Experience the magical fusion of classic gooey butter cookies and decadent red velvet in this incredibly easy recipe, made effortlessly with a cake mix. Prepare to fall in love with these impossibly soft, rich, and utterly irresistible Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies!
While these delightful cookies are a fantastic treat year-round, their vibrant red hue makes them exceptionally fitting for numerous seasonal celebrations. If you’re looking to diversify your holiday cookie platters, consider adding these charming Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies for a romantic touch or these classic Spritz Cookies to spread Christmas cheer. But for a truly show-stopping dessert that combines ease with elegance, these Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies are unparalleled, promising to be the star of any gathering.
Irresistibly Easy Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies: A Cake Mix Masterpiece
For me, the love affair with red velvet runs deep, bordering on an absolute obsession. My passion for this iconic flavor began to truly flourish back in 2012 when I launched my very first “Red Velvet Week,” dedicating an entire week to sharing an array of delightful red velvet recipes. This annual tradition continued in 2013, and by then, my fascination had evolved into a full-blown culinary quest. What started as a simple blog theme eventually inspired me to author a cookbook entirely devoted to the wonders and versatility of red velvet. To say I’m a connoisseur and enthusiastic advocate of all things red velvet would be a massive understatement – it’s truly a flavor that has captured my heart and my kitchen.
One of the most captivating aspects of red velvet, beyond its rich flavor and tender texture, is its incredible versatility for celebrations throughout the entire year. Its striking red hue makes it an obvious and perfect choice for Valentine’s Day, symbolizing love and passion with every bite. But its charm doesn’t stop there. Imagine these vibrant cookies as part of a festive red, white, and blue spread for the 4th of July, their deep color adding a dramatic flair to your patriotic feast. Come October, they transform effortlessly into delightfully “blood-red” treats, perfect for adding a spooky yet delicious touch to Halloween parties. And, of course, any shade of red is inherently festive and perfect for spreading warmth and joy during the Christmas season. These cookies aren’t just a dessert; they’re a versatile celebration in every bite, adaptable to almost any holiday or special occasion you can envision.
These Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies embody everything I adore about red velvet, coupled with an unparalleled ease of preparation. The secret to their simplicity and consistent deliciousness lies in using a red velvet cake mix as the base, dramatically shortening the ingredient list and minimizing hands-on time in the kitchen. This means less stress, less cleanup, and more time to enjoy the delightful results. Whether you’re adding them to a grand holiday cookie plate, sharing them as a thoughtful gift with appreciative neighbors, or simply treating yourself and your family to an extraordinary homemade dessert, be prepared for a chorus of compliments and insistent requests for the recipe. Their soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture and vibrant flavor make them truly unforgettable and notoriously addictive.
Craving more red velvet delights? Be sure to try these incredible Red Velvet Whoopie Pies for another sensational and equally charming treat that captures the essence of this beloved flavor!
The Magic of Gooey Butter Cookies and the Cake Mix Secret
The original gooey butter cake, a beloved dessert originating from St. Louis, Missouri, is famous for its distinct composition: a dense, buttery, and incredibly rich bottom layer that cradles a sweet, custard-like “gooey” filling. When this regional classic is reimagined in a cookie form, it beautifully maintains that signature soft, chewy, and tender texture that makes them utterly addictive and unique. Combining this beloved cookie style with the distinctive flavor profile and striking crimson color of red velvet creates a truly sensational cookie that stands out in a crowd, offering a delightful twist on two popular desserts.
Using a cake mix in cookie recipes isn’t just a convenient shortcut; it’s a brilliant baking hack that guarantees consistent results and simplifies the entire process immensely. A boxed cake mix acts as a perfectly pre-measured and balanced blend of dry ingredients, including flour, sugar, leavening agents, and sometimes even a hint of flavor. This ensures your cookies have the ideal texture every time without the need for meticulous measuring of multiple flours, baking powder, baking soda, and other spices. This method is a dream come true for busy bakers, absolute beginners, or anyone looking for a quick yet impressively delicious dessert. The red velvet cake mix, in particular, infuses the cookies with that iconic cocoa-vanilla flavor and beautiful deep red color, making these cookies not only incredibly easy to prepare but also visually stunning and perfectly festive.
