Santa’s Beloved Red Velvet Cookies

The holiday season sparkles with joy, warmth, and the irresistible aroma of freshly baked goods. Among the cherished traditions, leaving cookies out for Santa is perhaps the most magical. This year, delight Jolly Old Saint Nick (and everyone else!) with these utterly enchanting Santa’s Red Velvet Cookies. These stunning red velvet cake mix cookies are not only rich in chocolate flavor and vibrant in color, but they are also incredibly simple to make, making them the perfect addition to your Christmas cookie exchanges, holiday baking sessions, and festive party menus.

If you’re a true red velvet aficionado, you might also love exploring other delightful red velvet desserts like our Red Velvet Levain Cookies or our decadent Red Velvet Cookie Bars. But for a quick, festive, and utterly delicious treat, these Santa Red Velvet Cookies are truly in a league of their own. Their vibrant hue and delightful flavor make them an instant holiday classic.

Why These Santa’s Red Velvet Cookies Are a Holiday Essential

The sheer simplicity of this recipe is its greatest charm, especially during the hectic holiday season. Imagine whipping up a batch of incredibly delicious, festive cookies in 20 minutes or less – from mixing bowl to warm, fresh-from-the-oven goodness! This incredible speed is all thanks to a clever cake mix shortcut that doesn’t compromise on flavor or texture. When you’re juggling gift wrapping, decorating, and countless other holiday tasks, a recipe that delivers big on taste with minimal effort is a true lifesaver. These easy red velvet cake mix cookies are designed for maximum impact with minimum fuss.

These Christmas cookies are crafted using a simple red velvet cake mix, transforming it into cookies that are wonderfully soft, delightfully chewy, and practically melt in your mouth with every bite. The rich cocoa notes inherent in the red velvet cake mix truly shine through, providing that classic chocolatey depth. And let’s not forget the striking red hue – it unmistakably screams ‘SANTA’ and ‘CHRISTMAS!’ These red velvet cookies are exactly the vibrant, joyful treat we envisioned for the holidays, perfectly capturing the festive spirit.

But what truly elevates these holiday cookies to Santa’s favorite status? It’s the magical addition of creamy white chocolate chips and festive holiday M&M’s. These delightful add-ins provide bursts of contrasting sweetness and a wonderful textural interplay that makes each cookie utterly irresistible. The vibrant colors of the M&M’s add an extra layer of visual appeal, making these white chocolate M&M cookies a standout on any holiday dessert platter. Santa knows good cookies, and we certainly can’t blame him for loving these! Pair them with a warm mug of Easy Hot Chocolate Bombs for the ultimate festive indulgence.

The Simplicity of Just 4 Main Ingredients for Easy Cookie Baking

One of the many reasons these Santa’s Red Velvet Cookies are a holiday favorite is their incredibly straightforward ingredient list. Beyond the festive add-ins, these cake mix cookies require just four primary ingredients to achieve their crisp-tender texture and delicious red velvet cake flavor, enhanced by sweet white chocolate and vibrant red and green M&M’s. This minimalist approach means less time scrambling for obscure items and more time enjoying the baking process. It’s the ultimate cookie baking shortcut for busy holidays.

The foundation of this easy red velvet cookie recipe comes from a red velvet cake mix, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. These simple components effortlessly come together to create a homemade taste with a convenient shortcut. Good quality vanilla enhances the overall flavor, while room temperature eggs ensure better incorporation into the dough, leading to a smoother texture. Using melted butter helps achieve that perfectly chewy cookie. It’s truly baking with love, made a little easier thanks to our trusty red velvet cake mix. This allows even novice bakers to achieve professional-tasting results that will impress everyone at your holiday gathering, making these some of the best homemade Christmas cookies you’ll bake all season.

The Rich History of Red Velvet: A Christmas Color Connection

Have you ever wondered about the intriguing origins of red velvet cake? Well, here’s the fascinating scoop! During the challenging times of World War II, food rationing was common, and resourceful bakers ingeniously used beets to naturally enhance the vibrant red color of their cakes. It might sound unusual, but it was a clever and effective trick that ultimately gave birth to this iconic dessert. The natural pigments in beets provided a deep, rich red that became characteristic of the cake.

Another key fact that often surprises people is that chocolate is a fundamental ingredient in most red velvet desserts. It’s not just food coloring! The subtle cocoa powder in red velvet contributes to its distinctive flavor profile, a delicate balance between a mild chocolate taste and a slight tang, often from buttermilk or vinegar. This unique blend is what sets red velvet apart and makes it so universally loved. The combination of cocoa and a mild acidic component helps to deepen the red color, especially with natural cocoa powder.

Traditionally, red velvet cakes or cookies are made from scratch with a careful combination of all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, buttermilk, milk, vinegar, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and a touch of salt, along with red food coloring – and yes, sometimes even real beets for an authentic touch! However, for this particular recipe, we’ve embraced simplicity without sacrificing flavor. By using a red velvet cake mix, we create a delicious red velvet cookie recipe that is both quick to prepare and wonderfully festive. It’s the perfect solution when you crave something fast, tastes utterly delicious, and truly embodies the holiday spirit. Let’s not just make cookies; let’s make fun, vibrant Santa cookies that will be the star of your holiday dessert table and spread cheer!

Gather Your Ingredients for Santa’s Red Velvet Cookies

Essential Ingredients:

• 15.25 ounce box Red Velvet cake mix
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled, or canola/vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Festive Add-ins:

• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup holiday M&M’s

Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Make Santa’s Red Velvet Cookies

Creating these delightful red velvet cookies is a breeze, perfect for a joyful holiday baking session. Follow these simple steps to bring a touch of holiday magic to your kitchen!

