You can have red velvet cookies in 20 minutes with this easy recipe that only needs four ingredients and one bowl – no mixer or chilling required! We’re using boxed cake mix to make this the easiest cookie recipe ever.
What do I need to make red velvet cake mix cookies?
You’re going to love this answer:
- A box of red velvet cake mix
- Eggs
- Unsalted butter
- Mix-ins
That’s it. I like to add 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, and sometimes even a couple tablespoons of cocoa powder to enhance the flavor, but they’re not necessary if you want to keep this to the simplest, 4-ingredient recipe form!
What mix-ins can I add to my red velvet cookies?
I like to use a mix of ¾ cup white chocolate chips and ¼ cup chopped macadamia nuts, but you could omit the nuts and just use 1 cup white chocolate chips.
You could also melt the white chocolate to add a drizzle to the tops of the cookies, or dip them in the melted white chocolate. Or you could swap the white chocolate chips for whatever else you’d like! Dark chocolate chips, M&Ms, some of your dog’s kibble…
… okay, maybe not that last one.
Can I use oil instead of butter?
You sure can! I’d recommend vegetable or canola oil.
The instructions on boxes of cake mix typically call for oil, but I like to swap that for melted butter because I enjoy the flavor more.
Why make cookies out of cake mix?
Most of the work has already been done for you by Mz. Crocker or Mr. Hines, and you just have to add a couple more ingredients and stir it all together!
For beginning bakers, this is also a great way to get yourself comfortable with the process of combining dough, portioning, and baking cookies before diving headfirst into learning how to properly measure your ingredients, using a mixer, etc. Using cake mix makes it all super simple, and relatively foolproof!
My completely honest answer: I, personally, only make cookies with cake mix out of necessity – like if I’m short on time and don’t have the ingredients I need. It’s not my first choice, as cookies made from scratch will always be my first preference and will always have an overall better end result.
That said, there is nothing wrong with using a cake mix as a shortcut – I just really enjoying experimenting and messing around with ingredients to make things my own :)
Can I use a different flavor cake mix?
Sure could! They just won’t be red velvet cookies anymore ;)
You could swap just about any other flavor of cake mix, and then switch up your mix-ins to whatever you’d like. The eggs and melted butter would stay the same.
After you’ve made this recipe, please consider coming back to share your experience with others by leaving a comment below with a star rating!
Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies (One Bowl, No Mixer!)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounce box Red Velvet cake mix
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled, can substitute vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, or almond extract (optional)
- 1 cup white chocolate chips*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare two baking sheets with nonstick silicone mats or parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs and butter (and vanilla, if adding) and use a wooden spoon to stir until just combined. Add the white chocolate chips and stir to combine them during your last few stirs to evenly distribute.
- Using a medium cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons), portion dough onto prepared baking sheets a few inches apart to allow them to spread – no more than 6 cookies per sheet.If desired, top with a few additional chocolate chips (for presentation's sake).
- Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the cookies have set (but have not yet started to brown).
- Allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Let us know what you think!