Cake mix cookies are perfect for those moments when I want a plate of homemade cookies without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.
The basic cookie dough takes just three ingredients: cake mix, oil, and eggs. Once you have that simple dough, you can turn it into all kinds of different cookies with a few extra ingredients.
That’s what makes this recipe so much fun. Instead of making the same cookie every time, choose a cake mix flavor, stir in a favorite mix-in, or add a simple frosting or topping after the cookies cool.
I’ve put together several easy combinations below so you can start with the basic recipe and make it your own.
Why Cake Mix Cookies Are So Easy
The beauty of this recipe is that the cake mix has already done much of the measuring and mixing for you.
There’s no need to pull out flour, baking soda, baking powder, or several different measuring cups. Just combine the cake mix with oil and eggs, then decide how you want to flavor and decorate your cookies.
It’s also a great recipe for using what you already have on hand.
How Much Can I Add?
Using a standard 15.25-ounce cake mix, about ¾ to 1 cup of add-ins is a good place to start. Chocolate chips, nuts, baking chips, dried fruit, and similar ingredients can all be mixed into the dough. If you add much more than that, the dough can become harder to scoop and shape.
Easy Cake Mix Cookies: 10 Flavor Variations to Try
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
Basic Cake Mix Cookie Recipe
- 15.25 Ounces Cake Mix 1 (15.25-ounce) box cake mix
- ½ Cup Vegetable Oil or another neutral oil
- 2 Large Eggs
- Optional add-ins frosting, or toppings
text ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Add the cake mix, oil, and eggs to a large mixing bowl.15.25 Ounces Cake Mix, ½ Cup Vegetable Oil, 2 Large Eggs
- Stir until everything is well combined and a thick cookie dough forms.
- Add any mix-ins directly to the dough and gently stir until evenly distributed.Optional add-ins
- Form the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The centers should still look soft when you remove them from the oven.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- The cookies will continue to set as they cool, so try not to bake them until they look completely done in the center.
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Notes
Tips for Making Soft Cake Mix Cookies
Don’t overbake them. This is probably the most important tip. Cake mix cookies are meant to be soft, and they may look a little underdone when you first take them from the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheet. They are delicate when they first come out of the oven. Giving them several minutes to cool helps them firm up before you move them. Use parchment paper. It makes cleanup easier and helps the cookies release from the pan. Don’t overload the dough with mix-ins. About 1 cup of chocolate chips, nuts, or other add-ins works well for this amount of dough. Adding too much can make the cookies difficult to scoop and shape. Cool completely before frosting. Warm cookies will soften or melt the frosting. Get all the cookie variations and amounts to add in the blog post.Nutrition
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Easy Cake Mix Cookie Flavor Variations
Here is where you can have some fun. The basic dough stays the same, but a few simple additions can create a completely different cookie.
1. Chocolate Chip Yellow Cake Cookies
Start with a yellow cake mix and prepare the basic cookie dough.
Fold in 1 cup of chocolate chips before scooping the dough onto the baking sheet.
For an extra chocolate flavor, press a few additional chocolate chips onto the tops of the dough balls just before baking.
These are especially good while they’re still slightly warm and the chocolate chips are soft.
2. Lemon Glazed Cookies
Use a lemon cake mix for the cookie dough.
Once the cookies are completely cool, drizzle them with a simple lemon glaze made by combining:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Start with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and add a little more until the glaze reaches a consistency that is easy to drizzle.
For even more lemon flavor, add a little finely grated lemon zest to the glaze.
3. Strawberry White Chocolate Cookies
Prepare the basic recipe with a strawberry cake mix.
Fold in 1 cup of white chocolate chips.
Scoop and bake according to the basic directions. Once cooled, you can leave them as they are or drizzle the tops with melted white chocolate.
The pink cookies with white chocolate make a pretty addition to a cookie tray.
4. Funfetti Sprinkle Cookies
Use a white or vanilla cake mix.
Stir in about ½ cup of rainbow sprinkles. Gently mix them into the dough so the colors don’t bleed.
For even more color, add a few extra sprinkles to the tops of the dough balls before baking.
These are an easy choice for birthdays, holidays, or whenever you want a cheerful cookie without much work.
5. Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Start with a red velvet cake mix and prepare the basic dough.
Bake and cool the cookies completely.
For the topping, spread each cookie with your favorite cream cheese frosting. You can also add a few white chocolate chips to the dough before baking for extra sweetness.
For a simple finish, crumble a baked red velvet cookie over the frosting.
6. Spice Cake Cookies with Cinnamon Chips
Use a spice cake mix for the cookie dough.
Fold in 1 cup of cinnamon chips before baking.
For another layer of flavor, dust the cooled cookies lightly with powdered sugar.
These would also be delicious with a simple vanilla glaze made from powdered sugar, vanilla, and a little milk.
7. Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
Start with a chocolate cake mix.
Fold in 1 cup of peanut butter chips.
