Name: Festive Red Velvet Christmas Dessert Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 4 h 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box red velvet cake mix; 1/2 cup butter melted; 1 egg; 16 ounces cream cheese softened; 1/2 cup confectioners sugar; 1/4 cup crushed candy canes; 1/4 cup milk; 16 ounces Cool Whip (divided into two 8-ounce containers); 2 3.4 ounce packages vanilla instant pudding; 2 3/4 cups milk divided; Green gel food coloring; Christmas sprinkles; Crushed candy canes

Jump to Recipe· 4.8 from 21 reviews

Hey friend, if you’re on the hunt for a show-stopping holiday treat, you’re going to love this Festive Red Velvet Christmas Dessert Recipe. It’s a crowd-pleaser that layers all the best holiday flavors—fluffy red velvet cake, creamy cheesecake goodness, and a festive green pudding layer that just makes you smile. Honestly, the first time I made this, my whole family kept sneaking spoonfuls before dinner even started. Stick around, and I’ll walk you through making this delightful Christmas lasagna that’s almost too pretty to eat (but you definitely will).

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Why This Recipe Works

Layered Flavors: Each layer brings something unique—from a tender red velvet base to a creamy cheesecake middle and a smooth, colorful pudding on top.
Easy Assembly: No fancy techniques needed; just simple mixing and layering that even a holiday novice can nail.
Festive Presentation: The bright red and green layers scream holiday cheer and are perfect for Christmas parties or family dinners.
Crowd-Friendly Servings: It makes a big batch that feeds a crowd, so no one gets left out of the Christmas dessert fun.

Festive Red Velvet Christmas Dessert, holiday dessert, Christmas cake, red velvet holiday treat, festive layered dessert - A square piece of cake with two layers is lifted by a spatula above a white marbled surface. The cake’s bottom layer is chocolate brown, and the top is a thick white frosting spread evenly. The frosting is decorated with various colorful sprinkles, including green thin rods, small round pearls in pastel colors, yellow star shapes, and green Christmas tree shapes with red round sprinkles. The cake is in a silver baking pan with one piece missing from it. Nearby, there is a white bowl filled with green, red, and white holiday sprinkles. Two candy canes lie on the white marbled surface below the pan. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Festive Red Velvet Christmas Dessert Recipe plays a role to make the final dish both decadent and visually festive. I always recommend using good-quality cream cheese and fresh cake mix to get that perfect texture and flavor. Here’s the lowdown on why these ingredients are essential:

Festive Red Velvet Christmas Dessert, holiday dessert, Christmas cake, red velvet holiday treat, festive layered dessert - Flat lay of a small box of red velvet cake mix with rich red velvet cake pieces beside it, a small white ceramic bowl of melted golden butter, one whole uncracked brown egg, a block of creamy white cream cheese, a small white ceramic bowl of fine white confectioners sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with crushed red and white candy canes, a small white ceramic bowl filled with fresh cold milk, a small white ceramic bowl of fluffy white Cool Whip, two small white ceramic bowls of pale yellow vanilla instant pudding powder, a small white ceramic bowl with vivid green gel food coloring, a scattering of colorful Christmas sprinkles and more crushed candy canes arranged artfully, all 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: It gives you that rich, chocolatey base with its beautiful red hue—no need to bake the cake from scratch unless you want to.
Butter: Adds moisture and richness to the cake layer, ensuring it’s tender and flavorful.
Egg: Acts as a binder to keep the cake from falling apart when layering.
Cream Cheese: The star of the creamy layer, it brings tanginess and smoothness that’s so comforting in holiday desserts.
Confectioners Sugar: Sweetens the cream cheese without any graininess, keeping everything silky.
Crushed Candy Canes: Adds a subtle peppermint crunch, making this dessert delightfully festive and extra special.
Milk: Used for both the pudding and smoothing out the cream cheese layer, it keeps everything luscious and scoopable.
Cool Whip: Lightens the dessert with fluffy creaminess that melts in your mouth.
Vanilla Instant Pudding: Creates the bright green layer with creamy texture; the vanilla flavor pairs perfectly with the other layers.
Green Gel Food Coloring: Essential for achieving that perfect Grinch-green pudding layer that feels full-on Christmas.
Christmas Sprinkles & Crushed Candy Canes for Garnish: These top things off with sparkle and extra peppermint flavor, because you want this dessert to look as good as it tastes.

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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.

Tweak to Your Taste

I love how this dessert lends itself to little tweaks depending on your mood or your crowd. You can make it as peppermint-forward or as subtle as you want, and it always feels just right. Don’t be afraid to make it yours.

Mint Lover’s Variation: If you’re a peppermint fanatic like me, add an extra layer of crushed candy canes between the cream cheese and pudding layers for a fun surprise crunch.
Gluten-Free Version: Use a gluten-free red velvet cake mix to keep it safe for friends with dietary needs without losing the festive vibe.
Non-Dairy Swap: Substitute the Cool Whip and cream cheese with coconut-based alternatives for a delicious vegan twist.
Trifle Transformation: I’ve turned this into a layered trifle by cubing the cake and layering everything in a big glass bowl—it’s a total showstopper at holiday potlucks!

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

Step 1: Mix and Bake the Red Velvet Base

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and greasing a 13×9 inch pan—this will become the sturdy base for your dessert. In a large bowl, combine the red velvet cake mix, melted butter, and that single egg. I like to mix this by hand with a sturdy spoon to keep the batter just right—don’t overdo it or you may end up with a dense cake. Once mixed, spread the batter evenly in your pan and pop it in the oven for about 15-18 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Let this cool while you prep the next layers. Trust me, letting it cool completely makes spreading easier—hot cake plus creamy cheese is a slippery combo!

