Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven heats up, line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This will ensure the cookies bake evenly and won’t stick to the sheets. If you don’t have parchment paper, you can also lightly grease the baking sheets, but parchment will give you the best results for easy cleanup and consistent cookie texture.

Step 2: Mix the Cookie Dough

In a large mixing bowl, combine the red velvet cake mix, eggs, vanilla extract, and melted butter (or oil if you prefer) using a wooden spoon or spatula. Stir until everything is just combined. Be careful not to over-mix, as this can result in dense cookies. The dough should be thick, soft, and slightly sticky. The red velvet mix will give the dough its rich, deep color and a hint of cocoa flavor that is perfect for the holidays.

Step 3: Add the Chocolate Chips and M&Ms

Once the dough is ready, fold in the white chocolate chips and holiday M&Ms. These will add both sweetness and a festive touch to your cookies. The M&Ms, with their bright colors, will create a fun and eye-catching contrast against the deep red of the dough. You can use any type of M&Ms you like, but the holiday-colored ones are perfect for adding a pop of red and green to your Christmas treats.

Step 4: Scoop and Shape the Dough

Using a medium-sized cookie scoop, which is about 2 tablespoons in size, portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Leave a few inches of space between each dough ball to allow for spreading during baking. Aim to place no more than 6 cookies per sheet to ensure they have plenty of room to bake evenly. If you like, you can top each cookie with a few extra white chocolate chips and M&Ms to add even more color and a touch of extra sweetness.

Step 5: Bake the Cookies

Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9-11 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when the cookies have set in the center, but haven’t yet started to brown around the edges. Red velvet cookies are meant to be soft and chewy, so be sure not to over-bake them. If you prefer a slightly firmer cookie, you can leave them in the oven for an extra minute or two, but be cautious not to let them brown.

Step 6: Cool the Cookies

Once the cookies are done baking, remove them from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes. This will allow them to firm up slightly, making them easier to transfer without breaking. After the initial cooling time, use a spatula to move the cookies to a wire rack where they can cool completely. The cookies will be soft and delicate, so handle them gently.