Name: Christmas Red Velvet Lasagna Dessert Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box Red Velvet Cake mix; 1/2 cup butter melted; 1 large egg; 16 ounces Cream Cheese; 1/2 cup confectioners sugar; 1/4 cup crushed peppermint candies; 1/4 cup milk; 8 ounces Whipped topping (like Cool Whip); 2 5.1 ounce boxes Vanilla Instant Pudding; 2 1/2 cups milk; Green gel food coloring (5-6 drops or more to desired color); 8 ounces Whipped topping (like Cool Whip); Holiday colored sprinkles

There’s something truly festive about layering flavors and colors into one showstopper dessert. The Christmas Red Velvet Lasagna Dessert Recipe brings that perfect holiday vibe—rich red velvet combined with creamy layers and a pop of peppermint that makes every bite a merry occasion. Trust me, this is a dessert worth making for Christmas gatherings that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

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 Lasagna Dessert Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Red Velvet Lasagna Dessert Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Red Velvet Lasagna Dessert Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I remember the first time I made this Christmas Red Velvet Lasagna Dessert Recipe, I was amazed at how it blended classic holiday flavors with a fun, layered twist. It’s not just beautiful to look at—each layer brings something special. Plus, it’s easier to make than it seems, which is a bonus when you’ve got lots of holiday prep going on.

Festive flavor combo: Red velvet, peppermint, and vanilla flavors come together to create that perfect seasonal treat.
Simple layered assembly: The “lasagna” style means no complicated steps—just layers of deliciousness you can build with ease.
Make ahead friendly: It needs chilling time, so you can prepare it in advance and have dessert ready to impress.
Creative showstopper: It looks stunning with bright holiday colors and sprinkles, perfect for Christmas parties and family dinners.

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

The beauty of this Christmas Red Velvet Lasagna Dessert Recipe is in its balance: rich cake, creamy cheese, cool peppermint, and smooth pudding layers. Each ingredient plays a part in creating those texture contrasts and festive flavors that will wow your guests.

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: Provides that deep red color and classic cocoa flavor that's the backbone of this dessert.
Butter: Adds moisture and richness to the cake base, helping it set like a cookie layer.
Egg: Binds the cake base ingredients together perfectly.
Cream cheese: Brings tangy creaminess that balances the sweet layers beautifully.
Confectioners sugar: Sweetens the cream cheese without grit, keeping things smooth.
Peppermint candies (crushed): Adds a festive crunch and cooling flavor that screams Christmas.
Milk: Separates into amounts for moistening layers — key to pudding and cream cheese mix textures.
Whipped topping (like Cool Whip): Lightens the cream cheese layer and finishes the dessert with a fluffy top.
Vanilla instant pudding mix (two boxes): Sets the middle layer with smoothness and festive green coloring.
Green gel food coloring: Adds that Christmas green magic to the pudding layer without affecting taste.
Holiday colored sprinkles: Just for cheer—makes your dessert sparkle and feel extra special at the table.

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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

While I love the peppermint candies for that hint of Christmas sparkle, I’ve skipped them when serving to kids or those who prefer a less minty dessert. Feel free to tweak the green coloring or sprinkles to match your holiday theme or occasions beyond Christmas.

Variation: Sometimes I swap the peppermint for crushed toffee bits when I want a caramel twist that still adds texture. It’s a personal favorite change for family gatherings.
Dietary tweaks: You can use dairy-free cream cheese and whipped topping alternatives if you’re catering to special diets.

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

Step 1: Bake the Cookie-Like Red Velvet Layer

First, preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 13×9 pan. I mix the cake mix, melted butter, and a large egg together with my electric mixer—not by the box instructions—because this creates a thicker, cookie-like base instead of a fluffy cake. Spread this batter evenly in your pan before baking for 15 minutes. Once out of the oven, the base needs to cool completely (about 30 minutes), so don’t rush this part or you’ll risk melting later layers.

Step 2: Prepare and Spread the Cream Cheese Peppermint Layer

In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with the confectioners sugar and ¼ cup of milk until smooth and creamy. Then fold in half of the whipped topping along with the crushed peppermint candies—this adds fun texture and festive pop. Spread evenly over your cooled red velvet base and pop it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to set up firmly before adding your pudding layer.

