Cake Mix Cookies 12 Ways – So many varieties, you’ll want to try them all! 4 ingredients, 20 minutes, and you can have soft, delicious cookies. Video Included.
I do love to cook from scratch, but sometimes you need a little help from the store to make something super easy! A cake mix is a great way to do that. So grab that cake mix and try these Cake Mix Cookies, then try my Funfetti Pancakes, Dump Cake Recipe, or Coconut and Pistachio Pudding Cake!
The Easiest Cookie Recipe
These Cake Mix Cookies have become one of those go-to recipes for years now for when I want/need cookies, but am feeling a bit lazy. Seriously – only 4 ingredients and 20 minutes, and you have your cookies. And let’s not lie – sometimes you just need a pink strawberry cookie.
I love these cookies because not only are they super easy and super fast, but when it comes to flavor combinations, the sky is the limit! You can use any flavor of cake mix that you want, then choose your add-in. Chocolate chips, candy pieces, nuts, coconut, toffee… go crazy!! To get your creative ideas going, I have included 12 different flavors you can turn these cookies into. This is really just a jumping off point, though – there are so many great combinations you could make!
Ingredients
This is the easiest cookie recipe ever – technically all you need are 3 ingredients, but I like to throw the 4th one in to add some variety.
Cake Mix – I have found that brand doesn’t matter here. You just need the dry cake mix – not the ingredients it calls for on the back.
Vegetable Oil – I like using vegetable oil for the softest cookies.
Eggs – You’ll need 2 eggs. I haven’t tried any substitutions, but others have used Greek yogurt or applesauce in place of the eggs.
Mix-Ins – This is where you can have fun! Use chocolate chips or sprinkles or nuts or candy pieces. It’s really fun to play around with different kinds of mix-ins to see what kind of flavor combinations you can come up with!
How to Make Cake Mix Cookies
- Combine the dry cake mix, oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl.
- Mix together until combined.
- Add in your mix in – for the photos, I am using coconut as my mix in. Mix to combine.
- Scoop the dough – it is sticky, so I like to use a cookie scoop.
- Place the dough on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat liner.
- Bake until the cookies are set around the edges.
Cake Mix Cookies Video
Want to see how to make these cookies instead? Watch the video above to see just how easy they are!
Tips and Tricks
- Different flavors of cake mixes act differently. The strawberry cake mix usually makes thicker cookies for me, while yellow cake mixes will spread out more. I tried refrigerating dough to see if that would help with the cookies that spread more, but it didn’t make a huge difference. The mix in that you choose could make a difference, as well.
- I know that different brands of cake mixes are different sizes. I tried these with different sizes – from 15.25 oz to 18.25 oz and found that you don’t need to alter any ingredients for different brands of cake mixes.
- I always use vegetable oil, but I know others have had success using melted butter instead.
- These cookies stay soft for several days. Store in an airtight container.
- No mixer is needed! I used a hand mixer in the video, but you can easily make these with just a spoon or a spatula.
12 Ways to Make Cake Mix Cookies
Like I said above, it’s time to get creative! Here are 12 combinations – use one of these or make up your own!
Yellow cake mix with toffee chips
White cake mix with mini m&ms
Strawberry cake mix with shredded coconut
Cherry chip cake mix with mini chocolate chips
Spice cake mix with pecans
Red velvet cake mix with white chocolate chips
More Cake Mix Cookies
Banana Split Cake Mix Cookies
Watermelon Cake Mix Cookie Sandwiches
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Cake Mix Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cake mix* dry ingredients only
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup mix ins such as chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with a silpat liner or parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix together the cake mix, vegetable oil and eggs until combined. Stir in the mix ins.
- Scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart. Bake just until the cookies are set in the middle, 10-12 minutes.
- Cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet then transfer to a cooling rack or a sheet of waxed paper.
bobbie says
making these now as old man been asking for them
LeighAnn M. says
Just made Funfetti cake mix cookies and they were so good! Thanks!
Deborah says
@LeighAnn M., I’m so glad you liked them – and funfetti cookies sound so fun!
julie says
I make cake mix cookies often and they are always so moist and delicious! I love them
Jodi says
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I just made them today. I am going to put these delightful little strawberry cookies in a pink ribbon cellophane bag as thank you gifts for donations made to my 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk.
Deborah says
@Jodi, what a great idea!!
Lindsey Fleck says
Love this idea!
sarabeth says
another great twist on these cookies is: 1 box of cake mix and one full tub of cool whip. mix all together then drop one spoonful at a time in powdered sugar then lightly pat onto a lined cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 10-15 mins depending on how hot your oven gets. super chewy and delish! I have done strawberry, red velvet and butter pecan(butter cake mix with chopped pecans added) everyone loves them and super easy to make:)
Laura says
These are fabulous! Thanks for the great recipe- I had to bake them for 18 minutes as opposed to 8-10, but they came out fantastic! Can’t wait to try the chocolate in the future 🙂
rava stortzum says
on the strawberry cookies, could i cancel the coconut cuz i am alleric to coconut
Deborah says
@rava stortzum, you can add in any add-in that you would like, or just leave them plain. I know a lot of people who have tried them with white chocolate chips or regular chocolate chips and who have loved them that way.
Shannon says
I have to use both Strawberry and chocolate cake mix? Will they still come out pink or which ever I choose?
Deborah says
@Shannon, if you want the strawberry cookies, just use the strawberry ingredients. If you want the chocolate cookies, just use the chocolate ingredients. The recipe is for 2 different flavors.
Kina says
I bet these pink ones would be adorable with mini chocolate chips, they would look like watermelons. I think I’m going to make them into ice cream sanwiches and roll the sides in something green…Thanks for the idea!
maria says
Ooh, green food coloring in vanilla ice cream for the middle lol too cute
Mitzie says
Just made these cookies in the strawberry flavor and the are DELICIOUS! Also tasted good with red velvet cake mix and white chocolate chips!!! Thanks for the great recipe perfect for a baby shower or luncheon!
Kim says
I have been making these for years! Try: white cake mix, 1/2 box chopped pitted dates, pecans
Erika says
Just tied these cookies and they are very tasty. Added coconut like you said, but next time I think I’ll add some pecans too. Thanks for the great recipe.
Makyla Molina says
I’m wanting to make these for a babyshower in a couple weeks but thought about making them now and freezing them….can I do that?? Would it be better to freeze them made already or in the dough form??
Deborah says
@Makyla Molina, I haven’t tried freezing these before, but they really only take 5 minutes to mix the ingredients together. It probably won’t save much time to freeze just the dough. If you do try freezing the cookies, let me know how it turns out!
Leslie says
So easy and delicious! I swapped the coconut for mini white chocolate chips and it added a different flavor. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
chris says
Lori…I got the same receipe from a friend of mine that owned his own bakery. 1 cake mix, 1 egg, 2 cups of Cool Whip rolled into powdered sugar. I take different flavors and add things, like peppermint candies crushed into chocolate cake mix. The lemon ones are the ones my friends love…I add lemon zest and juice of the lemon for that extra punch!
Sandra says
I used this recipe for my lemon cookies, my family loves them.
Erin says
My family loves the Yellow cake mix with toffee pieces added. The cookies are so chewy and delicious!