Step 2: Whip Up the Cream Cheese Layer

Next, focus on the creamy center. In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until fluffy, then add the confectioners sugar and mix again until silky smooth. Pour in a quarter cup of milk—you want to loosen this up a bit without making it runny. Once that’s smooth, gently fold in one container of Cool Whip and the crushed candy canes. This peppermint crunch takes it from simple to stunning. When your red velvet cake is fully cooled, spread this layer evenly over the top. Then, pop it in the fridge while you prepare the pudding layer. The chill helps these layers meld together beautifully.

Step 3: Prepare the Christmas Green Pudding

Grab a large bowl and whisk together 2 3.4-ounce packages of vanilla instant pudding mix with 2 3/4 cups of cold milk until thickened. Here’s where the magic happens—add green gel food coloring a drop at a time until you get that perfect holiday green. Think Grinch green, a shade that’s bright but not neon. Pour this luscious pudding layer over the chilled cream cheese layer. Pop the pan back in the fridge and allow it to set for at least 4 hours or overnight if you can—patience makes a difference here.

Step 4: Final Touches and Garnish

After your pudding layer has set nice and firm, spread the second container of Cool Whip evenly on top—this finishes your dessert with light, snowy sweetness. Sprinkle on festive Christmas sprinkles and a few more crushed candy canes because why not? This final step makes it feel extra special and invites you to dig in. Chill again until ready to serve and watch your guests’ faces light up.

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Pro Tips for Making Festive Red Velvet Christmas Dessert Recipe

Let the Layers Chill Well: I found that refrigerating each layer helps keep the dessert from becoming a soggy mess when slicing.
Soften Cream Cheese Ahead: Take your cream cheese out an hour before mixing; it whips up smoother and faster.
Use Gel Food Coloring: It gives vibrant color without watering down the pudding layer like liquid colorings can.
Be Gentle When Folding: Folding Cool Whip into your layers keeps that light, airy texture—don’t stir vigorously or you’ll lose the fluff.

How to Serve Festive Red Velvet Christmas Dessert Recipe

Festive Red Velvet Christmas Dessert, holiday dessert, Christmas cake, red velvet holiday treat, festive layered dessert - The image shows a festive layered dessert square on a white plate, placed on a white marbled surface. The dessert has four distinct layers: the bottom layer is a dense dark red cake, followed by a light pink creamy layer with red specks, then a smooth pale green gelatin layer, and finally topped with a thick white whipped cream layer decorated with green, red, orange, and white sprinkles shaped like leaves, dots, and sticks. In the background, there is a silver baking pan with a large portion of the same dessert topped with sprinkles, and another smaller white plate holds a similarly decorated dessert square. Nearby, a small white bowl filled with matching festive green and red sprinkles sits next to two small candy canes, a silver ornament ball, a red ornament ball, and a gray cloth napkin. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I love topping this dessert with a festive mix of Christmas sprinkles and crushed candy canes for those perfect pops of color and peppermint crunch. Sometimes I’ll toss on a few edible glitter stars or even fresh cranberries for that elegant holiday sparkle. Feel free to get creative—you can’t go wrong with bright, cheerful garnishes.

Side Dishes

This dessert is quite rich, so I like to serve it alongside lighter holiday treats like fresh fruit platters or a peppermint tea. It also pairs wonderfully after a cozy dinner of roasted ham or turkey, making the dessert the highlight without competing flavors.

Creative Ways to Present

One of my favorite presentation tweaks is turning this into a layered trifle in a glass bowl—it shows off those gorgeous layers in all their glory. For parties, I’ve also made individual parfait glasses for easy serving and a cute look. You can even use festive mini mason jars to take this dessert to-go for cookie swaps or office parties.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover Festive Red Velvet Christmas Dessert Recipe keeps beautifully covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. Just make sure to use airtight containers or tightly cover the baking dish with foil or plastic wrap to prevent it from absorbing any fridge odors.

Freezing

While I usually recommend eating this dessert fresh, I have frozen small portions without much fuss—just wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. When you thaw in the fridge, the texture softens a bit, but the flavor’s still fantastic for a quick holiday sweet fix.

Reheating

Because this is a chilled, layered dessert, I don’t reheat it. Instead, I suggest enjoying leftovers straight from the fridge or letting them sit out 10-15 minutes beforehand to soften slightly for easier slicing and serving.

FAQs

Can I make this Festive Red Velvet Christmas Dessert Recipe ahead of time?

Absolutely! In fact, making it the day before is ideal because the layers have time to set and the flavors meld together, making the dessert even more delicious.
What can I substitute for Cool Whip in this recipe?

You can use whipped cream or coconut whipped topping if you prefer a homemade or dairy-free option, just keep in mind it may slightly affect texture and sweetness.
Can I use homemade red velvet cake instead of the boxed mix?

Definitely! Homemade red velvet will work beautifully and add a personal touch, just bake it in a 13×9 pan to keep the layers the right thickness.
What if I don’t have green food coloring?

If you’re out of green food coloring, you can skip it or try a tiny bit of matcha powder for natural color, but the traditional holiday look might be a bit different.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Red Velvet Christmas Dessert Recipe holds a special place in my holiday traditions. It’s the perfect mix of rich, creamy, and festive that always brings smiles around the table. I hope you try it and find it as fun and rewarding to make as I do. Whether you’re serving a crowd or just spoiling your own sweet tooth, this layered wonder is holiday magic in dessert form. Happy baking and may your Christmas be as sweet as this lasagna!