Red Velvet Cake Mix Donuts Recipe (Baked)
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Treat yourself to these soft, baked red velvet donuts with a creamy cream cheese glaze! Perfectly fluffy, rich, and indulgent—these are the ultimate sweet treat for any occasion. Our semi-homemade recipe starts with a cake mix making them quick and easy!
I love using cake mixes for baking. In this case, you save on the exorbitant price of red food coloring. And, talk about convenience, these donuts are so easy to make and taste as good as they look. Follow our easy recipe for amazing donuts your family will clamor over and request for every red holiday. We even have a video to show you how to fill the donut pan properly and efficiently.
Why This Red Velvet Donut Recipe is Perfect for Valentine’s Day
These soft, romantic red donuts are exactly what Valentine’s Day needs! The bright red color and sweet cream cheese glaze make them look fancy, but they’re actually super easy to make. You can whip up a batch in 25 minutes – perfect for surprising your family with a special breakfast, bringing to a classroom party, or making as a sweet treat with your kids. The cake mix shortcut means you’ll spend more time enjoying the holiday and less time measuring ingredients.
Ingredients for Red Velvet Donuts Recipe
Please note, that the printable recipe card has the full list of ingredients, quantities, complete instructions, and nutritional information. The following is a quick overview of the recipe.
Using a Red Velvet Cake Mix to make red velvet donuts at home is quick, and easy, and guarantees consistently moist and fluffy donuts every time. Plus, cake mix takes the guesswork out of measuring and mixing, so you can spend less time prepping and more time enjoying bakery-style donuts without all the fuss!
We use 4 ounces of full-fat Cream Cheese. We do not recommend the lower fat versions. The additional fat creates a rich, soft, and tender crumb. It’s o.k., it’s a donut.
How To Make Red Velvet Donuts
Combine cream cheese with eggs- Mix thoroughly
- Add cake mix
- Blend until smooth
Prep your pan, then mix the eggs and cream cheese first. Then add half of the cake mix, followed by the milk and vanilla. Finish with the other half of the cake mix. Fill your donut pan 2/3 full and bake as described.
- Pipe batter
- Filled cavities
Cool the baked donuts in the pan for 2 minutes and then remove them from the pan. They cool quickly and can be glazed almost immediately.
We make a cream cheese frosting and thin it into a glaze. It is just a matter of combining the ingredients and mixing them thoroughly until smooth and creamy. For best results, your cream cheese should be at room temperature.
- Combine ingredients
- Blend until smooth
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes These Donuts Better Than Store-Bought?
Store-bought donuts can’t compete with homemade! These red velvet donuts are softer, more flavorful, and have real cream cheese in both the batter and the glaze. You control the ingredients (no preservatives!), they cost less per donut, and your kitchen will smell amazing. Plus, there’s something really special about serving homemade treats on Valentine’s Day – they taste better because they’re made with love!
What’s the difference between red velvet cake mix and chocolate cake mix?
The addition of red food coloring to the cake batter gives red velvet cake its customary intensely red color. Cocoa powder helps get the color to its intensity level without cupfuls of dye and also adds a hint of chocolate flavor. Chocolate cake, on the other hand, is most often made using cocoa powder and doesn’t contain any food coloring.
What flavor is red velvet?
Red velvet has an interesting tanginess from the traditional buttermilk and vinegar, which also make it an extra soft cake. A subtle blend of chocolate and vanilla with a hint of red food coloring round out the flavors for a unique cake.
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How To Store Red Velvet Donuts
Best way to store
Keep the donuts in an airtight container on the counter for 2 to 3 days then in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Can I freeze Red Velvet Donuts?
Yes! Freeze the donuts individually on a sheet tray for a couple of hours first, then combine them in a single airtight container to save space in your fridge and keep them fresh. They should keep this way for at least ninety days. Pull out just what you need and thaw in the microwave for thirty seconds. Best if frozen without glaze.
Tips for Red Velvet Donuts
- To fill the donut pan, you can put the batter into a pouring measuring cup or use a piping bag. The batter is not very thick so cut the piping bag once you are ready to fill the pan.
- Fill the doughnut pan with batter only 2/3 full. If you fill it higher, you’ll end up with a crease line on the outside. Still delicious, just not picture perfect.
- For an added twist you can add mini chocolate chips in the batter or chopped white chocolate.
- You could also dip them in a chocolate ganache and sprinkle with red sugar.
- Instead of the cream cheese glaze, you can make the simple vanilla glaze found in this Cranberry Donut Recipe.
- For the easiest possible finish, just toss the donuts in powdered sugar in a brown paper bag and enjoy!
- The red velvet is what makes these donuts pop, but you can use any cake mix variety to make any type of donut and just follow this same recipe. I’m not gonna lie, I’m kinda in love with this recipe.
Can I Make Red Velvet Donuts Ahead for Valentine’s Day?
es! Bake these donuts the night before and store them unglazed in an airtight container at room temperature. On Valentine’s morning, just make the quick cream cheese glaze and dip them. They’ll taste freshly baked! If you’re planning ahead even further, freeze the unglazed donuts up to 60 days before and thaw them in the microwave for 30 seconds. Glaze right before serving for that fresh-from-the-oven experience.
I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.
Baked Red Velvet Cake Mix Donuts Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 4 oz cream cheese 1/2 a block, room temperature
- 1 box red velvet cake mix
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract OPTIONAL
Cream Cheese Glaze
- 4 oz cream cheese 1/2 a block, room temperature
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
- Oil a donut pan, set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, with a hand mixer, mix the cream cheese and eggs until combined.
- Add half of the red velvet cake mix and mix until combined, no more dry mix.
- Add the milk, vanilla extract, and mix at low speed until incorporated.
- Add the remaining cake mix and mix until all ingredients are combined.
- Fill the donut pan cavities 2/3 full.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-16 minutes. They are baked when you insert a toothpick and it comes back clean or with a few crumbs.
- Cool for 2 minutes in the pan.
- Place on a cooling rack to cool completely.
- While it is cooling off, make the glaze of your choice.
Cream Cheese Glaze
- In a small bowl, with a hand mixer, cream 4 oz. room temperature cream cheese, powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla extract. Mix until all combined. If the mixture is too thick you can add 1 tablespoon of cream extra.
- Once cooled, you can coat them with the glaze.
Video
Notes
- To make it easier to fill the donut pan, you can put the batter into a pouring measuring cup or use a piping bag. The batter is not very thick so cut the piping bag once you are ready to fill the pan.
- Fill the pan no fuller than 2/3 full for perfectly shaped donuts
- Keep the donuts in an airtight container on the counter for 2 to 3 days then in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- You can freeze the donuts, unglazed in a reclosable bag or airtight container for up to 60 days in the freezer.
- For an added twist you can add mini chocolate chips in the batter or chopped white chocolate.
- You could also top them in a chocolate ganache and sprinkle with red sugar or shake them in powdered sugar.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
Related Recipes
While I’d like to say the kiddos will love having a special treat for breakfast, the truth is donuts are my kryptonite meaning I can’t resist them. I’ve got over a half dozen on this site including baked sourdough donuts to fried blueberry donuts. New this year our Boston Cream Donuts and apple cider donut muffins are quickly becoming very popular.
Want to explore more red recipes? Our easy Red Velvet Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting is perfect for Valentine’s Day. Enjoy pie without the fuss with our Strawberry Slab Pie, and don’t miss these Raspberry Bars. My family loves them.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for later and follow me on Pinterest for more delicious recipes like this one!
Originally published: December 19, 2024. Updated: January 22, 2026 – Enhanced with more detailed instructions and tips. No changes were made to the recipe.
