Cake Mix Cookies are absolutely my favorite way to bake cookies! By using a boxed cake mix as the base, the cookies come out soft and chewy every single time, with hardly any prep and only three ingredients! Customize your cookies with chocolate chips, sprinkles, mini marshmallows… the list goes on and on!
The Easiest Cookies of All Time
A box of cake mix can do so much more than just bake a simple cake. You can use cake mix to make pancakes, pies, soft pretzels, doughnuts… we have even used it to make cinnamon rolls! However, cake mix cookies are definitely my favorite. All you need are three ingredients, and your favorite add-ins.
That plate up there of seven different kinds of yummy cookies were all made with just three boxes of cake mix. Crazy, right? And you can customize them with whatever your favorite flavors are, by adding various toppings. To make that even simpler, I took three basic cake mixes, separated them into a few smaller bowls, and gave them all separate toppings. Everyone gets what they love!
Ingredients You Will Need
Let’s take a closer look at that ingredient list. Each one is probably something you already have on hand. Keep in mind that your add-ins and cake mix flavors don’t necessarily have to be the same as mine! You can go with what you love and we have several cake mix cookie variations here.
- Cake Mix: The type of cake mix you choose determines your basic cookie flavor. Here, we used devil’s food, strawberry, and white cake mixes.
- Eggs: A couple of whole eggs bind the mixture together and help it rise.
- Vegetable Oil: Just like most boxed mixes call for! You can also use melted butte or melted coconut oil.
- Add-Ins: This is the fun part! Here, we used milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and sprinkles—but there are tons of options to choose from.
How To Make Cookies from Cake Mix
Mixing the batter is so simple, and it’s very easy to do, even if you don’t have a mixer. All you really need is a mixing bowl and spoon. Perfect for a busy afternoon or evening!
- Prep the Oven and Baking Sheets. You’ll need to preheat the oven to 350°F, and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper. Each batch of cake mix cookie dough makes 2 dozen cookies.
- Combine the Three Main Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine your three main ingredients: cake mix, eggs and oil. Mix well to combine.
- Add Mix-Ins. Gently fold in whatever toppings you are using. You can save a few spoonfuls to decorate the tops of the cookies as well, if you want!
- Bake. Using a teaspoon or tablespoon, scoop and drop the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving an inch or so between the cookies so that they can spread out as they bake. They’ll need to bake for ten to thirteen minutes, until the edges are just beginning to turn golden.
- Cool. Let the cookies rest on the cookie sheets for a few minutes, before transferring to a rack.
Seven Variations from Three Cake Mixes!
To create our collection of seven different cookie flavors, we combined our cake mixes with three simple toppings: sprinkles, white chocolate chips, and milk chocolate chips. We made:
- Strawberry cookies with sprinkles
- Strawberry cookies with white chocolate chips
- Devils food cookies with sprinkles
- Devils food cookies with white chocolate chips
- Vanilla cookies (white cake mix) with sprinkles
- Vanilla cookies (white cake mix) with chocolate chips
Each cookie was amazing! And it took almost no time at all to make them.
Even More Cake Mix Cookie Variations
Keep in mind, we made those cookies using the simplest ingredients! But you can definitely do a lot more than just those basic combinations. Here are a few ideas to get you started!
- Mint Chocolate Chip: Use a chocolate cake mix with mint chocolate chips, mint chips, or broken Andes mints.
- Classic M&M: A yellow cake mix goes perfectly with colorful M&M candies!
- Luscious Red Velvet: Grab yourself a red velvet cake mix, plus a generous amount of white chocolate chips
- Peanut Butter Cup: A devil’s food cake mix is the perfect backdrop for Reese’s Pieces! I think these would be great for a Halloween treat. You could also use mini peanut butter cups!
- Refreshing Lemon: Lemon cookies with white chocolate chips? What could be better! Just use a lemon cake mix and you’re good to go. Maybe add poppy seeds while you’re at it, for a muffin-esque cookie!
- Easter Surprise: More white chocolate chips add a creamy flair to a spicy carrot cake mix.
- Candy Bar Chunk: Pair a French vanilla cake mix with chopped candy bar pieces for a truly indulgent cookie!
