4 Ingredient Red Velvet Air Fryer Cake Mix Cookies

If you ever want to make cookies but only have cake mix on hand, then you’re in luck! These red velvet air fryer cake mix cookies require just 4 ingredients thanks to the box mix base. The red hues are perfect for Christmas and Valentine’s Day alike, for a quick sweet treat.

red velvet air fryer cake mix cookies recipe dinners done quick featured image

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

With just 4 required ingredients and no oven needed thanks to your air fryer, it doesn’t get much easier than these cake mix cookies.

While I’m making red velvet here, this recipe honestly works with any variety of boxed cake mix. Feel free to swap in any kind you like, and you can choose different flavors of chips or other mix-ins to compliment the base flavor.

A batch bakes up in only about 5 minutes, so you can enjoy a quick sweet treat anytime you like, and you don’t even need to preheat your oven! This recipe is a great alternative if you don’t have an oven, or don’t want to heat the house in the warmer months.

two halves of a red velvet air fryer cake mix cookie stacked on top of each other

For an equally fast cake option, make sure to check out my Red Velvet Mug Cake recipe too!

Ingredient List

ingredients to make red velvet air fryer cake mix cookies
  • 15.25-ounce box red velvet cake mix
  • ½ cup oil or melted butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup cream cheese chips

Ingredient Tips and Substitutions

  • Any brand of red velvet box cake mix works great. Note that if you buy Betty Crocker brand, they’re now down to 13.25 ounces instead, so you’ll want to reduce the oil/butter to about ⅓ cup
  • If the dough is too sticky to work with, you can add a small amount of all purpose flour in to compensate
  • Feel free to use white chocolate chips in place of the cream cheese chips if you have trouble finding them (but cream cheese and red velvet are a classic combination)!

Step By Step Instructions

  1. Combine the cake mix, oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl, stirring well to combine thoroughly. The batter should be thick, soft, and sticky, but able to form into a ball
combine red velvet cake mix, oil, and eggs in a mixing bowl
  1. Fold in the cream cheese chips so that they’re evenly distributed
fold cream cheese chips into the red velvet mix
  1. Spray your air fryer’s basket or rack with nonstick spray, or line with perforated parchment (you want it to be perforated so it doesn’t block air flow)
  2. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough into the basket or rack about 2 inches apart, flattening them slightly with your fingers
drop tablespoons of red velvet dough into air fryer basket
  1. Cook on the air fry setting for 5-7 minutes at 350°F, or until the edges are set and the centers do not appear wet
  2. Cool for 3 minutes in the basket, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely
let red velvet cake cookies cool on a wire rack
  1. Repeat additional batches until all dough is used (you may need to reduce cooking time by a minute for subsequent batches as the air fryer is starting warmer)
overhead view of red velvet air fryer cake mix cookies on a plate

More Recipes That Work With Boxed Mix

Recipe FAQs

Can I Use Any Brand of Cake Mix for These Cookies?

Yes, you can use any brand of red velvet boxed cake mix for this recipe.

Pay attention to the weight of the mix though, as it may vary between brands and you may need to adjust wet ingredients to compensate accordingly.

How Do I Prevent the Cookies from Sticking to the Air Fryer Basket?

Place parchment paper or silicone liners in the air fryer basket before placing the cookie dough to prevent sticking.

You may also use nonstick baking spray, but the cookies do tend to push through the grate this way, as they are soft. The liners give them more support.

Can I Add Chocolate Chips or Nuts to These Cookies?

Absolutely, you can add chocolate chips, nuts, or even dried fruit for extra flavor and texture.

Experiment with different flavors of chips and candies to find your favorite combination!

How Long Should I Let the Cookies Cool Before Serving?

Let the cookies cool on a wire rack for about 5-10 minutes before serving to ensure they set properly.

This is also why you should rest in the air fryer for a few minutes before transferring to a rack; so they set partially to prevent breaking during transfer.

Can I Store These Cookies, and if so, for How Long?

Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.

You may also freeze them for up to 2 months. Stack in a container with wax paper between layers for best results.

Can I Freeze the Cookie Dough for Later Use?

Yes, you can freeze the cookie dough in a tightly wrapped plastic wrap or in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months.

You can also freeze the dough in pre-formed balls and cook directly from frozen. Simply add 1-2 more minutes to cooking time to account for the frozen state.

How Many Cookies Does the Recipe Yield?

The recipe typically yields around 18-24 cookies, depending on the exact size of the dough balls.

I do not recommend making them too small, or the air fryer tends to blow them around.

Can I Use Different Cake Mixes to Make Variations of These Cookies?

Yes, you can experiment with different cake mix flavors to create various cookie flavors.

Any box cake mix is a great base, and you can change the mix-ins to compliment the flavor of your base accordingly.