Step 3: Make the Vanilla Pudding Layer Extra Festive

Whisk together the two boxes of vanilla instant pudding with 2 ½ cups of cold milk. Add green gel food coloring a few drops at a time until you hit that perfect Christmas green you love—start with about 5 or 6 drops. Pour this pudding over the cream cheese layer and chill again, at least 2 hours, until it’s fully set. Patience here rewards you with a beautiful, stable layer ready for the finishing touch.

Step 4: Finish with Fluffy Topping and Sprinkles

Finally, spread the remaining whipped topping over the green pudding layer. I use a spatula to keep the surface smooth and inviting. Then sprinkle plenty of holiday colored sprinkles for that joyful crunch and visual appeal. Keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to serve – this dessert loves to stay cool.

Top Tip

From my many attempts, I can promise these tips will take your Christmas Red Velvet Lasagna Dessert Recipe from good to incredible—plus, they'll save you from common missteps.

Don’t rush cooling: Make sure the red velvet layer is fully cooled before adding cream cheese; otherwise, the cream cheese can melt and become runny.
Use gel food coloring: It won’t alter the pudding’s texture and helps you easily control the shade of green for a vibrant layer.
Even layers make a prettier dessert: Use an offset spatula to spread each layer evenly—your guests do eat with their eyes first!
Chilling time is crucial: The pudding needs a solid chill to hold the layers together well; overnight is best if you can wait.

How to Serve Christmas Red Velvet Lasagna Dessert Recipe

Garnishes

I always go for extra holiday sprinkles right on top—they add that perfect colorful crunch and keep the festive vibe alive. Sometimes I throw on some mini crushed candy canes for a little more peppermint punch and a pretty contrast to that green pudding layer.

Side Dishes

This dessert pairs wonderfully with simple things like a cup of rich hot cocoa or a warm cinnamon-spiced tea. On the savory side, I like serving it after a classic Christmas dinner with roasted ham or turkey—it’s a refreshing, cool finish to a hearty meal.

Creative Ways to Present

Try layering this dessert in clear glass trifle bowls to showcase those beautiful red and green layers, especially if you’re short on time for slicing. Miniature versions in individual parfait glasses are festive starter desserts that look stunning on party tables or buffet spreads.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftovers covered tightly in the fridge to preserve freshness and the delicate whipped topping. It holds beautifully up to 3-4 days, giving you a stress-free option for holiday leftovers or meal prep.

Freezing

Freezing this dessert isn’t my go-to because whipped toppings can change texture when thawed, but if you need to, freeze it without the top whipped layer and add that fresh before serving. Just thaw overnight in the fridge for best results.

Reheating

You won’t want to heat this dessert since it’s meant to be served chilled. Instead, let refrigerated leftovers sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving if it’s been very cold—this lets flavors soften up and shine.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this dessert dairy-free?

You can replace the cream cheese and whipped topping with dairy-free alternatives available at most supermarkets. Just ensure the pudding mix you choose is also dairy-free, or make homemade pudding from scratch to keep it friendly for dairy-free diets.

What’s the best way to crush peppermint candies?

The easiest way is to put peppermint candies in a zip-top bag and gently crush them with a rolling pin or the bottom of a heavy pan. Be careful not to crush them too finely so you keep some nice crunchy bits in your dessert.

Can I use homemade red velvet cake instead of the box mix?

Absolutely! If you have a favorite red velvet cake recipe, feel free to bake it thinner and denser to mimic the cookie-like base. Just make sure it cools completely before assembling the layers to avoid melting the cream cheese topping.

How do I keep the pudding layer from running?

Make sure to use instant pudding mix, as it sets quickly and thickly when mixed with cold milk. Also, allow the pudding layer to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to fully set before adding the whipped topping layer on top.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Christmas Red Velvet Lasagna Dessert Recipe holds a special place on my holiday table because it’s as joyful to make as it is to eat. It combines festive flavors with playful layers, bringing smiles all around. I hope you’ll give it a try and make it your own tradition this season—because sharing this dessert feels like sharing a little holiday magic.