Scoop and bake as directed. For a little extra chocolate, you can press a few chocolate chips onto the tops before baking.
The combination of chocolate and peanut butter makes these taste much more involved than the ingredient list would suggest.
8. Butter Pecan Cookies
Use a butter pecan cake mix.
Fold in ¾ to 1 cup of chopped pecans.
For the best texture, chop the pecans fairly small so they are distributed throughout the cookies instead of leaving large pieces that can make the cookies difficult to shape.
After baking, you can leave them plain or add a light vanilla glaze.
9. Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies
Use an orange cake mix and stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips.
For a stronger orange flavor, add 1 teaspoon of finely grated orange zest to the dough.
Bake according to the basic recipe and let the cookies cool before serving.
The combination of citrus and chocolate gives these cookies a completely different flavor from the original cake mix.
10. Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Start with a chocolate cake mix.
You can add ½ to 1 cup of chocolate chips to the dough if you want extra chocolate.
After the cookies have cooled, drizzle them with melted white chocolate and sprinkle crushed peppermint candies over the top.
Let the chocolate set before storing the cookies.
These are especially nice during the Christmas season.
More Easy Combinations to Experiment With
Once you get started, there is really no need to stop with these ideas.
Try a vanilla cake mix with butterscotch chips, a carrot cake mix with chopped pecans, a coconut cake mix with white chocolate chips, or a chocolate cake mix with chopped walnuts.
You can also change the finished cookie simply by adding frosting.
A yellow cake cookie can become a birthday cookie with vanilla frosting and sprinkles. A chocolate cookie can be topped with peanut butter frosting. A spice cookie would be delicious with cream cheese frosting.
The possibilities depend mostly on what happens to be in the pantry.
Make Them Look Bakery-Style
After scooping the dough balls, press a few extra chocolate chips, nuts, or sprinkles onto the tops before baking. The cookies come out looking much more finished without any extra work.
Make them larger and use ¼ cup of dough for each cookie. Add extra toppings if desired. Chill for 10 minutes before baking. Make sure to add 2-3 minutes to the baking time.
Turn Them into Sandwich Cookies
Want to take cake mix cookies one step further? Let the cookies cool completely, then spread frosting between two similarly sized cookies to make easy cake mix sandwich cookies. Vanilla, chocolate, peanut butter, and cream cheese frosting would all work nicely depending on the cake mix you choose.
Can I Use Different Cake Mix Brands?
Yes. The important thing is to start with a standard cake mix package around 15.25 ounces.
Different cake mixes can vary slightly in texture, so the finished cookies may not all spread or feel exactly the same. That’s part of the fun of experimenting with different flavors.
How to Store Cake Mix Cookies
Keep the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
Unfrosted cookies will keep for several days while remaining soft. Frosted cookies are best enjoyed within a few days.
For longer storage, freeze the baked cookies in an airtight freezer container. Place parchment paper between layers if the cookies are frosted.
Troubleshooting the Cookie Recipe
If the dough is too sticky
Cake mix dough is naturally soft, but if it seems unusually sticky and difficult to scoop, refrigerate it for 15–30 minutes before shaping.
If the cookies spread too much
Chilling the dough can help. Also make sure your oil is measured accurately.
If the cookies are too dry
They were probably baked a little too long. Since cake mix cookies continue setting on the baking sheet, taking them out while the centers still look soft helps keep them tender.
Best Cake Mix + Mix-In Pairings Table
| Cake Mix | Try Adding | Finish With |
| Yellow | Chocolate chips | Vanilla frosting |
| Chocolate | Peanut butter chips | Chocolate drizzle |
| Lemon | White chocolate chips | Lemon glaze |
| Strawberry | White chocolate chips | White chocolate drizzle |
| Spice | Cinnamon chips | Powdered sugar |
| Red velvet | White chocolate chips | Cream cheese frosting |
| Butter pecan | Chopped pecans | Vanilla glaze |
| White | Sprinkles | Vanilla frosting |
| Orange | Chocolate chips | Orange glaze |
| Chocolate | Peppermint pieces | White chocolate drizzle |
Easy and Versatile Cake Mix Cookies
I love having a recipe like this because it gives you a starting point without boxing you into one particular cookie.
The basic dough is simple, but once you start changing the cake mix, adding chocolate chips or nuts, or finishing the cookies with frosting and sprinkles, you can make something completely different each time.
So, grab a box of cake mix from the pantry and see what you can come up with. You may end up with a new favorite cookie without ever making the dough from scratch.
You can find Victoria crocheting, quilting, and creating recipes. She has cooked in restaurants for over 20 years, including many larger parties. She learned to crochet when she was just 11 years old and has been crocheting ever since; over 50 years now. Over 40 years ago, she loved her first class in sewing and continues to hone her skills in quilting. Many have enjoyed the handmade gifts over the years. In her professional career, she has worked in management in a wide variety of businesses including higher education as a dean of a division. All the while attending college part-time to achieve her doctorate in higher education with an emphasis in e-learning.
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