Red velvet is one of those flavors that works in almost any dessert format, and these 31 recipes take full advantage of that, covering cupcakes, brownies, cookies, whoopie pies, waffles, cheesecakes, a mug cake, a frappuccino, and more. There are also options for specific dietary needs scattered throughout, including gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, and a beet-based brownie that skips the food coloring entirely.
Jump to:
- What makes these recipes special?
- Top Tips
- Instant Pot Red Velvet Cheesecake
- Red Velvet Bundt Cake with Peppermint Ganache
- Gluten-Free Vegan Red Velvet Muffins
- Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Red Velvet Cake Cookies
- Red Velvet Sheet Cake
- Red Velvet Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Red Velvet Bars
- Red Velvet Whoopie Pies With Cream Cheese Frosting
- Red Velvet Cookies
- Red Velvet Waffles with Cream Cheese Topping
- Red Velvet Cookies
- Red Velvet Christmas Cake
- Red Velvet Brownies with Cake Mix
- Red Velvet Beet Brownies
- Easy Cream Cheese Frosting for Red Velvet Cupcakes
- Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies from Scratch
- Red Velvet Cupcakes
- Healthier Red Velvet Cupcakes with Natural Food Coloring
- Homemade Red Velvet Brownies
- Easy Red Velvet Cookie Recipe
- Cream Cheese Filled Red Velvet Muffins
- Red Velvet Halloween Cupcakes
- Red Velvet Oreo Cheesecake (Super Simple!)
- Red Velvet Frappuccino
- Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
- Red Velvet Mug Cake
- Red Velvet Waffles (Dairy-free)
- Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake Recipe With Cream Cheese Frosting
- Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Red Velvet Cake Brownie with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Comments
The Red Velvet Bundt Cake with Peppermint Ganache is a seasonal standout that takes the classic flavor somewhere more unexpected, and it pairs naturally with the Red Velvet Christmas Cake in the list for anyone building a holiday dessert spread. The Red Velvet Oreo Cheesecake (Super Simple!) is also worth flagging for the occasions when cheesecake is the goal but time is limited.
On the cookie side, there are several distinct takes to compare, including crinkle cookies from scratch, a cake mix version, and a straightforward red velvet cookie with cream cheese frosting, so there’s room to find the right one for the occasion.
What makes the recipes in this roundup special?
- The recipes were created by a real person—not generated by AI.
- The photos show the actual recipe, made and photographed in real life.
- The blog is run by a human being—not an AI avatar or bot-run site.
- The recipe is original and created by the blogger—not purchased or republished content.
- All recipes in this roundup have earned a star rating of 4 stars or higher from readers or reviewers.
Top Tips
- Use room temperature cream cheese for frosting. Cold cream cheese doesn’t smooth out properly and leaves lumps that don’t whip out no matter how long the mixer runs. Pulling it out an hour before mixing makes the frosting genuinely silky rather than grainy.
- Don’t overbake red velvet brownies or bars. The red color can make it harder to judge doneness by sight since the dark color of overbaked edges isn’t as obvious as with regular brownies. Check with a toothpick a few minutes early and pull when it comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
- Measure red food coloring in liquid rather than gel for most recipes. Gel coloring is more concentrated than liquid, and swapping one for the other without adjusting quantities usually results in either a wrong color or an off flavor from too much coloring. Follow the recipe’s specified type when possible.
- For crinkle cookies, chill the dough before rolling in powdered sugar. Warm dough absorbs the powdered sugar coating instead of keeping it on the surface, which means less of that signature crinkle look. At least an hour in the refrigerator, or 30 minutes in the freezer, gives the right consistency.
- Sift dry ingredients together in red velvet baked goods. Cocoa powder in particular tends to clump, and those clumps end up as dark spots in the finished product if they aren’t broken up before mixing. A quick sift takes 30 seconds and produces a much more even, consistent crumb.
