Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies Recipe

The Best Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies Recipe for Sweet Smiles

Baking these delightful red velvet crinkle cookies can transport you to a world of sweet, powdery magic.

Soft cocoa-infused dough creates a stunning visual feast with its dramatic crimson hue.

Dusted generously with confectioners’ sugar, each cookie becomes a delectable work of art.

Chocolate lovers will swoon over the rich, deep flavor profile that dances across your palate.

Crisp edges give way to a tender, moist center that melts effortlessly.

Minimal ingredients and simple preparation make this recipe accessible for bakers of all skill levels.

Whip up a batch and watch faces light up with pure joy.

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies With That Perfect Crackle Top

  • Quick Crowd-Pleaser: Prepare these delightful treats in under 45 minutes from start to finish, ideal for spontaneous gatherings, potlucks, or last-minute dessert cravings.
  • Holiday Showstopper: Create a festive, visually stunning dessert with their dramatic red color and powdered sugar coating, guaranteed to impress at Christmas, Valentine's Day, or birthday celebrations.
  • Versatile Indulgence: Enjoy them warm from the oven, packed in lunchboxes, or served alongside hot cocoa, making them a adaptable sweet treat for multiple occasions and ages.

What Goes In Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

Main Ingredients:
  • Red Velvet Cake Mix: Base for the cookie with rich red color and chocolate undertones. Choose a high-quality mix for best flavor and color.
  • Eggs: Binding agent that helps create soft cookie texture. Fresh eggs work best for optimal results.
  • Vegetable Oil: Provides moisture and helps create soft, tender cookies. Neutral-flavored oil recommended.
Coating Ingredients:
  • Powdered Sugar: Creates signature crinkle look and adds sweet exterior. Sifted sugar gives smoother coating.
  • Cornstarch: Optional ingredient that helps create a more delicate powdered sugar coating. Helps prevent sugar from clumping.
Flavor Enhancers:
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warmth to the cookie's overall flavor profile. Pure vanilla extract preferred over artificial versions.

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies Step-by-Step

Step 1: Whip Up the Cookie Dough

Grab a spacious mixing bowl and toss in the red velvet cake mix.

Crack in the eggs, drizzle vegetable oil, and splash vanilla extract.

Stir everything together until a soft, luscious dough emerges.

Pop the bowl in the refrigerator and let the dough chill for half an hour, making it super easy to handle.

Step 2: Fire Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 350°F (175°C).

Dress your baking sheets in parchment paper or silicone mats for a perfect non-stick surface.

Step 3: Create the Magical Coating

Grab a shallow bowl and blend powdered sugar with cornstarch.

This magical mixture will give your cookies their signature snowy look.

Step 4: Shape and Dress the Cookies

Scoop out tablespoon-sized chunks of the chilled dough.

Roll them into adorable little balls.

Then, give each ball a luxurious tumble in the powdered sugar mixture, ensuring they’re completely blanketed in white.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Arrange the sugar-coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving some breathing room between each cookie.

Slide them into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Watch for that gorgeous crackle top to develop.

Once done, let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for two minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 6: Indulge and Celebrate

Serve these stunning cookies solo or paired with a cold glass of milk.

Enjoy the velvety, crackly goodness!

  • Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent sticking and make rolling easier, ensuring perfectly shaped cookies.
  • Roll cookies in powdered sugar thoroughly, creating a beautiful white crackle effect that contrasts beautifully with the red velvet color.
  • Space cookies 2 inches apart on the baking sheet to allow proper air circulation and prevent them from merging together while baking.
  • Use room temperature eggs to help the dough mix smoothly and create a more consistent texture in your cookies.
  • Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, keeping them soft and fresh for enjoying later.
  • Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
  • Transfer cookies to a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag. Freeze flat for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
  • Warm cookies briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds for a soft, fresh-out-of-the-oven texture. Alternatively, place in a preheated 300°F oven for 2-3 minutes to restore crispness.
  • Avoid storing cookies in humid environments to maintain their signature crinkle texture and powdered sugar coating.

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies Pairings

  • Pair Perfectly Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies with Complementary Delights
  • Creamy Vanilla Latte Companion: Match the rich, velvety cookie with a smooth vanilla latte that echoes its sweet, indulgent flavor profile and balances the dessert's richness.
  • Chilled Cream Cheese Frosting Dip: Create a decadent experience by serving a small side of cream cheese frosting for cookie dunking, enhancing the red velvet's classic taste and adding extra creamy texture.
  • Sparkling Raspberry Mocktail Refresher: Complement the cookie's deep red color with a light, fruity raspberry mocktail that provides a tangy contrast and cleanses the palate between bites.
  • Chocolate Ganache Drizzle Twist: Elevate the cookie's experience by offering a small chocolate ganache drizzle on the side, intensifying the dessert's chocolate undertones and adding gourmet sophistication.