Recipe Pro Tips

  • The air fryer has a tendency to blow parchment inwards if it’s not weighted, resulting in misshapen cookies. To avoid this, don’t make your cookies too small, make sure to place them towards the corners of the basket, or use a heavier perforated silicone liner instead
  • I can bake about 8 cookies at a time in my 8-qt Ninja air fryer. This recipe makes about 24 cookies total, so your number of batches needed may vary depending on the size of your air fryer
  • It is normal for the chips to brown slightly during cooking due to the rapid heating in the air fryer. You can always bake the cookies without the chips and then press them on the top afterwards while the cookie is still hot if this bothers you (or use darker chocolate chips instead)!
breaking apart a delicious red velvet cake mix cookie make in the air fryer

Storage Tips

  • Once cooled, store cake mix cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. For longer term storage, freeze with a sheet of wax paper in between layers for up to 2 months

More Air Fryer Cookie Recipes to Try

Final Thoughts

These delicious red velvet air fryer cake mix cookies need just 4 ingredients and a few minutes to throw together. Batches cook in just about 6 minutes, making it faster than the oven, and that’s not even including the preheat time!

Red velvet cookies are a gorgeous color that’s perfect for your Christmas cookie platter, but equally nice for a quick Valentine’s Day treat as well. With pantry ingredients and a box mix, it’s also a budget friendly and easy option!

I love the way they turn out, with light crisped edges and a soft center; just the way I like my cookies to be! Feel free to change up your mix-ins to suit your own tastes as well, as this recipe is super adaptable for any flavor cake mix you like.

red velvet air fryer cake mix cookies recipe dinners done quick featured image

Red Velvet Air Fryer Cake Mix Cookies (4 Ingredients)

These air fryer cake mix cookies feature red velvet with cream cheese chips, and only 4 ingredients total! The red color is perfect for Christmas and Valentine’s Day alike.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 16 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 283 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 15.25 Ounce box red velvet cake mix (any brand)
  • ½ Cup oil or melted butter
  • 2 Large eggs
  • ½ Cup cream cheese chips

Instructions
 

  • Combine the cake mix, oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl, stirring well to combine thoroughly. The batter should be thick, soft, and sticky, but able to form into a ball
    15.25 Ounce box red velvet cake mix, ½ Cup oil or melted butter, 2 Large eggs
  • Fold in the cream cheese chips so that they’re evenly distributed
    ½ Cup cream cheese chips
  • Spray your air fryer’s basket or rack with nonstick spray, or line with perforated parchment (you want it to be perforated so it doesn’t block air flow)
  • Drop rounded tablespoons of dough into the basket or rack about 2 inches apart, flattening them slightly with your fingers
  • Cook on the air fry setting for 5-7 minutes at 350°F, or until the edges are set and the centers do not appear wet
  • Cool for 3 minutes in the basket, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely
  • Repeat additional batches until all dough is used (you may need to reduce cooking time by a minute for subsequent batches as the air fryer is starting warmer)

Notes

  • Any brand of red velvet box cake mix works great. Note that Betty Crocker brand is down to 13.25 ounces instead, so you’ll want to reduce the oil/butter to about ⅓ cup
  • If the dough is too sticky to work with, you can add a small amount of all purpose flour in to compensate
  • Feel free to use white chocolate chips in place of the cream cheese chips if you have trouble finding them (but cream cheese and red velvet are a classic combination)!
  • The air fryer has a tendency to blow parchment inwards if it’s not weighted, resulting in misshapen cookies. To avoid this, don’t make your cookies too small, make sure to place them towards the corners of the basket, or use a heavier perforated silicone liner instead
  • I can bake about 8 cookies at a time in my 8-qt Ninja air fryer. This recipe makes about 24 cookies total, so your number of batches needed may vary depending on the size of your air fryer
  • It is normal for the chips to brown slightly during cooking due to the rapid heating in the air fryer. You can always bake the cookies without the chips and then press them on the top afterwards while the cookie is still hot if this bothers you (or use darker chocolate chips instead)!
  • Once cooled, store cake mix cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. For longer term storage, freeze with a sheet of wax paper in between layers for up to 2 months
  • Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any additions or substitutions, size of cookies, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only

Nutrition

Serving: 63gCalories: 283kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 2gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 5.1gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 298mgPotassium: 67mgFiber: 0.9gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 44.4IUCalcium: 42mgIron: 1.2mg
Keyword 4 ingredient cake mix cookies, air fryer christmas cookies, air fryer desserts, betty crocker cake mix, boxed red velvet cake mix cookies, easy red velvet cookies from cake mix, ninja air fryer cake mix cookies, red velvet cake mix cookies cream cheese
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Katie Vine