Helpful Hints
Want to know more about this easy, flexible recipe? I’ve got you covered! Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about cake mix cookies. Read on, and happy baking!
- How to Fix Runny Cookie Dough? If your batter is too thin, try adding 1/4 cup of flour at a time, beating it in well, until the dough is a bit thicker.
- Why Are Different Cake Mixes Different Weights? It turns out that the standard size for cake mix (about 18 ounces) has gradually been changed to about 15 ounces, for many companies. The difference doesn’t seem to matter much if you are making a cake, but you may find that you need to add more flour if you are making these cookies or another recipe that uses cake mix!
- How Long Do I Bake These? Cake mix cookies are soft, sort of like a cross between a brownie and a lofthouse cookie. They should not really brown in the oven, except slightly around the edges. If they do get too brown, they will not have as good a texture.
- How Big Should the Cookies Be? That’s up to you! Using a tablespoon or so per cookie, I get about 24 cookies per batch. You can make them larger or smaller, though (adjust the baking time accordingly). For perfectly even cookies, use a cookie scoop or melon baller to measure the dough. For a more rustic, homespun look, drop the cookies by the spoonful onto your baking sheet.
How Do I Store Cake Mix Cookies?
Leftover cookies should be stored at room temperature in an airtight container or zip-top bag. Include a slice of bread along with the cookies to help them stay fresher, longer. They will keep for up to 3 days.
You can also freeze cake mix cookies! Just let them cool completely, and then arrange in layers in an airtight container (put a sheet of parchment or wax paper between the layers to keep the cookies from sticking together). Freeze the cookies for up to 3 months, and thaw at room temperature before serving.
More Cake Mix Cookie Recipes
- Orange Creamsicle Cake Mix Cookies
- Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies
- Patriotic Cake Mix Cookies
- Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
- Lemon Cake Mix Cookies
Cake Mix Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix 15.25 oz
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable
Optional Add Ins:
- 1 cup for large add-ins like baking chips or candies
- ½ cup for smaller add-ins like sprinkles or finely chopped nuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, and oil. Beat until well combined. Stir in sprinkles, nuts, or chips as desired, until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Using a portion scoop, or spoon, drop spoonfuls of the dough onto a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper. Be sure to leave about an inch between cookies, to allow for spread.
- Bake for 10-13 minutes, until the cookies begin to slightly turn golden around the edges. Remove from the oven, and allow them to rest for about 2-3 minutes, before transferring them to cool on a rack.
Last Step:
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21 comments on “Cake Mix Cookies (3 Ways)”
Coconut cookies add 1/2 tsp coconut flavor, use coconut oil fold in 1 cup coconut and 1/2 cup chocolate chips. So delicious
Going to try this ,sounds delicious I love coconut
These cookies are soo good and easy to make ! I had such a craving for a soft baked cookie and they hit the spot. Ready to try different cake mixes now.
Thanks Janie!
I make Grinch cookies every year for Christmas using this recipe. I just add green food coloring and almond extract for a sweeter flavor. I also add mini red & green M&M’s.
Thanks Elisha!
Baking them now w cheesecake morsels in strawberry cake mix
A great idea to transform a boring box cake into the softest cookie!
Thank you Shelley!
Recipes are very tasty. and easy to make.
Thanks Cyndy!
These came out so soft and so yummy I did red velvet cake mix with white chocolate chips omg so good and chocolate milk talk about something different and fast to make also. This is going in my recipe book now I’m looking at more of your recipes thank u pu so very much….
Thanks Tina!
Tina they also make cream cheese white chocolate chips
wouldn’t EVER make any other homemade cookie recipe but yours……perfect every time…….thx!
Thanks Lila!
These were very good.
I’ve made many of these cake mix cookies, they are always good and a time saver when you need some cookies for company coming.
I’ve been doing this for years….quickest and easiest way to whip up a batch of cookies…esp’ if needed at the last minute…I also frost then for an extra “homemade” kick 😉
Looks easy but delicious
I love this cake mix cookie recipe! Got it from a dear pastor’s wife years ago at a Tupperware party! One of my favorite I used to do was with the Cherry chip cake mix. I would add chocolate chips and pecans to the mix and they were great at Christmas or anytime!!