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies with Sweet Dustings

  • Gluten-Free Delight: Replace the red velvet cake mix with a gluten-free cake mix and ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free certified.
  • Vegan Crinkle Cookies: Substitute eggs with applesauce or mashed banana, use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil, and select a vegan-friendly cake mix.
  • Low-Sugar Option: Utilize a sugar-free cake mix, replace powdered sugar with a low-calorie alternative like erythritol, and reduce overall sugar content while maintaining cookie texture.
  • Chocolate Lovers' Version: Switch red velvet cake mix with chocolate cake mix, add mini chocolate chips to the dough, and roll in dark cocoa powder instead of powdered sugar for an intense chocolate experience.

FAQs

  • Why does the recipe require refrigerating the dough?

Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking and makes the dough easier to handle, ensuring a perfect round shape and crinkle texture.

  • Can I use a different cake mix flavor?

While red velvet is classic, you can experiment with other cake mix flavors like chocolate or vanilla to create different variations of crinkle cookies.

  • How do I know when the cookies are perfectly baked?

Look for set edges and a beautiful crackle appearance on top. The cookies should look slightly underbaked in the center, as they will continue to set while cooling on the baking sheet.

  • Is cornstarch necessary for the coating?

Cornstarch helps create a more even and less clumpy powdered sugar coating, but you can skip it if you don’t have it on hand. The cookies will still taste delicious and look great.

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Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies Recipe

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies Recipe


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4.5 from 30 reviews

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x

Description

Indulgent Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies bring classic Southern charm to holiday dessert tables with their eye-catching powdered sugar coating. Crisp edges, fudgy centers, and rich cocoa notes make these treats irresistible for chocolate lovers seeking a festive sweet sensation.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1 box red velvet cake mix (15.25 ounces / 432 grams)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup (79 milliliters) vegetable oil

Coating Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered sugar

Flavor and Binding Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for extra coating)

Instructions

  1. Whip together red velvet cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract in a spacious mixing vessel until a supple, cohesive dough emerges.
  2. Encase the dough in plastic film and nestle in the refrigerator for half an hour to firm up and become more manageable.
  3. Heat the oven to a precise 350°F, draping baking trays with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking.
  4. Create a delicate dusting station by combining powdered sugar and cornstarch in a shallow receptacle, ensuring an even, feathery coating.
  5. Extract chilled dough using a tablespoon, gently rolling into uniform spheres with nimble fingertips.
  6. Lavishly coat each dough ball by tumbling it through the sugar mixture, ensuring complete and luxurious coverage.
  7. Arrange sugar-encrusted orbs on prepared baking sheets, positioning them with ample breathing room between each cookie.
  8. Slide trays into the heated oven, allowing cookies to transform for 10-12 minutes until edges set and surfaces develop an elegant, fractured landscape.
  9. Permit cookies to rest briefly on baking sheets, then transfer to a cooling rack, letting them achieve room temperature perfection.
  10. Serve these decadent morsels alongside a creamy milk companion, ready to delight discerning palates.

Notes

  • Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent sticky handling and ensure easier rolling.
  • Use gluten-free cake mix for a celiac-friendly version of these delightful cookies.
  • Avoid overbaking to maintain a soft, fudgy center that melts in your mouth.
  • Dust extra powdered sugar just before serving for a stunning snow-like appearance.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes (excluding 30 minutes chilling)
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes (per batch)
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 24
  • Calories: 150
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 200 mg
  • Fat: 6 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 22 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 20 mg
Angelina Wiles

Angelina Wiles

Content Editor & Culinary Enthusiast

Expertise

Food Writing and Editing, Vegetarian and Vegan Cuisine, Baking and Pastry Arts, Sustainable Cooking Practices​

Education

Portland Community College
Certificate in Culinary Arts
Focus: Emphasis on sustainable cooking practices, vegetarian cuisine, and food writing.​

​Oregon Culinary Institute
Diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts
Focus: Specialized training in artisanal baking, pastry techniques, and dessert presentation.


Angelina’s love for cooking started with handwritten family recipes and weekend trips to farmers’ markets around Portland. She followed her passion with a Certificate in Culinary Arts from Portland Community College, then perfected her sweet side with a Diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts at Oregon Culinary Institute.
Angelina believes recipes should feel like a conversation, not a science project. She’s all about helping readers trust themselves in the kitchen with simple steps, fresh ideas, and easy twists on classic meals.
When she’s not editing recipes, she’s baking bread, sipping coffee, or getting inspired by the changing seasons.

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