1. Prepare Your Workspace: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes for easy cleanup, ensuring your cookies lift off perfectly. Set them aside while you prepare the dough.
2. Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the entire box of red velvet cake mix with the room temperature eggs, pure vanilla extract, and melted (and slightly cooled) butter or canola/vegetable oil. Use a sturdy wooden spoon or a spatula to stir the ingredients until they are just combined and a soft, cohesive dough forms. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tougher cookies.
3. Fold in the Festive Add-ins: Gently fold in the white chocolate chips and holiday M&M’s into the cookie dough. Distribute them evenly throughout the dough to ensure every cookie gets a generous amount of these sweet surprises. This step adds both flavor and that unmistakable festive look.
4. Scoop and Space: Using a medium cookie scoop (approximately 2 tablespoons), portion the cookie dough onto your prepared baking sheets. Arrange them a few inches apart to allow for proper spreading during baking. Aim for no more than 6 cookies per baking sheet to prevent overcrowding, which ensures even baking.
5. Extra Holiday Cheer: For an extra visual pop and a truly festive look, gently press a few additional white chocolate chips and M&M’s onto the top of each scooped cookie dough ball before baking. This ensures they look as good as they taste when they come out of the oven.
6. Bake to Perfection: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 9-11 minutes. The cookies are done when the edges are set, but the centers still look slightly soft. They should not begin to brown. This ensures they remain wonderfully soft and chewy, with that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture.
7. Cool and Enjoy: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. This helps them firm up without becoming brittle. After 5 minutes, carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling on a rack prevents the bottoms from getting soggy and allows for even cooling.

Tips for Storing Your Red Velvet Christmas Cookies

Proper storage is key to keeping your Santa’s Red Velvet Cookies fresh and delicious for days, ensuring you can enjoy them throughout the holiday season or gift them.

• These delightful cookies will maintain their freshness when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They are best enjoyed within 3 to 4 days of baking. For optimal flavor and texture, keep them away from direct sunlight and heat.

How to Freeze Santa Cookies for Future Enjoyment

Planning ahead for holiday parties, preparing a gift basket, or simply want to extend the shelf life of your festive treats? These cookies freeze beautifully!

• Once your cookies have completely cooled, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze for about 30 minutes until firm. Then, transfer them to an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply thaw them at room temperature for an hour or two. They’ll taste just as fresh and delicious as the day they were baked!

Creative Variations to Personalize Your Red Velvet Cookies

While these Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies are perfect as is, they also offer a fantastic canvas for creative customization. Feel free to experiment with these ideas to make them uniquely yours:

• Cream Cheese Frosting Delight: For an extra touch of indulgence, spread a thin layer of luscious cream cheese frosting on top of the cooled cookies. Garnish with more holiday M&M’s or colorful sprinkles for a truly festive presentation that’s reminiscent of a classic red velvet cake.
• Valentine’s Day Sweethearts: Adapt this recipe for other holidays! Omit the holiday M&M’s and use only white chocolate chips for a charmingly simple and elegant Valentine’s Day sweet treat. You could even add pink or red sprinkles for a romantic touch.
• Nutty Crunch: For those who love a bit of crunch and earthy flavor, consider folding in ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts along with the chocolate chips and M&M’s. Ensure they are finely chopped for even distribution.
• Peppermint Twist: During the holiday season, a touch of peppermint can be magical. Add ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract to the dough for a cool, minty undertone, or sprinkle crushed candy canes on top of the warm cookies immediately after baking for a festive minty crunch.
• Dark Chocolate Drizzle: Instead of M&M’s, drizzle melted dark chocolate over the cooled cookies for a sophisticated twist that enhances the inherent cocoa flavor of the red velvet and adds a beautiful contrast.
• White Chocolate Drizzle: For a purely elegant look, skip the M&M’s and simply drizzle melted white chocolate over the cooled cookies. This creates a beautiful visual against the red.

These perfectly adorable Santa’s Red Velvet Cookies, all studded out with creamy white chocolate chips and vibrant holiday M&M’s, are truly a joy to behold and even more delightful to munch on. They are absolutely fantastic for Christmas cookie platters, holiday gatherings, or simply enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa by the fire on a cold winter’s night. Beyond their festive appearance and irresistible taste, you’ve got yourself some really easy and fun cookies to share with family and friends. This recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and a simple way to spread holiday cheer! So go ahead, whip up a batch, and don’t forget Jolly Old Santa – because, after all, these are his absolute favorite cookies, and they’re sure to become yours too!

More Festive Cookies for Your Holiday Spreading!

Looking for even more cookie inspiration to fill your holiday trays, cookie exchange boxes, or simply for cozy nights in? Here are some other cherished recipes perfect for gifting, sharing, and enjoying:

• Classic Soft Sugar Cookies – A timeless favorite, perfect for decorating with festive icing and sprinkles.
• Santa’s Christmas Trash Cookies – A fun, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink cookie that’s always a delightful surprise.
• Soft Batch Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies – An irresistible combination of salty and sweet.
• The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies – A classic perfected, essential for any cookie lover.
• Christmas Peppermint Chunk M&M’S Fudge Cookies – Minty, fudgy, and super festive, these are a true holiday treat.
• Sweet Milk Chocolate Kiss Cookies – Adorably topped with a chocolate kiss and always a hit.

For even more dazzling holiday dessert ideas, beyond cookies, be sure to check out our collection of 10 Super Sweet Christmas Tree Desserts To Pine Over! You’ll find something for every festive occasion.