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.
Penny says
I have made these subbing in applesauce or greek yogurt for the oil/butter and replacing the eggs with flax/chia eggs. Have had great success. slightly different texture. Well worth experimenting with different add-ins! Took cake mixes with me to Mexico and they were my go to for cookies all winter. So easy and enjoyed by all
Maruja Shelton says
Can I add fresh fruit like strawberries or blueberries? How do I make the dough not so wet?
Deborah says
I haven’t tried adding fresh berries – they might be too wet for these cookies. But if you do try, let me know if they work out!
Linda Wetch says
I doubles the recipe and baked it in a Jelly roll pan with parchment liner. baked the same length of time. I am too impatient to bake cookies I convert all my cookie to either 9×13 regular batch or jelly roll pan double batch. Wonderful I did white cake mix with coconut and almonds. thanks for the recipe.
Dawn says
I have made lemon cake mix cookies, no ad ins, I put lemon icing in the microwave and melted it and glazed them, delish!
JUDY says
DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE MIX WITH CHOPPED CANDIED CHERRIES AND CHOPPED PECANS….OH SO GOOD
Deborah says
That sounds like a fantastic combination!
Cindy says
Can Canola oil be substituted for vegetable?
Kathy says
Have done this for 30 years. Curent favorites are orange cake mix and vanilla chips. I also add a little orange extract and drizzle the top with melted chips. Chocolate cake mix and mint chips, Lemon cake with 1.5 c. toasted almonds. I add lemon and almond extract and roll in powdered sugar while still hot…after they rest for about 2 minutes. Strawberry cake mix, adding 4oz. softened cream cheese. make a large thumbprint in the center and fill with strawberry preserves. Pineapple with 3/4 c. coconut, 1/2 c. chopped maraschino cherries…patted dry and 1/2 c chopped pecans. Banana with 3/4 c. chopped walnuts, and coconut with 1 jar macadamias chopped, 1 c.
white choc. chips. I also replace the oil with butter flavored Crisco 1/2 heaping c. softened.
Deborah says
I love all of your combinations!
MaxS. says
I’ve made cake mix cookies regularly. I just snagged a box of pumpkin cake mix that I plan to make for Thanksgiving, with candied pecans!
But the recipe I’ve always used calls for a quarter cup each of oil and water, and just 1 egg. I’ve also never used mix-ins.
Do you think that will work even although mix-ins? Or I can just press a few pecan pieces into the top, before baking.
Deborah says
I think the mix ins should still work. And pressing the pecans into the top is a great solution, as well – I have done that before!
judy says
can you make these as bar cookies?
Deborah says
I would guess so! I haven’t tried it, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
Suzanne says
I am so glad this post is still up. I made a batch of cake mix cookies using a recipe from the local grocery store. So simple, but not very good texture, so I googgled it, and found your site. Your recipe has different measurements,
What great ideas you posted! Hubby is German, so I am going to surprise him with that German chocolate cake recipe and use the coconut pecan frosting on them. It just May be his new favorite.
Many thanks.
Suzanne
Deborah says
I’m so glad you enjoyed these cookies! And I hope your husband enjoys the German Chocolate version!
laura says
Hi, going to make German choclate! Can I frost them?
Deborah says
Yep – you could!!
Lauren says
Hey, I was wondering what the shelf life of the cookies are. I make huge batches of cookies and send them over seas to a couple of troops i have adopted in multiple branches, and i knpw even with the “priority” it can take up to 13-18 days to get there. Do you know if the cookies would still bee good after that long?
Thank you so much for your response. I am trying tj send as much variety as possible.
~lauren
Deborah says
I haven’t specifically tested how long they would stay fresh for, but I think these should make it ok. I would just make sure to wrap them well.
Cailey says
Did you try vacuum sealing the cookies?! That might help keeping them fresh longer?
Randah says
Mine spread super thin… any idea why? My eggs too big? Cake mix box too small?
pamela says
Im thinking of trying spice cake and raisins.
TurkeyTime says
I tried the strawberry ones. They keep turning brown on top and are not getting done all the way. Maybe my cookies are too big? I’m getting about 16 cookies for one box 2 eggs and a half cup of flower. I’m using white cc for the mix in. How big should the scoop be? Also how do you get yours flat? Mine are puffy.
Cindy says
Just wondering if these cookies freeze well. Thank you,
Deborah says
I haven’t tried freezing them, but I am guessing they would freeze great!