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.
Ally's Sweet & Savory Eats says
Hi Deborah! I love cake mix cookies! I’ve been making them for a long, long time. Sharing on my blog FB page tomorrow!
Cathy ONeill says
My husband is diabetic so I use Pillsbury’s Sugar-free cake mixes and sugar-free chips.
Deb says
I just made these with white cake mix. about 18 oz. I added dried cherries, pecans, some fresh orange zest and a little vanilla. OMG these are amazing. I love this and thank you Deborah for sharing this.. it is wonderful
Joy says
Does this work for gluten free cake mixes??
Samantha says
I want to make these but I have no idea what you mean by “mix ins.” What is this?
Elisa says
I love this! For Valentine’s day, I used a Devil’s Food mix with pink, red, and white m&ms. They were fantastic!
So, I bought a orange cake mix and a strawberry cake mix. I’ toying with adding vanilla and toffee to the orangeand dried fruit to the strawberry. I’m looking forward to making your recipe often.
Also, I was telling my mil about it and got the “oh, honey! I made those when the kids were little!” Lol I enjoyed reading the comments that also talking about this not being a new idea.
Anj says
Mix ins mean you can add in chocolate chips, coconut, candies…anything you want to “mix in”
BunnyD1010 says
New to Pintrest but not to cake cookies♡ I have been making theae for ages with my daughter, who now makes them for her friends in college. We used a ‘cheater’ whoopie pie recipe and call these ‘cakies’! Box mix, a little extra flour and then pick your flavor more with instant pudding mix. Also, for the liquid we sometimes use our favorite sodas. Glad to see this here♡
Karianne says
Thank you for the recipe. So easy and fun to make them with all different mix-ins.
Here are some that I made:
Yellow mix with Fruity Pebbles cereal.
Yellow mix with Heath bar bits and butterscotch chips.
Devil’s Food mix with chopped Oreo pieces and choc chips.
Yellow mix with crushed potato chips (Ruffles) and choc chips (for that sweet and salty effect).
Margaret Keys says
i don’t want to sound dumb but what does is ½ cup mix ins???
Deborah says
The mix ins are whatever you want to add – chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, candy, etc.
Celeste C. says
Hi Deborah! I’ve heard of cookies being made with cake mixes, just never had a recipe to follow…thanks. It makes me want to experiment while baking…I have a lot of ideas…
Cath says
I found a recipe for cake mix and I was wondering if I could use that instead of a box mix since I have no access to those. This is the recipe:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon table salt
Deborah says
I haven’t tried these with anything other than a cake mix so I’m not sure if it would work. Sorry!
Debi Sayer says
Fifty some odd years ago I remember my Grandmother making cookies from her own cake mix recipe. They were the softest, tastiest chocolate chip cookies ever. She would top them with her homemade cream cheese frosting. Still makes my mouth water. I’d say, “Go for it.” 😀
Melissa says
Do you think I could I sub coconut oil for the vegetable oil?
Deborah says
I haven’t tried coconut oil, but I’m guessing that it would work.
Laua says
Hi! Love these recipes. My daughter and I will be baking these for Christmas. How far in advance can I bake before serving? And what would be the best containers to store them in?
Deborah says
These will stay soft for several days if they are kept in an airtight container. So I would just make sure you put them in one with a lid. Enjoy!
Melissa D says
I love cake mix cookies but have only ever done white or yellow cake mix with vanilla extract to make sugar cookies, then frost them and add sprinkles. I LOVE the idea of using all different kinds of combinations. I can’t wait to try lemon cake mix with white chocolate chips! Strawberry is a great idea as well. Tonight I made some as a trial run before Christmas cookie baking starts tomorrow, I did dark chocolate cake with half a bag of m&m’s and half a bag of white chocolate chips (as that was what I had in the house.) They turned out great, I think next time I would add almonds or another nut to them, I had intended to make mint ones by adding mint extract but I forgot about it. Thanks so much for all the great ideas!
Vicky says
What is ins?
Deborah says
Mix ins are just whatever you want to mix in for fun – chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, etc.
Elizabeth says
Made these tonight as a trial run for a potluck. I made strawberry and dark chocolate chips. Turned out great! I want to try all different kinds now. I had never heard of cake mix cookies before but so glad I know about it now!
Deborah says
They are so fun, aren’t they? So glad you are enjoying them!