Expert Tips for Baking Perfect Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies
Achieving that coveted soft and truly gooey texture is the hallmark of these exceptional cookies. Here are some essential tips, honed from years of baking experience, to ensure your Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies turn out absolutely perfect and live up to their delectable name every single time:
- Chill Your Dough Thoroughly: The Non-Negotiable Step: This step is arguably the most crucial and absolutely non-negotiable for success with gooey butter cookies. The dough is intentionally designed to be quite soft and sticky, and insufficient chilling will make it incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to handle and roll into uniform balls. A minimum of 2 hours in the refrigerator allows the butter to firm up significantly and all the ingredients to properly meld together, creating a much more manageable and less sticky consistency. Do not attempt to rush this crucial process; your patience here will undoubtedly pay off in perfectly formed, beautifully textured, and less messy cookies.
- Mastering Sticky Dough: Utilize a Cookie Scoop: Even after the recommended chilling period, the dough will likely remain somewhat sticky due to its high cream cheese and butter content. To make the process of portioning and rolling much easier and to ensure consistent cookie sizes, I highly recommend using a cookie scoop (approximately 1 tablespoon in size). While your hands might still get a little tacky, the scoop significantly streamlines the process and helps maintain uniform cookie dimensions, which is vital for even baking. For extra assistance, you can lightly dust your hands with a small amount of powdered sugar or even cooking spray before handling the dough.
- The Art of Not Overbaking: Preserve the Gooey Center: This is arguably the most critical tip for achieving the signature gooeyness of these cookies. Gooey butter cookies are meant to be incredibly soft and appear almost slightly underbaked when they are first removed from the oven. Look for edges that are just barely set and very lightly golden, while the centers still appear notably soft, puffy, and perhaps a touch shiny. They will continue to set up and firm slightly as they cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before you carefully transfer them to a wire rack. Overbaking, even by a minute or two, will result in a drier, more cake-like texture, sadly losing that iconic gooey interior that defines them. While still delicious, they won’t possess the characteristic melt-in-your-mouth quality that makes them so special.
- Proper Storage for Lasting Freshness and Texture: To maintain their optimal soft, chewy, and gooey texture, it’s essential to store your Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies correctly. Place them in an airtight container at room temperature, where they will stay fresh and delightfully delicious for 3-4 days. If you wish to extend their freshness even further, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week; just be sure to let them come to room temperature before serving to enhance their softness and bring out their full flavor. For longer-term storage, these cookies also freeze beautifully for up to 2-3 months in an airtight container or freezer bag.
- Ingredients at Proper Room Temperature: The Foundation of Smooth Dough: Always ensure your cream cheese and butter are at proper room temperature before you begin mixing. This seemingly small detail is vital because it allows these ingredients to cream together smoothly and evenly, incorporating air and creating a uniform, lump-free dough. Attempting to mix cold ingredients will result in a lumpy, inconsistent dough and can significantly affect the final texture and appearance of your delicious cookies.
Explore More Irresistible Red Velvet Recipes
If your love for red velvet knows no bounds and you’re always seeking new ways to enjoy this iconic flavor, you’re in luck! Here are some other fantastic red velvet creations from my collection to satisfy your cravings and expand your baking repertoire:
- Oreo Cream Cheese Stuffed Red Velvet Brownies – A truly decadent and inventive mashup that’s sure to impress any dessert lover.
- Red Velvet Quick Bread with Cream Cheese Filling – Perfect for a special breakfast, brunch, or a delightful sweet snack any time of day.
- Red Velvet Sheet Cake with Cookies and Cream Frosting – A glorious, crowd-pleasing dessert that’s perfect for birthdays, parties, or any large gathering.
- Red Velvet Cheese Ball – A unique and incredibly festive appetizer or dessert dip that’s both savory and sweet.
