christmas Red Velvet Cookies!
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Print Recipe
Red Velvet Crinkles
Equipment
- Wilton Stainless Steel Cookie Scoop
- 13×18 Half Sheet Pan
- Glass Batter Bowl
- Rubber Spatulas
Ingredients
- 1 15.25 ounce box Red Velvet Cake Mix
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, combine cake mix with eggs and vegetable oil until combined.
- Using a small cookie scoop, form dough balls. Roll each ball in powdered sugar, coating heavily.
- Place each cookie dough ball on the lined cookie sheet and bake for 8 minutes.
- Let cookies stand on the cookie sheet for a minute or so before transferring to a cooling rack to cool.
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
