Name: Christmas Red Velvet Layered Dessert Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 2 h 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box Red Velvet Cake mix; ½ cup butter melted; 1 large egg; 16 ounces Cream Cheese; ½ cup confectioners sugar; ¼ cup crushed peppermint candies; ¼ cup milk; 8 ounces Whipped topping; 2 ¾ cups milk divided; 2 boxes Vanilla Instant Pudding 5.1 ounce boxes; Green gel food coloring (5-6 drops or to desired color); 8 ounces Whipped topping; Holiday colored sprinkles

There's something truly magical about layering flavors and colors that instantly say "holiday"—and this Christmas Red Velvet Layered Dessert Recipe does exactly that. It's festive, creamy, and has a delightful peppermint crunch that makes it stand out on any dessert table.

The image shows a close-up of a layered dessert square being lifted by a spatula. From bottom to top, the first layer is dark red with a soft, cake-like texture. The second layer is fluffy and white with tiny red specks mixed in. Above it is a smooth, bright green layer. The top layer is white whipped cream decorated with green, white, and gold sprinkles, including a small red round one and a green leaf-shaped sprinkle. The background features a white marbled surface and blurred objects with soft colors. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Red Velvet Layered Dessert Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Red Velvet Layered Dessert Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Red Velvet Layered Dessert Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

What I adore about this Christmas Red Velvet Layered Dessert Recipe is how it transforms simple ingredients into an elegant crowd-pleaser that’s surprisingly easy to pull together. It's perfect for holiday gatherings when you want something both impressive and comforting.

Layered Delight: Each layer brings a unique texture and flavor—from cakey to creamy to crunchy peppermint.
Make-Ahead Friendly: You can prep it in advance and let it chill, freeing up your holiday time.
Flavor Festive: Peppermint and red velvet are classic Christmas flavors that everyone enjoys.
Easy to Customize: It adapts well to your taste, whether you want to skip peppermint or jazz it up with sprinkles.

A square slice of layered dessert sits on a white plate on a white marbled surface. The dessert has four visible layers: a thick, dark red-brown base layer with a soft crumb texture, followed by a light pink creamy layer, then a bright green gelatin-like layer that is shiny and smooth, and topped with a thick white whipped cream layer. The top is decorated with green, white, and gold sprinkles, including small shapes like stars and holly leaves with a red round sprinkle near the center. In the background, there is a white serving tray with the same dessert, a small white bowl with colorful sprinkles, and holiday decorations including a red container with ornaments. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

These ingredients come together beautifully to create a luscious dessert with contrasting textures. Having quality cream cheese and fresh whipped topping makes a huge difference, so don’t skimp on those if you can help it!

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of smooth red velvet cake mix powder, a small white ceramic bowl with melted golden butter, a single large whole brown egg with a clean shell, a block of fresh cream cheese, a small white ceramic bowl with fine white confectioners sugar, a small white ceramic bowl filled with crushed red and white peppermint candy pieces, a small white ceramic bowl of fresh milk, a dollop of fluffy whipped topping on a simple white ceramic plate, two small white ceramic bowls each containing pale yellow vanilla instant pudding powder, a small white ceramic bowl with bright green gel food coloring, a small white ceramic bowl filled with colorful holiday sprinkles, all arranged symmetrically in realistic proportions placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Red Velvet Cake Mix: The star of the base—gives that signature color and mild chocolate taste without fuss.
Butter: Melting and mixing it in creates a cookie-like crust instead of a typical cake layer.
Egg: Binds ingredients for a firm, sliceable base.
Cream Cheese: Adds tang and richness, balancing the sweetness perfectly.
Confectioners Sugar: Smoothly sweetens the cream cheese without graininess.
Peppermint Candies: Crushed for that festive crunch and refreshing zing.
Milk: Essential for setting the pudding and blending the cream cheese layer.
Whipped Topping: Lightens the cream cheese and pudding layers, contributing soft texture.
Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix: Creates a creamy, green layer that adds color and sweetness.
Green Gel Food Coloring: Gives that perfect Christmas green without watering down the pudding.
Holiday Colored Sprinkles: Adds a fun and festive finishing touch.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love how flexible this Christmas Red Velvet Layered Dessert Recipe is—you can easily make it your own each year depending on what your family loves or even what’s in your pantry.

