These Red Velvet Cookies are a rich and decadent dessert made with just a few basic ingredients! These cake mix cookies are light, fluffy, and layered with a tangy and sweet cream cheese frosting to make them taste just like red velvet cake.

three red velvet cake mix cookies stacked on a cooling rack.

Table of contents

Anyone that knows me knows that I love to bake cookies. And while the process of baking cookies is fun, it’s mostly because I love to eat them!

These Red Velvet Cookies with Cake Mix are one of my favorite cookie recipes because they’re so easy! I don’t have to spend very much time actually making them before I’m sinking my teeth into a perfectly soft, fluffy cookie topped with the creamiest frosting.

Let’s get into it!

Why I LOVE this recipe!

Accessible ingredients. This recipe is made so simple and quick with a base of red velvet cake mix. All you have to do is add the oil and eggs!
Amazing flavor. The rich sweetness of red velvet paired with the tangy creaminess of the cream cheese frosting is a flavor combination that’s hard to beat!
Perfect texture. You get the soft, fluffy texture of cake with the slightly crispy edges of your favorite cookies.

What is Red Velvet anyway?

Red velvet is a classic cake flavor made by combining a vanilla cake base with a little bit of cocoa powder for a richer flavor.

The red color of red velvet cake is simply food coloring—but it’s a classic way to indicate the flavor itself!

Recipe Notes

This Red Velvet Cookie recipe is as simple as promised! Just a box of cake mix and a few ingredients for the softest chewiest cookies.

In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use when making this recipe to get the absolute best and most delicious results.

Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.

Ingredients + Substitutions

ingredients needed for easy red velvet cookies.

Red Velvet Cake Mix – Just use your favorite boxed red velvet cake mix. Make sure to check the size of the box you buy as some brands have been reducing the quantity.
Vegetable Oil – Vegetable oil adds tons of moisture and has a neutral flavor so as not to compromise the flavor of the cake.
Eggs – You’ll need 2 large eggs to bind everything together.
Cream Cheese Frosting – The cream cheese frosting is made with a combination of cream cheese, heavy cream or milk, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt.

Recipe Step by Step

cake mix, eggs, and oil ummixed in a bowl.

In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, oil, and eggs. Stir until smooth.

red velvet cookie dough in a mixing bowl.

2. Portion the dough out into evenly sized dough balls using a cookie scoop.

cookie dough balls lined on a baking sheet.

3. Place the dough balls 2 inches apart on a baking sheet, then bake until set. Cool for a couple of minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

above image of frosted red velvet cookies on a baking sheet.

4. Once cooled, mix up your frosting, frost the cookies, and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

Watch the size! Some cake mix manufacturers are changing the standard size of the cake mix boxes on shelves at supermarkets. Make sure that you check the size of the box you get. This recipe is designed to be made with a 15.25 ounce box of red velvet cake mix.
Let the cookies cool before frosting. If the cookies are hot, the frosting will just melt right off. Make sure they’re cooled completely first.
Soften the cream cheese. Softer cream cheese will blend more smoothly with the rest of the frosting ingredients.
Adjust the texture of the frosting as needed. You can add more cream to make it thinner or more powdered sugar to make it thicker. It just needs to be spreadable!

Recipe Variations

If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!

Red Velvet Oreo Cookies – Mix crushed up Oreo directly into the cookie dough before baking OR make an Oreo cream cheese frosting.
Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip Cookies – Mix a big scoop of white chocolate chips into the cookie dough to add a little texture and extra sweetness.
Chocolate Chip Cookies Red Velvet– Use semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips in the dough for a little bit of a richer flavor.

red velvet cookies with cake mix on a cooling rack.

How to Freeze Cookies

Cookies can be frozen before or after baking. If freezing the cookie dough you are able to just pop out a few or as many as you need to bake to have hot, fresh cookies on demand.

If you prefer, you can bake all of the cookies and freeze after baking. Freezing the baked cookies will preserve them and once, thawed they come out just as soft, chewy, fresh, and perfect as they are when freshly baked.

Both are great options for keeping cookies fresh and delicious!

To freeze cookie dough:

Mix the cookie dough up as directed, then portion it out into cookie dough balls.
Place all of the cookie dough balls onto a baking sheet, pop that into the freezer, and flash freeze until solid.
Once the dough balls are fully frozen, transfer them to a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months.
When you’re ready to bake your cookies, thaw the dough in the fridge, then bake as directed.

To freeze baked cookies:

To freeze baked cookies, let them cool completely and do not frost them!
Instead, transfer them to an airtight container or ziplock bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to serve them, thaw them in the fridge or at room temperature, then frost and enjoy!

How to store cookies

If you have extras after making red velvet cake mix cookies, then they can be saved to munch on at a later time.

To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:

on the counter for 2-3 days
in the refrigerator for up to a week
in the freezer up to a month.

If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!

You can check out all of my easy cookie recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.