- Classic Red Velvet Cupcakes – The timeless, elegant treat that started it all for so many red velvet enthusiasts.
- Red Velvet Muffins – A delightful and portable way to enjoy the rich flavors of red velvet, perfect for on-the-go indulgence.
Essential Tools for Effortless Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies
While dedication and strong arms can certainly get you far in the kitchen, having the right specialized kitchen tools will make preparing these Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies an absolute breeze. This is especially true given the dough’s unique and somewhat sticky consistency. Here are my top recommendations for essential equipment that will simplify your baking process and help achieve perfect results:
- Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer: While mixing this rich, dense dough by hand is technically possible, it can be quite strenuous and time-consuming. I highly recommend investing in a sturdy stand mixer or a powerful hand mixer. These tools will effortlessly combine your cream cheese, butter, and cake mix into a smooth, uniform dough, saving you significant time and preventing arm fatigue.
- Cookie Scoop: As emphasized in our baking tips, this cookie dough is inherently sticky and soft. A cookie scoop (approximately 1 tablespoon in size) is an invaluable, game-changing tool for portioning the chilled dough evenly and cleanly. It helps create perfectly round, uniformly sized cookies, which is important for consistent baking, and minimizes direct contact with the sticky dough, making the rolling process much simpler and less messy.
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat: For perfect, non-stick baking and incredibly easy cleanup, I strongly advise against simply spraying your baking sheets with nonstick spray. Instead, always opt for lining them with high-quality parchment paper or a reusable silicone baking mat (such as a Silpat liner). These superior options ensure your delicate cookies don’t stick to the pan, bake evenly, and achieve that ideal tender bottom texture every single time.
LOOKING FOR MORE DELICIOUS AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY RECIPES?
Subscribe to my free recipe newsletter to get brand new, exciting family-friendly recipes delivered straight to your inbox each week! Join me for even more culinary inspiration, behind-the-scenes fun, and daily deliciousness on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. Let’s create something delicious together!
Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies
Pin Recipe
Gooey butter cookies meet red velvet in these easy cookies made with cake mix. You won’t be able to stop eating these soft Red Velvet Gooey Butter Cookies!
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 (15.25 oz) box red velvet cake mix
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar, for coating
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), beat the softened cream cheese and butter together on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined (about 2-3 minutes).
- Add the egg and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture. Beat until fully incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is well mixed.
- Gradually add the entire box of red velvet cake mix to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until the cake mix is completely combined and a soft, sticky dough forms. Be careful not to overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added.
- Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This chilling period is absolutely crucial for the dough to firm up, making it much easier to handle and roll into balls. You can chill it for up to 24 hours if preparing ahead of time.
- Once the dough has chilled, preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Using a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop or your hands (lightly floured or sprayed with cooking spray if needed), roll the chilled dough into individual balls. The dough will still be sticky, so a scoop helps immensely for consistent portioning. Gently roll each dough ball in powdered sugar until it is thoroughly coated, ensuring a generous layer.
- Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are spaced at least 2 inches apart to allow for proper spreading during baking.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or just until the edges are set and very lightly golden. The centers should still appear soft, puffy, and perhaps a touch underbaked; this is the key to their signature “gooey” texture. Do not overbake!
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5-10 minutes. They will continue to set as they cool. After this initial cooling, carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy the irresistible gooey goodness!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only. Various brands and products, as well as ingredient substitutions, can change the nutritional counts. Any nutritional information should only be used as a general guideline and is not a substitute for professional dietary advice. Please consult a qualified health professional for personalized nutrition guidance if needed.
Nutrition Information
- Serving: 1 cookie
- Calories: 155 kcal (8% Daily Value)
- Carbohydrates: 16g (5% Daily Value)
- Protein: 2g (4% Daily Value)
- Fat: 10g (15% Daily Value)
- Saturated Fat: 5g (31% Daily Value)
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 29mg (10% Daily Value)
- Sodium: 154mg (7% Daily Value)
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 10g (11% Daily Value)