Omit Peppermint: I sometimes skip the crushed peppermint candies when I want a milder dessert, and it’s still just as delicious and creamy.
Chocolate Layer: Try swapping out the red velvet base for a classic chocolate cake mix for a twist.
Extra Crunch: Adding chopped nuts in the cream cheese layer can provide an unexpected crunch that works beautifully.
Non-Dairy Options: For a dairy-free version, use plant-based cream cheese and whipped topping alternatives—just keep in mind the texture might differ slightly.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Red Velvet Layered Dessert Recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Red Velvet Base

Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 13×9 baking pan. In a large bowl, combine the red velvet cake mix, melted butter, and one large egg. I like using an electric mixer here for a smooth batter, but remember—not to follow the box instructions. This batter ends up thicker and more like cookie dough, which is perfect for a solid base. Pour it into your pan and spread it evenly with a spatula. Bake for about 15 minutes until it's set but not overly brown. Let it cool completely—this can take about 30 minutes, but it's key to avoid melting your cream cheese layer later.

Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Layer

In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese together with the confectioners sugar until smooth. Add ¼ cup of milk to loosen it slightly, then fold in 8 ounces of whipped topping and the crushed peppermint candies. This mixture is where that cool peppermint crunch shines through. Spread it evenly over the cooled red velvet base. Pop it in the fridge for 30 minutes to let it firm up nicely.

Step 3: Prepare the Green Pudding Layer

In a clean bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 ½ cups milk and the two vanilla instant pudding boxes. Stir in green gel food coloring drop by drop until you achieve a beautifully festive shade of green—start with 5-6 drops and add more if you want deeper color. Pour this over the cream cheese layer and refrigerate for at least two hours. This chilling step is essential to get a firm, sliceable pudding layer.

Step 4: The Finishing Touches

When you're ready to impress your guests, spread the remaining whipped topping over the pudding layer. Then sprinkle on your holiday-colored sprinkles for that extra festive sparkle. I love this part – it’s almost like decorating a Christmas tree, but edible!

Top Tip

After making this Christmas Red Velvet Layered Dessert Recipe a handful of times, I’ve learned a few things that reliably improve the outcome and make your life easier.

Cool Completely: Cooling the red velvet base fully before adding the cream cheese layer prevents melting and keeps your layers distinct.
Use Gel Food Coloring: It doesn’t thin your pudding mixture, so your layers stay firm without watering down the flavor.
Chill Adequately: Give the dessert plenty of time in the fridge; rushing the pudding to set can cause a messy, runny layer.
Crush Peppermints Finely: Coarse pieces can be tough to cut through cleanly, so a fine crush helps keep nice slices.

How to Serve Christmas Red Velvet Layered Dessert Recipe

Garnishes

I typically stick with festive sprinkles since they add that colorful pop and subtle crunch. If I’m feeling fancy, a light dusting of edible glitter or a few whole peppermint candies on top can boost the holiday vibes. Fresh mint leaves can add a lovely green contrast too, though that’s optional.

Side Dishes

This dessert complements anything from classic eggnog to simple black coffee like a charm. I usually serve it alongside a platter of mixed nuts or spiced cookies for a true holiday spread that guests savor bite after bite.

Creative Ways to Present

If you want to dress this up for a special occasion, try assembling individual servings in clear glass jars or trifle dishes so everyone sees the vivid layers. I’ve also layered it in small mason jars as gifts, which always gets rave reviews and looks beautiful wrapped with a festive ribbon.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your Christmas Red Velvet Layered Dessert Recipe covered tightly in the refrigerator. In my experience, it keeps beautifully for 3-4 days with no loss of flavor or texture, so you can prep early and enjoy leftovers without any fuss.

Freezing

I haven’t personally frozen this dessert because the whipped topping and pudding layers don’t always thaw with the same creamy consistency. If you do want to freeze it, I recommend freezing before adding the whipped topping, then frosting fresh after thawing.

Reheating

This dessert is best enjoyed cold, so I don’t reheat it. Just let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes if your fridge is extra chilly, then dig in!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this dessert nut-free?

Absolutely! Just skip any nuts or nut-based toppings and double-check the cake mix ingredients to avoid traces. The peppermint candies add enough crunch that you won’t miss nuts in the texture.

Is it possible to use homemade red velvet cake instead of the mix?

You can definitely substitute a homemade red velvet cake base, but keep in mind the texture will differ since this recipe relies on the denser, cookie-like base from the cake mix method. If using homemade cake, bake it slightly thicker and cool completely before layering.

What’s the best way to crush the peppermint candies?

I like to place the candies in a zip-top bag and use a rolling pin or meat mallet to crush them finely. This controls the size of the pieces and prevents large chunks that can make slicing difficult.

Can I prepare all layers and assemble the night before?

Yes! In fact, assembling the night before allows the flavors to meld and the layers to fully set, making serving easier and the dessert even more delicious. Just keep it covered in the fridge until ready to serve.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Red Velvet Layered Dessert Recipe holds a special place in my holiday traditions because it brings together classic festive flavors with a cool, creamy texture that everyone loves. Whether it’s a big family feast or a casual get-together, this dessert never fails to get smiles and “can I have the recipe?” requests. Give it a try and watch it become a new holiday favorite in your kitchen too!