Valentine’s Day Crinkle Cookies

By Lily | Last modified on Feb 3, 2026

Featured in: Desserts

Valentine’s Day Crinkle Cookies are the perfect sweet treat to celebrate love and friendship. With their soft, chewy texture and delightful powdered sugar coating, these cookies not only taste amazing but also bring a festive pink touch to your holiday baking table.

Using cake mix as a base makes baking these adorable crinkle cookies easy, even for beginners. Add vibrant red food coloring to brighten the dough, and enjoy a fun and rewarding baking experience with minimal effort.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and simple to make with cake mix, perfect for novice bakers.
Beautiful, festive pink color adds charm to Valentine’s Day celebrations.
Soft and chewy texture that melts in your mouth.
Egg replacer options accommodate various dietary preferences.

Ingredients

White Cake Mix (1 pack, 432 gm): Provides a flavorful, light, and versatile base for these soft crinkle cookies.
Ener-G Egg Replacer (3 teaspoons) + Water (4 tablespoons): A vegan-friendly substitute for 2 eggs to bind the dough smoothly and maintain moisture.
Sunflower Oil (⅓ cup): Adds moisture and richness without overpowering the delicate flavors.
Powdered Sugar (⅓ cup): Used for coating cookie dough balls, creating the signature crinkle effect.
Red Food Coloring (as needed): Gives the dough its vibrant, festive pink hue perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Instructions

Mix Egg Replacer: In a small cup, whisk together 3 teaspoons of Ener-G egg replacer powder with 4 tablespoons of water. This creates a smooth liquid that acts as a binding agent, replacing traditional eggs.
Combine Dough Ingredients: In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the cake mix, egg replacer mixture, sunflower oil, and red food coloring. Using your hands helps distribute the color evenly and produces a dough similar in texture to play dough.
Chill the Dough: Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes. Chilling helps the dough firm up, making it easier to handle and creating fluffier cookies upon baking.
Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Shape and Sugar Coat Cookies: Roll tablespoon-sized balls of dough and coat them well in powdered sugar. Place them about an inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets for optimal spreading during baking.
Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the cookies are set but still soft in the center. This timeframe keeps them chewy and tender.
Cool and Serve: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Cooling helps them set and prevents breakage.

You Must Know

You can substitute the egg replacer with half a cup of yogurt, pureed silken tofu, or unsweetened applesauce as an alternative binding agent.
If the dough is refrigerated overnight and becomes hard, let it sit at room temperature for about an hour to soften before shaping.
Customize colors to suit different occasions, such as green for St. Patrick’s Day or red and green for Christmas celebrations.

Storage Tips

Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness. For longer storage, freeze them in a sealed container for up to 3 months and thaw before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these Valentine’s Day Crinkle Cookies with a hot cup of tea or coffee for a cozy treat. They also pair wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or alongside other festive desserts for a charming holiday platter.

Professional Tips

Mixing the dough by hand ensures the food coloring is evenly distributed for a consistent pink color.
Refrigerating the dough solidifies the fat and helps control cookie spread during baking.
Rolling the dough balls generously in powdered sugar creates the iconic crackled top once baked.

FAQs

Can I use a regular egg instead of egg replacer?: Yes, you can substitute 2 large eggs for the egg replacer if you do not require a vegan or allergy-friendly option.
What if I don’t have red food coloring?: You can use beet juice or natural food coloring alternatives to achieve the pink hue, or simply omit it for classic white crinkle cookies.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?: Use a gluten-free white cake mix in place of the regular cake mix to make gluten-free crinkle cookies.
Why do I need to chill the dough?: Chilling firms up the dough, making it easier to handle and ensuring cookies bake with a soft, chewy texture instead of spreading too thin.
How do I know when the cookies are done baking?: Cookies are done when the edges are set but the centers still look soft. They will firm up as they cool.
Can I change the flavor of the cookies?: Yes, you can use different cake mix flavors such as red velvet or chocolate to customize both flavor and color.
Is it okay to refrigerate the dough overnight?: Absolutely! Refrigerating overnight helps deepen flavors, though you may need to allow the dough to soften at room temperature before shaping if it becomes too hard.