Instant Pot Red Velvet Cheesecake
Red velvet cheesecake in the Instant Pot skips the water bath and the long oven time that makes cheesecake intimidating for most home bakers. A reliable pressure cooker method for a dessert that usually takes a lot more patience.
Photo credit: The Tasty Travelers
Red Velvet Bundt Cake with Peppermint Ganache
Peppermint ganache on a red velvet bundt cake is a seasonal direction that makes this one a natural fit for December dessert tables. A holiday cake that takes the classic red velvet somewhere more interesting than standard cream cheese frosting.
Photo credit: The Salted Pepper
Gluten-Free Vegan Red Velvet Muffins
Gluten-free and vegan in a red velvet muffin covers two common dietary needs at the same time without sacrificing the visual appeal of the color. A muffin that works for a mixed table where not everyone can eat the same thing.
Photo credit: The All Natural Vegan
Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Red velvet brownies with cream cheese frosting bring the classic flavor combination into a bar format that’s easier to transport and serve than a layer cake. A crowd-size version of the pairing that cuts into clean squares.
Photo credit: CopyKat Recipes
Red Velvet Cake Cookies
Red velvet cake cookies are a hybrid that takes the flavor of a cake and puts it in a cookie, which changes the texture and the occasion entirely. A fun direction that works when a full cake isn’t practical.
Photo credit: Cake Mix Recipes
Red Velvet Sheet Cake
Sheet cake format makes red velvet easier to cut and serve for a large group without the pressure of stacking and frosting layers. A practical approach to a showstopper flavor that doesn’t require any assembly skills.
Photo credit: I Heart Eating
Red Velvet Pound Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Putting red velvet into a pound cake format gives the flavor a denser, richer base than a standard layer cake would. A pound cake with the familiar cream cheese frosting pairing that makes the combination work.
Photo credit: Everything Just Baked
Red Velvet Bars
Red velvet in a bar format is a simpler, less fussy approach than cupcakes or a layer cake while still delivering the same flavor. A recipe that makes red velvet accessible for a weeknight baking project.
Photo credit: Celebrating Simply
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies With Cream Cheese Frosting
Whoopie pies are one of the better formats for the red velvet and cream cheese combination because the filling ratio is much higher than in a frosted cake. A handheld dessert that’s worth making for the frosting-to-cake balance alone.
Photo credit: Baking Beauty
Red Velvet Cookies
A no-frills red velvet cookie recipe worth comparing against the crinkle and cream cheese versions elsewhere in this list. A reliable starting point for anyone who wants the flavor in cookie form without extra steps.
Photo credit: Noshing With The Nolands
Red Velvet Waffles with Cream Cheese Topping
Red velvet waffles with cream cheese topping take the dessert flavor into breakfast territory in a way that feels genuinely intentional rather than gimmicky. A brunch recipe that earns its unusual color.
Photo credit: Simply Stacie
Red Velvet Cookies
Another take on red velvet cookies worth clicking through to compare against the other versions in this collection. A different approach to the same flavor that might land closer to what a particular occasion calls for.
Photo credit: Organically Addison
Red Velvet Christmas Cake
Red velvet is already red, which makes it a natural fit for a Christmas cake with the right decoration. A holiday-specific version of the flavor that leans into the seasonal presentation.
Photo credit: The Slow Roasted Italian
Red Velvet Brownies with Cake Mix
Using cake mix for red velvet brownies makes the process significantly faster without giving up the flavor or the color. A shortcut brownie worth comparing against the from-scratch versions elsewhere in this list.
Photo credit: The Short Order Cook
Red Velvet Beet Brownies
Beet-based red velvet brownies skip the food coloring and get their color from the vegetable instead. A different approach to the red velvet brownie that’s worth trying if artificial coloring is a concern.
Photo credit: Skinny Fitalicious
Easy Cream Cheese Frosting for Red Velvet Cupcakes
A dedicated cream cheese frosting recipe for red velvet cupcakes is the kind of reference worth having separately from any particular cupcake recipe. A frosting-focused resource for getting the classic topping right on its own terms.
