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.
sue says
I got pink lemonaid cakemix and icing. Gonna try tonight
Harriet says
I’ve made these thru the years.The 1st time I saw the recipe was in my late Mother’s old 1970’s church cookbook she had gotten from a friend in SC.I’ve made the lemon,choc and orange ones and last week I made ones from a Spice cake mix.I added pecans to that one,it came out well.I’d like to make the strawberry or cherry ones for potluck sometime.
Casey says
I made cake mix cookies this weekend….but I used 5T melted butter and 5T melted shortening instead. I thought the shortening would help hold its shape but the cookies spread out SUPER thin. I see you used oil. Is there something about the oil that helps them hold? Should I try SOFTENED fat instead??
Deborah says
I know that some people do use softened butter for cake mix cookies, so I’m guessing it would work with softened butter. I’m not sure why the melted fat didn’t work.
Maggie P says
I accidentally used 1/2c Crisco vegetable shortening instead of the oil. I thought I ruined the recipe oh well what’s done is done and proceeded with the recipe anyways. but that was a happy accident they came out fluffy and chewy and didn’t spread too much. I just creamed the shortening and the room temperature eggs before adding the cake mix. You may have to bake them a little longer but they came out perfectly delish. They didnt stick to the pan and didn’t spread too much. I used a parchment paper lightly sprayed with Pam. Give it that a try it may work better for you.
Deborah says
I’m so happy they worked out! And I will have to try that next time!
Lisa E. says
I have used both strawberry and orange cake mixes, both with white chocolate chips instead of coconut, and they are gone in minutes! Just an added note – I too have to bake them at least 18 minutes with my oven, but they come out perfect every time. Just wished they made more flavors of cake mixes! Thanks for the recipe!
anne says
I like puffy soft cookies, the picture of these looked thin so I added 1/3 cup of flour and 1 tsp baking powder and baked at 350 degrees for 11 minutes. I also added white chocolate chips instead of coconut. delish! great idea using a cake mix for cookies, never would have thought, now I am gonna try tons of flavors!! thanks!
Melissa D says
Anne- the trick to getting really fluffy cookies when ever you are baking is to add a tsp of cream of tartar to the mix!
Maggie says
What brand of cake mix did you use for the strawberry cookies?
Deborah says
@Maggie, it was quite awhile ago, but I’m pretty sure I used Betty Crocker. I’ve done cake mix cookies with Betty Crocker, Pillsbury and Duncan Hines before and they’ve all worked out.
Maddy says
I made this recipe and the cookies came out way too oily. I would recommend using less oil. I had to add about a half cup more flour.
Lisa E. says
Here’s another one to try:
German Chocolate Cake Mix
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
Chocolate Chips
Mix 1/2 the cake mix with the oil, eggs, and vanilla till smooth. Add the remaining cake mix. Dough will be EXTREMELY stiff! Add chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonfuls and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.
These are DIVINE as long as you don’t bake them too long and they’re still chewey! Give them a try!
Pat says
With German chocolate, I think I’d try also adding a little shredded coconut and minced pecans similar to a German Chocolate cake frosting.
Julianna says
Hey guys! I’m julianna (Julie-Anna) and I’m 11! I made cake batter cookies a while ago with my cousin.
Immediately, I was hooked!
I’ve been searching for the right cake mix to make the best cookies. I finally found that Betty Crocker Devils Chocolate is a GREAT mix. I used this recipe and I’m left with a DELICIOUS batch of cookies!
Thanks @Deborah for posting this AMAZING recipe!!
Joanne says
My grandson gave me a cake mix cookie recipe and he used a cup of M&Ms in the batter. Yummy!!!
Andrea @ pencils and pancakes says
How many will one box yield? I want to make them for my students so I will need about 80 lol
Deborah says
@Andrea @ pencils and pancakes, I’m guessing you should get 2-3 dozen from each batch, depending on how big you make them.
Alanna says
These look amazing! I have an odd question though, I’m making a valentines day basket for someone with chrons disease and can only have sweets here and there. Can you give me the recipe for the strawberry ones that will only make two or three cookies? 🙂
Deborah says
@Alanna, I’m afraid this wouldn’t be easy to cut down to 2 or 3 cookies. I would suggest making the whole batch and giving the rest to someone else. 🙂
Elisa says
I froze TBSPs of dough overnight and then bagged them. When I want a few cookies, I set them out to thaw for an hour, and then bake as this blog describes.
Julie says
I tried these with an orange cake mix and scissor cut chunks of orange slices candy. Awesome.
anne sheeler says
Just made an orange version this weekend. Used orange cake mix and added white chocolate chips. The cookies tasted like a creamsicle!! Everyone loved them!
Emily says
Perfect Valentine’s Day cookies!
Cristina says
I want to make the Strawberry ones with chocolate chips! Thanks for the inspiration!
rebecca says
Hello! I made the strawberry with coconut tonight. I also had to bake them about 18 minutes rather than 10. Although I love the flavor and texture I achieved, I thought they were way too sweet. Any ideas on what I can add to this recipe to cut down the sweetness? I bought 8 boxes of strawberry cake mix and planned to make tons of these!
Deborah says
@rebecca, these are sweet cookies. As far as cutting down on the sweetness, the only thing I can think of is using unsweetened coconut instead of sweetened coconut.