Photo credit: Combine Good Flavors
Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies from Scratch
Making red velvet crinkle cookies from scratch rather than a cake mix gives more control over the flavor and the texture. Worth comparing against the other crinkle cookie version in this list.
Photo credit: The Soccer Mom Blog
Red Velvet Cupcakes
A classic red velvet cupcake recipe that takes the standard seriously rather than looking for shortcuts. A reliable version of the cupcake that the flavor is famous for.
Photo credit: Bakes By Brown Sugar
Healthier Red Velvet Cupcakes with Natural Food Coloring
Natural food coloring in a lightened-up red velvet cupcake makes this a good option for anyone who wants the flavor without the artificial dye. A healthier take that still delivers on the visual side.
Photo credit: Picky Eater Blog
Homemade Red Velvet Brownies
A from-scratch red velvet brownie that emphasizes the homemade angle is a different commitment than the cake mix shortcut version. Worth trying alongside the other brownie options here to find the right fit.
Photo credit: The Freckled Cook
Easy Red Velvet Cookie Recipe
An easy red velvet cookie that delivers on the simplicity promise without sacrificing flavor. A low-effort cookie recipe for the nights when red velvet sounds right but a full baking project doesn’t.
Photo credit: Mess For Less
Cream Cheese Filled Red Velvet Muffins
Cream cheese filling inside a red velvet muffin gives the classic pairing a built-in surprise that makes the muffin more interesting than a standard frosted version. A filled muffin that carries the combination inside rather than on top.
Photo credit: Liv’s Little Muffins
Red Velvet Halloween Cupcakes
Red velvet’s natural color makes it an obvious choice for Halloween, and themed decorating on top takes it the rest of the way. A seasonal cupcake that earns the holiday angle without needing much extra effort.
Photo credit: Noshing With The Nolands
Red Velvet Oreo Cheesecake (Super Simple!)
Oreo crust under a red velvet cheesecake, described as super simple, is a combination that sounds more complicated than it apparently is. A cheesecake worth checking out if red velvet Oreo is a flavor that resonates.
Photo credit: Homan At Home
Red Velvet Frappuccino
A red velvet frappuccino is the one drink recipe in this collection, which makes it worth noting as an option when a dessert beverage fits the occasion better than a baked good. A red velvet flavor in a drinkable, blended format.
Photo credit: The Littlest Crumb
Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
A second take on red velvet crinkle cookies, useful for comparing technique and texture against the from-scratch version earlier in this list. A crinkle cookie with the same visual appeal in a slightly different approach.
Photo credit: Tessie’s Table
Red Velvet Mug Cake
A red velvet mug cake is the fastest route to the flavor when a full batch isn’t warranted. A single-serving option for when the craving is specific but the commitment to a whole recipe isn’t.
Photo credit: Chocolates And Chai
Red Velvet Waffles (Dairy-free)
Dairy-free red velvet waffles bring the breakfast direction to a table where dairy isn’t an option. Worth comparing against the cream cheese topped waffle version earlier in this list.
Photo credit: Six Hungry Feet
Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake Recipe With Cream Cheese Frosting
A gluten-free red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting makes the classic dessert accessible for a table with gluten restrictions. A layer cake that covers the dietary need without losing the characteristic look.
Photo credit: Cuisine And Travel
Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Red velvet cookies with cream cheese frosting on top are a more finished, occasion-ready option than the plain cookie versions in this collection. A frosted cookie for when presentation matters alongside the flavor.
Photo credit: It Is A Keeper
Red Velvet Cake Brownie with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
A cake brownie is a texture hybrid that sits between the density of a brownie and the lightness of a cake, which makes this a different experience from either a standard brownie or a slice of red velvet cake. A cream cheese frosted version that’s worth trying for the texture alone.
Photo credit: Deliciously Rushed
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